Psalm 32 - Peace Through Confession

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 - The Parable of the Prodigal

1. Admitting we are wrong and saying we’re sorry can be difficult, but it is integral to our faith journey. The church word for this is repentance. In addition to saying we’re sorry, true repentance includes a renewed commitment to a better way. When we repent, we turn away from sin and toward God.
2. How is repentance (verse 5) life-changing for the psalmist (verses 7-8)?
3. Father Greg Boyle, author of Tattoos on the Heart:

The Power of Boundless Compassion comments on the parable of the prodigal son: “The father did not see 'sin'; he saw 'son.’ Once you see the kind of God we have, there can be no fear. Love drives out all fear.”

4. How does the father’s response to the younger son and the elder son help us see deeper into God’s grace in our lives? God’s love preempts our rehearsed apologies, sees past our seething resentments, and never stops seeking us.
   1. How does the father’s “prodigal grace” offend the older brother in particular?
   2. Can God’s prodigal grace sometimes be offensive to the “older brother” in us?
   3. Can you think of an instance that comes to mind?
5. Henri J.M. Nouwen offers a beautiful exploration of this parable in his book, The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming. About the older brother, he writes:

“Resentment and gratitude cannot coexist, since resentment blocks the perception and experience of life as a gift. My resentment tells me that I don't receive what I deserve. It always manifests itself in envy.”

6. How do resentment and envy sometimes play out in family dynamics today?
   1. Is there a way toward reconciliation?
   2. What is it in your experience?
7. What would it look like to practice a “prodigal grace” at work, at home, or at school this coming week?