Reel Luke

Jesus Teaches About a Lost Son

Luke 15:11-31

Helpful Stuff to Know

This parable is only found in the book of Luke.

Many of the father’s actions in this story would have been considered outrageous back in Jesus’ day. The younger son dishonored his father in the way he talked and treated him. The father had every right to disown the son. Instead, he dishonored himself (in a way) by running wildly to meet him and joyfully welcoming him home without any reprimand or punishment. Because of this, some Bible teachers have called this story The Prodigal Father.

Sandals were usually worn only by family members. A family ring was a sign of authority.

Be Sure Not to Miss

The older son has his own storyline that’s important to read, too. Jesus probably intended for the older son to represent the religious leaders.

The younger son had to do more than just “come to his senses.” He had to actually turn away from his old life and go back to his father. This is a picture of repentance: turning away from a selfish sinful life and turning toward true life with God.

The father received his younger son just as he was, but did not let him stay that way.

The younger son wasn’t able to clean himself up and make himself new — the father did that when he embraced him, dressed him in a new robe, gave him sandals, and put a ring on his finger. The son’s job was to go home to his father. The father’s job was to make the son into a new person.

The younger son was lost, then found. In a sense, the older son was also lost (though he looked and acted found) and chose to stay lost. His actions, words, and attitudes reveal his true feelings and thoughts.

The father in this story represents all aspects of God’s character: the love of the Father who allows his children to walk away from him, the grace of the Son who wraps his arms around sinful humans while on the cross so that their sin is laid upon him, and the power of the Holy Spirit who makes us new people and gives us a new identity.

Be Careful About

The son wasn’t restored to his father’s presence and family until he walked away from his old life and went back to God. Simply thinking about it or desiring it wasn’t enough. He had to actively repent and return.

Reel Questions

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Reel Setting (place)

Where did this story happen? (Describe the setting — in a house, on a road, by a lake, in a city, etc.)
What do you think that place looked like? smelled like? sounded like?
Do you think it matters that this story happened in that specific place? Why?
What about the place in this story feels familiar? What feels strange?

Reel People (characters)

Make a list of all the people in this story and give a one-word description of each (include “crowd” if there is one). Why did you choose that word?
What does Jesus say and do in this story? List all the things. Does anything surprise you? Why?
Which person (besides Jesus) is most interesting to you? Why?
What details about the characters do you wish were included or explained in the story? Why?
Why do you think [choose a specific character or the crowd] spoke or acted the way they did?
What are some different things that [the person from previous question] could have said or done? How would that have changed the story?
What do you think the onlookers were thinking and feeling as things were happening in this story? Why?
How do you think the main characters might have changed after this story? Why? (Sometimes it tells us, like with Zacchaeus, but other times it doesn’t.)
How do you think the crowd or onlookers might have changed after this story? Why?
If you’d been there, where would you have been standing or sitting? What would you have been thinking or feeling? Why?

Reel Events (plot)

List all the events in the story.
List some details that aren't included but are assumed in the story.
What do you think are the two or three most important moments in this story? Why?
If this story were a film, when would the music be scary or tense? When would it be joyful or upbeat? Why?
What do you think maybe happened right before this story? What do you think maybe happened right after this story?
Does the biblical story before or after this one matter to this story? How? Why do you think that?
What are some different ways things could have happened or ended in this story?
If this story were happening today in your school or town, what are ways Jesus might have acted or explained things for your context?
What would you call this story if it were a full-length book or movie? Why?

Real Faith

What’s a way people could misunderstand or misuse this story?
Why do you think this story is in the Bible? Why would God want us to read and learn from it?
What are you learning about Jesus (or his Father or the Spirit) from this story?
What are you learning about following Jesus (living for Jesus and living like Jesus) from this story?
After reading this story, what are some questions you have about Jesus and following him?

Story-Specific Questions

Why do you think the younger son left home in the first place? How do you think the father felt about that?

What do you think happened to make the younger son finally come to his senses and decide to return home? Why did you finally come to your senses and decide to go home to God?

Why do you think the father embraced his son while he was still in his dirty and ragged clothing, before he’d been cleaned up and reclothed in a new robe?

Why do you think the older son felt the way he did about his father and his younger brother?