The Dolores star., 1923-01-19
Sl1nGdaySchoe1
' Lesson '
,By REV. r b FITZwATER, ID. D.
Teacher of English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute OF ChicaGoJ
Copyright. ls2z. Western Newspaper Union
LESSON FOR JANUARY Fl
THE PRoDIGAL SON

LESSON TENT-Lukc l5:tl-2i
GOLDEN TENT-Thcre is JOY in the
presence OF the angels of God over one
sinner that repentsth.-Lukc l5.l0
REFERENCE MATERlAIs-Psnlm z
Luke 1880. Rom. 5l-l1 Gal 6.l-5.
PRIMARY TOPIC-A Fathers Love.
JUNIOR TOPlC-A Picture OF the
Heavenly Fathers Love
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
The Reach and Power OF our Fathers
Love.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
How to Treat Sinners.
I. The Sons INSTRUMENTATION ". 12).
There is every indication that this
was happy home. But devil en.
tered it and stirred up discomfort In
the heart of the younger son. He be.
came tired of the restraints Of home.
His desire for freedom moved him to
wilfully choose to leave home-throw
off the COnStrnints of his fathers rule.
Sin is the desire to be free from the re-
straints Of rightful authority and for
selfish indulgence. 1t starts ont With
wrong thoughts about God. At the re.
quest of the son, the father divided
unto them his living"
II. The Sons Departure (v. 13).
Having made the final decision he got
his goods In portable shape. Having
thrown of the restraints of his fathers
rule he eagerly Withdrew from his IA
theirs presence This Is always the
way sin works. He gathered all to
gether." When the sinner casts or his
allegiance to God he takes all that he
has with him. He not only wastes his
money, hui his character is sacrificed.
III. The Sons Degeneration tvv 13.
~.
He had good time while his money
lasted, but the end came quickly. The
Indications are that his course was
soon run. From plenty in his fathers
house to dcStitution in the far coun-
try was II short journey. The sinner
is soon made to realize the famine
when his very powers which minis.
tered to his pleasure are burned out.
~. The Sons Degradation wv. 10
16).
lie had no friends to help him when
his money was all gone, SO he was
driven TO hire out to Il citizen to feed
swine. II was quite change from a
SnuShip in his fathers house TO feed
ing hogs In the far country. So it is =;
those who will not serve God are made
slaves to the devil To do his bidding
Uom. GIG. In his shame and dis.
grace the prodigal could not even get
the necessary food. The coarse food
of the hogs was denied him.
V. The Sons Restoration wv. 1920
l. He Came to Himself ". ~.
When he reflected bit he was made
conscious that, though he had wronged
his father and ruined himself, yet he
was son Of his father. In the days
Of his shining he was beside himself.
The world calls the sinner who leaves
OFF his evil ways crazy, but in reality
he just becomes sane. If we could
but get sinners to think seriously of
their condition it would be more easy
to get them to turn from their sins.
=. His Resolution w. lS). His re
Election ripcned into resolution. The
picture Of his home, where even the
hired servants had superabundance
moved him to make n decision to leave
the far country and 20 home.
3. His Confession (vv. IS, l9). He
acknowl ledged that his sin was against
heaven and his father-that he had
forfeited his right to he called a son,
and begged to be given a place as "A
hired servant The sinner not only
should make resolution: he should
confess his sin: for with the heart man
believeth unto righteousness, and with
the mouth confession is made unto sal.
vation.
1. His Action (v 2O). Action was
needed. Resolution will not avail un-
less accompanied with action.
5. His Reception by His Father
wv. 2O-2D. The father had not for
gotten his son. During the years he
ionged for his return. He must often
have looked for him, for he saw him
when he was "A great way off. So anx-
ious was he for him that he ran To
meet him and fell upon his neck and
kissed him. SO glad was the father
| that he even did not hear his confes.
sion through, but ordered the tokens
| of honor to be placed upon him, re.
| Ceiving him back into sons position,
| This parable makes bare Gods heart
| Every teacher should strive to present
| this lesson so as to show Gods forgiv-
| ing mercy-IIis willingness to receive
| back His wayward child