The Coolidge examiner., 1936-04-17

pitieth his children, so the Lord pit
ieth them that fear him. - Psalm
1O3:13.
PRIMARY ToPIC-A Boys Good
Father.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Welcome Home.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR
TOPIC-What Is God Like?
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
TOPIC-Gods Forgiving Love.
The center of interest in this par
able is not the prodigal nor his
brother, but the certain man who
had two sons" In this parable. in
most picturesque and dramatic
manner. the history of man is por-
trayed from his fall to his recon-
ciliatiOn with God. The whole or
bit of revelation is swept as it per-
tains to SHINING race and a par
doning God. He who fails to see
the heart of our Father God will
miss the purpose of the parable. 1t
should be understood and taught
not as a piece of far-off ancient his
tory, but as a portrayal of modern
conditions.
1.-The Sons lnsubordination (v. 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
became tired of the restraints Of
home. His desire for freedom
moved him wilfully to choose to
leave home, to throw off the con-
,straints of a fathers rule. Sin is
the desire to be free from the re-
straints of rightful authority and is
selfish indulgence. 1t starts out
with wrong thoughts about God.
II. The Sons Departure ". 13).
Having made the fatal decision,
he went posthaste to the enjoyment
of his cherished vision. He, there
fore, got his goods in portable
shape and withdrew from his IA
theirs presence. Adam and Eve,
after they had sinned, hid them
selves. The son could not stand the
presence of his father, so he has
tened away. When the sinner casts
off allegiance to God, he takes all
that he has with him.
Ill. The Sons Degeneration (vv.
13, 14).
He had his good time while his
money lasted, but the end came
quickly. Indications are that his
course was soon run. From plenty
In his fathers house to destitution
in the far country was short jour-
ney. The sinner comes to realize
the famine" when the very powers
which ministered to his pleasure
are burned out.
w. The Sons Degradation wv.
Is, 16).
His friends lasted only while he
had money. When his money was
all gone he was driven to hire out
to citizen to feed swine. 1t was
indeed a change from a son in his
fathers house to feeding swine in
far country. 1t is ever so that
those who will not serve God are
made slaves to the Devil (Rom. 6:
16). This vividly portrays the story
of many men and women about us,
and is picture of the inevitable
consequences of sin. In his shame
and disgrace he could not even get
the necessary food.
v. The Sons Restoration wv. II
24).
1. He "came to himself ". ~.
When he reflected a bit he was
made conscious that though he had
wronged his father and ruined him
self, yet he was a son of his father.
In the days Of his SHINING he was
beside himself. The sinner contin-
ues in his sin because he is insane.
The world calls the sinner who
leaves off his evil ways crazy, but
in reality he has just become sane.
If sinners could be induced to think
seriously of their condition. it
would be easy to get them to turn
from their SINS
2. His resolution (v. 1S). His
reflection ripened into resolution.
The picture of his home, where
even the hired servants had a SUPER
abundance, moved him to make
decision to leave the far country
and go home.
3. His confession wv. IS, 19). He
acknowledged that his sin was
against heaven and his father. that
he had forfeited his rights to be
called son, and begged to be given
place as hired servant.
4. His action ". 2O). Resolution
will not avail unless accompanied
with action. When the confession
is genuine, action will follow.
5. His reception by his father
wv. 20-24). The father had not
forgotten his son. No doubt dur
ing these years he longed for the
sons return. He must often have
looked for him, for he beheld him
when he was a great way off. So
anxious 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 the