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The Creature That Goes Prodigal

The Creature From Another Planet, part 4 of 5
As are children grow up, sometimes they think they are more for life than they really are. Combine this false readiness with strong will, rebellion or some other form of rejecting parental authority and our children can leave home and go prodigal. Using the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 we will draw principles for how to help parents find hope when they hurt and how to provide principles for controlling what you can control and letting go of the things you cannot control about your prodigal child. We will discover that with God all things are possible and tell success stories of those who have gone prodigal and have come back home to live successful Christian lives

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Parent-Child Conflict: Common Stages & Practical Hope (Luke 15:11-24, NIV)

THE 1st STAGE OF CONFLICT: ___REBELLION___.

“Jesus went on to say, ‘There was once a man who had two sons. The younger one said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the property now.”” (v11-12a)

*What’s A Parent To Do?

1) Let them ___GO THEIR OWN WAY___.

“…So the man divided his property between his two sons. After a few days the younger son got together all that he had, sold his part of the property and left home with the money. He went to a country far away…”
(v.12b-13a, TEV)

2) Let them ___MAKE THEIR OWN MISTAKES___.

“…and there squandered his wealth in wild living.”
(v.13b)

3) Let them __EXPERIENCE THEIR OWN CONSEQUENCES__.

“After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.”
(v.14-15)

“He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating…”
(v.16)

*Principle: Allow your child’s ___SELFISH STREAKS___ to produce ___NATURAL CONSEQUENCES___.

“Don’t be deceived…a person will reap exactly what he plants.”
(Galatians 6:7, TEV)

THE 2nd STAGE OF CONFLICT: __RE-EVALUATION_.

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’”
(v.17-19)

*What’s A Parent To Do?

1) Pray: Let God ___KNOW YOU TRUST HIM___.

2) Talk: Let a few ___CHOICE FRIENDS KNOW___.

3) Wait: Let yourself ___OFF THE FALSE- GUILT HOOK___.

*Principle: While your child is gone, ___KEEP GOD CLOSE___.

THE 3rd STAGE OF CONFLICT: ___RETURN___.

“So he got up and started back to his father…”
(v.20a)

*What’s A Parent To Do?

1) ___LOVE THEM___ without reservations.

“While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him…”
(v.20b)

2) ___ACCEPT THEM___ without conditions.

“…he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”
(v.20c)

The Son’s Confession
(vs.21)

3) ___FORGIVE THEM___ without strings attached.

“Bring the best robe… put a ring on his finger… and sandals on his feet. For this son of mine was dead, and is alive again; he was lost and is found!”
(v.22-24)

*Principle: Loving your kids keeps you in their ___HEART___ even when you’re not on their ___MIND___.

“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love makes up for many of your faults.”
(1 Peter 4:8, LB)

Further reading: “Prodigals And Those Who Love Them” by Ruth Bell Graham