The Prodigal Son: The Prodigal Son: The practical steps for repentance “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight” (Luke 15:21)

Welcome to the Computer Presentation Please Enter Your Name(s) S T M ARY C OMPUTER C ENTER, E AST B RUNSWICK, NJ, Sunday School Computer Program© 2004 OK The Prodigal Son: The Prodigal Son: The practical steps for repentance

The Story of the Prodigal Son  The story of the Prodigal Son will remain an abundant spring for the mercies of God.  The church reads this parable at the beginning of the Lent. Click the Movie above to watch the Story of The Prodigal Son or press Next

Lessons  The deep love of the Father who always forgives.  The state of the sinner and how sin corrupted the life of man, destroyed him and caused his misery.  Self-righteousness and dependence on human strength in life are useless.  A warning against fall, rewarding the repentant and forgiving sins as the true repentance is renewal of life.

Steps of repentance in the life of the Prodigal Son The First Step: He began to be in need  Being in need of fatherhood is the first step towards repentance.  Hunger and thirst for righteousness is the main gate through which repentant enter. In this stage in the life of the Prodigal Son the Scripture says: “So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine” (Luke 15:5)

Steps of repentance in the life of the Prodigal Son The Second Step: He came to himself  True repentance does not mean mere grief, but is it the blessed grief?  The blessed grief is the grief for the sake of God. “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but ungodly grief produces death” (2 Corinthians 7:10) In this stage, the Prodigal Son says: “How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger. I will arise and go to my father as I have confidence in his fatherhood and his love whatever my sins are”

Steps of repentance in the life of the Prodigal Son The Third Step: Taking a decision “He rose and came to his father”  Repentance is a change of attitude and a deep change of the heart’s attitude.  Holy grief, repentance, faith and confidence in the promise of God represents inner change.  Zacchaeus repented before all the people and decided to give half of his property to the poor and if he cheated anyone, he would pay him back four times as much.

Steps of repentance in the life of the Prodigal Son The Fourth Step: Going to confession “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight”  The final step which is declaring the inner repentance and the change of situation by confessing to the priest to whom believers entrust their secrets and confessions and who is given the power of loosening and binding according to the apostolic power received by the apostles from the Lord Himself.

Conclusions & Applications  There is no place better than the Father’s house where He cares for us and leads us in green pastures.  There is no rest and comfort for us away from our Father’s house. We pray that we may never leave His house.  Let us resist our sins through practicing the exercises given to us by our father of confession.  Let us pray so that the Lord may bring back those who are outside the Church and help the repentant to stand firm in faith.

S T M ARY C OMPUTER C ENTER, E AST B RUNSWICK, NJ, Sunday School Computer Program© 2004Quiz

Q1- Who does the father is the story represent? Next

Q2- How did the son feel when he first got his money?

Q3- How did the son feel when he ran out of money? Next

Q4- Who helped the son when he ran out of money? Next

Q5- How did the Father feel when his son came back? Next

Q6- What did the Father do when his son came back? Next

Q7- What did the son do when he was sad, lonely, and out of money? Next

Q8- Will God forgive and accept us after we repent and confess our sin? Next

S T M ARY C OMPUTER C ENTER, E AST B RUNSWICK, NJ, Sunday School Computer Program© 2004