Comments on: surprising book recommendation http://besquared.org/onthewalk/2009/01/29/surprising-book-recommendation/ Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:08:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Matt http://besquared.org/onthewalk/2009/01/29/surprising-book-recommendation/comment-page-1/#comment-205 Matt Sun, 01 Feb 2009 01:21:18 +0000 http://besquared.org/walkblog/2009/01/29/surprising-book-recommendation/#comment-205 Thanks, Ethan! This will definately go on my reading list! I'll also point readers to the other full-length book on the parable of the Prodigal Son that came out last year: "A Tale of Two Sons" by John MacArthur. My small group just finished studying that book. MacArthur takes the reader back in time so that they can hear and understand the parable in its original context. He presented the basics of middle eastern peasant life in the first century by providing a primer on shame-honor culture and Pharisaic legalism. When you read the parable in that context, you really understand just how shocking and powerful the parable really is. We were blessed to have a Messianic Jew in our small group. He gave us some real-world insights. Like the prodigal, his orthodox family considered him dead, had the funeral, mourned him, etc (Luke 15:32). The most surprising thing about the parable is that Jesus left it unfinished... what did the older son do? I'll let you think about that. We finished the study last week with a deep appreciation of repentance, grace, and the joy of God. Here is a link to the book: http://www.gty.org/Products/Books/451161 The sermon series in MP3 format can be downloaded free of charge here: http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/series/260 There are a few versions of the sermon posted. I recommend listening to 'The Licentious Son' followed by 'The Loving Father' and wrapping up with 'The Legalistic Son'. --Matt Thanks, Ethan! This will definately go on my reading list!

I’ll also point readers to the other full-length book on the parable of the Prodigal Son that came out last year: “A Tale of Two Sons” by John MacArthur.

My small group just finished studying that book. MacArthur takes the reader back in time so that they can hear and understand the parable in its original context. He presented the basics of middle eastern peasant life in the first century by providing a primer on shame-honor culture and Pharisaic legalism. When you read the parable in that context, you really understand just how shocking and powerful the parable really is.

We were blessed to have a Messianic Jew in our small group. He gave us some real-world insights. Like the prodigal, his orthodox family considered him dead, had the funeral, mourned him, etc (Luke 15:32).

The most surprising thing about the parable is that Jesus left it unfinished… what did the older son do? I’ll let you think about that.

We finished the study last week with a deep appreciation of repentance, grace, and the joy of God.

Here is a link to the book:
http://www.gty.org/Products/Books/451161

The sermon series in MP3 format can be downloaded free of charge here:
http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/series/260

There are a few versions of the sermon posted. I recommend listening to ‘The Licentious Son’ followed by ‘The Loving Father’ and wrapping up with ‘The Legalistic Son’.

–Matt

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