The Prodigal God - a fresh look at the Gospel

Have you ever read a book that dramatically changed the way you think?  I’m not talking about a book that was a really, really fun read. I’m talking about a book that leaves you saying, “That book is NOW in my TOP TEN list!”  For me one of those TOP TEN is The Prodigal God.  It is so good I bumped another favorite off my top ten list of all time favorite books to make room for this one. The Prodigal God

by Tim Keller

    I hope we can do a couple of Bible study discussion groups on the topic of The Prodigal God.  There are several key life-changing truths that can not only change you for the better, but change your church and change those around you.  For starters here is an excerpt:   “I will not use the parable’s most common name: the Parable of the Prodigal Son.  It is not right to single out only one of the sons as the sole focus of the story.  Even Jesus doesn’t call it the Parable of the Prodigal Son, but begins the story saying, ‘a man had two sons.’  The narrative is as much about the elder brother as the younger and as much about the father as the sons.  And what Jesus says about the older brother is one of the most important messages given to us in the Bible.  The parable might be better called the Two Lost Sons.   “The word ‘prodigal’ does not mean ‘wayward’ but according to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, ‘recklessly spendthrift.’  It means to spend until you have nothing left.  This term is therefore as appropriate for describing the father in the story as his younger son…   “In this story the father represents the Heavenly Father Jesus knew so well.  St. Paul writes: ‘God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses’ (2 Cor 5:19).  Jesus is showing us the God of Great Expenditure, who is nothing if not prodigal toward us, his children.  God’s reckless grace is our greatest hope, a life-changing experience, and the subject of this book.”   NOTE:  If you would to be a part of this Bible study on The Prodigal God let me know.  And if you want to order the book let me know and I can get a better price if we order together.   

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