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What are the two kinds of people?

Unexpected Glory

How The Prodigal God Found Me in An Airport Shuttle Van Growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord is the counsel of 2nd Peter 3:18. Jesus in Luke 15 grows the knowledge of our faith by defining clearly for us what it means to follow the Lord and live a life of faith.

In his book The Prodigal God, Tim Keller the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, presents a fresh take on perhaps Jesus’ best-known parable, The Parable of The Prodigal Son. Keller’s teaching of the parable has had a profound effect on me. Reinforcing who God is. While showing me that God provides unexpected glory. My discovery of this book was the result of an unexpected conversation with a van driver on the way to the Atlanta airport from Athens. When the van driver discovered that I was a pastor he asked if I had preached the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Proudly I said yes. Then he asked of the two sons’ which one sinned? With every bit of my seminary training and Bible learning I proudly said “of course, it was the son who went away.” The son who stayed was outraged and deserved to be so; however, he was no sinner, he kept the faith. The van driver a man about my age who had lived by his own admission a lifetime on the edge said, “Have you ever considered that they were both sinners?” For the next hour, we discussed the matter and by the time I reached the airport, I had experienced the first of three unexpected glories which birthed this Bible Study. The magic of eBooks placed the book on my tablet with the first chapter read before takeoff. The book was finished as I touched down in Chicago and with it, I experienced the second unexpected glory. A fresh and I believe a more accurate view of the parable. A view that I had to share with the church I pastor and the virtual worship community that I lead. How to teach the valuable content of The Prodigal God led to my third unexpected glory. Luke 15 is the powerhouse chapter that is the springboard to the life-changing message of Jesus. Prayer led to the

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Go to www.marbenbland.com/theprodicalgod or scan the QR for more informative content.

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