Two roads: LOST part 1

This series will be for the recent class we finished on "How to study the Bible". I knew I would preaching soon and wanted the class to see some of what I do to help prepare me to study for a message.

I think fairly randomly at times, so this may not be in exact order, because I sort of have my own way of studying that utilizes many of the things that we have talked about in order .... first of all we will begin observing some things.

The passage I knew I wanted to address was Luke 15: 11-32 (grab your Bible and read it).

After reading through a couple of times (using TNIV, ESV, NLT) and then going back
Observations

Basic characters involved: father, son who left (younger), son who stayed (older), person who hired the son who left, and the pigs (I believe there names were Huey, Duey, and Louie).
Asked for inheritance ahead of time (is this normal?)
Took a couple of days to gather his belongings
Younger son (or YS for short) spent all he had (how long did it take)
YS traveled far (how far?)
YS spent wealth unwisely (squandered in reckless living) (How reckless? Which way is it reckless?)
YS Hired himself out to a citizen of another country to feed pigs (was the YS Jewish, could he handle pigs, how would this handling of pigs relate to Jewish audience?)
YS was poor enough at this job to not earn enough to feed himself (or he maybe continued to squander his wealth?)
YS wanted to eat the pods of the pigs
YS realized what position he was in and could be treated better with his father as a hired hand
YS planned to go to the father and apologize
YS along way off when father spotted him
Father felt compassion, embraced and kissed his son
YS stated his practiced speech to his father adding not even worthy to be his son
Father ordered other servants to put a robe, ring and shoes to YS (YS had it bad enough off to lose shoes?) ... also bring a fattened (prepared) calf to celebrate and eat .... party!
father sees YS as was dead, now alive, was lost and now found
Older Son (OS) heard party and investigated
OS asked servant what is going on, servant explained what happened
OS became angry and refused to join in on the party
father heard OS was out there and urged him to come back in
OS explained that all this time he himself had served, obeyed, but not got a goat (is goat same as calf?) to party with friends ....
OS explained "actions" of YS devoured property with prostitutes, and got the calf (again is goat different than calf?)
father explained to OS you are always with me and all I had was yours.
It was appropriate to celebrate because he was dead and now alive, was lost and now found (phrase was repeated)

After reading the context, I fairly quickly recognize that there is a more immediate context involved, the rest of chapter 15. The first two parables before the one of the father and sons shows a shepherd losing a sheep and searching, and a woman losing a coin and searching for it. That theme of losing, and searching and finding are common in all three parables.

more later.

For those in the class, please comment freely. OK .. fine, anyone.