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First Baptist Church Delray

Sermon Application Questions

March 15, 2026

Pastor Steve’s Message: “The Prodigals”

Scripture: Luke 15 (ESV)

Review the Exegesis of the Scripture

Read Luke 15:1–2

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him (Jesus). And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

1.     Why were sinful people coming to Jesus?

2.     How did the religious leaders who typically shun sinners feel about Jesus spending time with them?

Read Luke 15:3–7

So he (Jesus) told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

3.     What does this parable show us about how Jesus feels for those who recognize that they are lost?

4.     How does that compare with what He feels for people who think they are good?

Read Luke 15:8–10

(Jesus continues,) “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

5.     How does this parable reiterate what God celebrates?

6.     When we get to heaven what will God want us to be trusting in?

Read Luke 15:11–13

And he (Jesus) said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.”

7.     Though he was a son, what life did the young man choose?

Read Luke 15:14–16

(Jesus continued,) “And when he (the younger son) had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

8.     What happened when this son ran out of money?

Read Luke 15:17–19

(Jesus continued,) “But when he (the younger brother in need) came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.’”

9.     What did he recognize was his true situation?

10.  What steps did he realize he would have to take to repent?

The Return

Read Luke 15:20–24

(Jesus continued,) “And he (the younger son in need) arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him (the younger son who had come home), and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”

11.  What did the young man do to get out of the pigpen experience?

12.  What did he do to complete his repentance?

13.  What all did the father do to celebrate his restored relationship with his son?

Read Luke 15:25–32

(Jesus continued,) “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

14.  How did the older son react to the father’s celebration of his relationship with the younger son?

15.  In what way do we see that the older son’s proximity to the father failed to duplicate the father’s heart in him?

16.  Had his overgrown view of his own goodness served him well?

17.  Was he living as a true son to his father?

18.  How is the older son worse off than the one who finally hits rock bottom, unable to see that he is squandering his father’s riches on a different kind of sinful living?

19.  Who was Jesus describing as the true son?

20.  What do we learn here about the kingdom of God?

Make Personal Applications of the Lessons

21.  Review God’s plan of how to have a right relationship with him:

a.     Isaiah 53:5-6 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned – every one – to his own way; and the Lord and laid on him the iniquity of us all.

b.     Luke 5:31-32 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

c.     Acts 3:18-19 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore that your sins may be blotted out.

d.     2 Corinthians 7:9-10 Yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

e.     Romans 2:5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.

f.      Revelation 3:3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard, hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

22.  Examine how you may have already rightly responded to the Father like the younger son:

·      I refused to stay in the pigpen, engaging in sin.

·      I humbly refused to feel that I deserve all that God has done for me.

·      I ran to the Father and found him waiting to celebrate and honor me!

·      I am happy to be forgiven through faith in the shed blood of Jesus.

·      I am freed from fear.

·      I am becoming more like the Father.

·      I love people like God does and am rooting for others to receive what I have received from God.

·      I am eager to tell others about Jesus and His offer of repentance.

·      I am excited about the future.

23.  Do you get it? Have you admitted your pigpen experience living a life away from the heart of the Father? Or, do you continue to claim “I have never been that far from God” and never felt the need to repent?

24.  Are you still resourced with enough money, food, friends, health, and a comfortable home and lifestyle to not see where you truly are: comfortably separated from God?

25.  Examine how you may be like the older son:

·      I am near the Father in my activities, but my heart is far from His heart.

·      I feel I deserve good things from God.

·      I doubt that repentance is real in those who have strayed far away.

·      I am not too concerned that repentance comes to others.

·      I am constantly looking to build relationships with people who are like me and avoid contact with people far from God.

·      I fear the future.

·      Deep down, I wonder if I’m good enough.

·      I am concerned that others would be shocked by my repentance.

26.  Do you actually believe no one is aware of your faults?

27.  Will you find your way to the Father?

·      Ask Jesus how He sees your righteousness.

·      See your pride as on the same level of offensiveness to God as prostitution, and drunkenness, and every other vile sin.

·      Stop justifying your frustration with God.

·      Stop condemning others while you fail to repent.

·      Receive the righteousness of Jesus through repentance and faith in him.

28.  The bottom line is this: when You get to heaven, are you going to say to God, “Look at all I have done,” or are you are going to say, “Look at what Jesus has done for me.”