PARENTING THE PRODIGAL
INTRODUCTION:
A. One of the greatest challenges placed before anyone is the challenge of raising children
so that they will become faithful Christians themselves!
1. It is a sobering and even scary task before a parent – They are molding hearts and
shaping lives… The consequences don’t just last 80 but for an eternity!
2. A parent’s task is to bring them up in the nurture & admonition of the Lord (Eph 6:4)
3. As a rule if you raise a child right they will do right (Prov 22:6); however, this is a proverb
which means it’s generally true – What do you do when children become unfaithful?
B. This evening I want us to examine the parable of the prodigal son from an angle we
typically don’t approach it with: Lessons we can learn about parenting the prodigal
1. Certainly the ideal is for every Christian to raise children that become faithful Christians,
but the reality is that in many cases children grow up and turn out to be unfaithful:
a. This is a painful experience many of you know too personally – It breaks your heart
when your children, despite all your effort, insist on rebelling against God
b. You wrestle often with fears concerning their eternity and grasp for things to do and
words to speak that would spark change, but often answers seem impossible
2. While we understand the parable of the prodigal son was not initially intended to teach
lessons about parenting, there are great lessons to be gleaned! (Luke 15:11-32)
I. UNDERSTANDING THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON TEACHES:
A. The Parable Of The Prodigal Son Is Directly A Lesson In Forgiveness:
1. Notice first of all the background to this parable – (Luke 15:1-3)
a. As was often the case Jesus is surrounded by those whom the Pharisees and
Scribes rejected… SINNERS! These people KNEW they weren’t righteous
unlike the Pharisees and scribes who assumed they were but really weren’t!
b. They couldn’t understand why a teacher of God’s law would allow Himself to be
surrounded by such scum! Jesus answer is simple: They need salvation!
c. Jesus then begins to preach a powerful sermon on forgiveness… He does so by
telling three convincing parables: The lost sheep, the lost coin, & the lost son
2. In the Parable of the Prodigal Son Jesus teaches about the power of God’s love and
forgiveness to us and our reception of those who are being forgiven:
a. The father is representative of God – God is the Father of all and it is God whom
we reject when we choose to leave His house & waller in the mire of sin!
b. The prodigal son is the tax collectors & sinners – They’d been spending their lives
in wasteful living but were choosing to return home – A picture of each of us!
c. The older brother is the scribes & Pharisees – They were angry at the reception of
the prodigal son and were self-righteous about it… Did this son truly NEVER
transgress his father’s commandment? – Can show our attitude toward others
3. Consider some of the powerful lessons we learn from this parable:
a. God’s love and forgiveness – Even though we may pull away from him and insist
on living a life of sin He is still longsuffering & waiting eagerly for us to return
b. Ourselves in relation to sin – When we pull away from God & insist on living in sin
we have to hit bottom, realize our sinfulness & state, come to our senses and repent, and return back to God with a willing heart to serve Him again
c. Our need to forgiveness – When one returns to God we should treat them with the
love & patience God shows! Remembering our need for forgiveness too!
B. Jesus’ point is to teach us about being forgiven and forgiving others – but as we have
already observed, we can learn lessons here about parenting the prodigal:
1. We can learn these lessons because the father is a representation of God, our Father in
Heaven, who deals with His children in perfect ways! (Heb 12:5-7; Matthew 7:9-11)
2. Let’s consider the relationship between the father & his prodigal son & the way the father
treated his son so that one day his son would come to his senses and return
II. LESSONS FROM THE FATHER ABOUT PARENTING THE PRODIGAL:
A. Sometimes children insist on rejecting God even though you honestly try to prevent that!
1. The prodigal son insisted on leaving home despite a strong foundation (Luke 15:11-13)
a. We are told nothing of the prodigal son’s upbringing; but we can safely assume
from the great way his father handled this situation he raised him very well
b. Now remember who this father really represents in the parable – It’s God! Who
would dare cast guilt on the Lord for the way He deals with His children?
c. The fact that the younger son represents humans (all sinners) & the father is God
we know that a child can do wrong despite having the PERFECT father!
2. Consider the case of Israel’s spiritual problems – Even though God raised them with
perfection the majority still insisted on rebelling against Him! (Hosea 11:1-4, 7-8)
a. Answer this: What more could God have done or said that He hadn’t already?
b. God’s instructions are perfect, his discipline always appropriate & perfectly timed, &
example is perfect… He makes no mistakes! How many of his children err?
3. Sometimes upon considering an unfaithful child a parent has guilt because they know
they raised them from infants with the wrong perspective: (Deut 11:18-19; 32:46)
a. Parents never need to underestimate the power their own sin can have on their
child’s faithfulness later in life – Like David… He must have regretted the very
day he looked at Bathsheba! Saw his own actions repeated in his children!
b. Illustration: “So Walk A Little Plainer Daddy” and “Watching You”
c. Often when parents talk about the unfaithfulness of their children they will admit to
having a luke-warm approach to serving God when their children were young
d. As long as you have the opportunity try to “redeem the time” through your example
and continued instruction… You can still teach you children! (Col 4:5)
4. But the reality is sometimes children wind up rejecting the Lord even though you honestly
strive to leave them with a strong spiritual foundation! (Prov 22:6)
a. Some parents blame themselves & beat themselves up with guilt over the situation
~ They lose happiness, health, and even hold back in their service to God!
b. Ezekiel made it clear that a righteous father can have an unrighteous son or an
unrighteous father may have a righteous son – It’s the child’s choice! He also
emphasizes the father doesn’t bear the guilt of the son’s choice (Ez 18:19-20)
5. Too many parents of prodigal children feel like their love demands that they prevent their
children from facing the consequences of their actions (Prov 6:1-5)
a. Illustration: Parents at school – “My child would never do that, he’s an angel!”
– No, your children is not an angel he’s a rebellious kid who needs beat!
b. Here the father not only allowed his son to go, but also didn’t try to rescue him from
the consequences Having to face the consequences helped bring him back
c. Solomon told his son that if he gets into a mess work hard & deliver yourself!
B. Make it possible if your child does reject the Lord to return!
1. Consider some ways the father made the prodigal son’s return possible:
a. Notice the son’s attitude when reality sunk in (Lk 15:16-19): That humble mindset
& thought process didn’t automatically occur but had to be instilled through
years of teaching and example… Without this he may never have gone home!
b. The father hoped for his return (likely prayed daily) & when he saw his son he went
running to him… the son then knew everything could be okay! (Luke 15:20)
c. With this in mind, the father never lost hope or gave up on his son – He had to let
his son go; but he kept an eager eye on the horizon & dreamed of that day!
2. Your ability to restore a wayward child begins even before they go astray!
a. Consider for example Jesus’ words to Peter – He knew Peter was going to deny
Him so He taught him what to do WHEN he came to himself! (Luke 22:31-32)
b. Even if they don’t act like it, they never forget what you taught them (Prov 4:1-4)
c. What if you don’t instill biblical principles and teach them about making righteous
decisions? There won’t be a “coming to themselves” or won’t know what to do
3. As with the prodigal son parents must make sure they never lose hope: (Luke 15:4, 8)
a. We know the father seeing his son from afar was no accident since the previous 2
parables show God continues to look for us when we are lost… So don’t quit!
b. Consider Moses’ parents – Jocabed & Amram were able to teach him while he was
younger; however, it was not until he became an adult he rejected Pharaoh’s
house for His physical brethren – Took forty years! (Heb 11:24-25; Acts 7:23)
c. Illustration: George never turning off his porch light because he hoped Cammi
would come home… He let her know his light stayed on and it was for her!
4. In many cases this continued hope should be relayed to the children:
a. In this parable we don’t know if any communication took place between the father
and his son… Certainly in that day communication would have been harder
b. True repentance can be a very difficult process… Often those who have wandered
are teetering between right and wrong… If your love for them has not been
reaffirmed it would be easy for them to think a return would not be possible!
c. Isn’t this the way God has dealt with us – Even though man wanders from Him He
reaffirms His love for us and lets us know we can always come home!
D. If your child returns, rejoice with them and accept them with open arms!
1. See what the father did when his son returned: He rejoiced & restored! (Lk 15:22-24)
a. His compassionate reaction reassured his son – The father ran to him, embraced
him, and kissed him – Surely this son never thought he’d be received so well!
b. While his son was willing to be treated as a servant, the father restored him back to
the same position as before – He lifted his son when his son humbled himself
c. Then he throws a great celebration - There’s music, dancing, and a fatted calf killed
to be eaten… The son is given a robe, ring, and sandals – Total restoration!
2. Sometimes when children attempt to return the parents treat them with contempt and
spite instead of with joy and restoration! (2 Cor 2:6-8)
3. When children return they need to be forgiven & treated with love!
a. Sadly many of you have unfaithful children – What if they walked in tonight and
made things right with God and with you… How would you respond?
b. Remember your own past - Did you make similar mistakes as they are making?
Maybe you have a responsibility in how you raised them?
