This morning we are going to be talking about a story that is so familiar to you that when I read to you the first line, most of you will immediately recognize it. The first line reads: And there was a father who had two sons. Immediately we recognize it as the parable of the Prodigal Son. Is there anything new that we can squeeze out of this familiar story?

You remember the story as Jesus told it. There was a certain landowner who had two sons. As these boys grew up they began to show the difference in their styles. The older brother was hard working, industrious, dedicated to the daily task. The younger son was a little rebellious. He wanted to have his own way and speak his own piece. Why does life turn out this way? Two sons raised in the same family, presumably shown the same amount …