In the Mirror of the Prodigal Son provides a comprehensive history of the function of the parable of the prodigal son in shaping religious identity in medieval and Reformation Europe. By investigating a wealth of primary sources, the book reveals the interaction between commentaries, sermons, religious plays, and images as a decisive factor in the increasing popularity of the prodigal son. Pietro Delcorno highlights the ingenious and multifaceted uses of the parable within pastoral activities and shows the pervasive presence of the Bible in medieval communication. The prodigal son narrative became the ideal story to convey a discourse about sin and penance, grace and salvation. In this way, the parable was established as the paradigmatic biography of any believer.

OVER TWO MILLION COPIES SOLD! It's the most powerful force in the universe, our only hope for love and forgiveness, and a foretaste of eternal life: amazing, radical, life-changing grace. Millions of lives have been changed by award-winning author Philip Yancey's startling exploration of grace at street level. Grace is the one thing the world can't duplicate, the healing force we need, and the key to transforming a broken world. In this revised and updated edition of his personal and provocative book, Yancey offers true portraits of grace's life-changing power. These stories, set in the midst of life's stark realities, evoke such questions as: If grace is God's love for the undeserving, how do I get it? How well are we dispensing grace to a world that knows far more of strife and unforgiveness than it does of mercy? Can grace make a difference in the midst of such atrocities as the Nazi holocaust, and how can it withstand the brutality of hate? With powerful stories, rich theology, and practical suggestions, Yancey challenges us to become living answers to a world that desperately needs to know, What's So Amazing About Grace?

With over a million copies sold, this classic work is essential reading for all who ask, “Where has my struggle led me?” A chance encounter with a reproduction of Rembrandt’s The Return of the Prodigal Son catapulted Henri Nouwen on an unforgettable spiritual adventure. Here he shares the deeply personal and resonant meditation that led him to discover the place within where God has chosen to dwell. As Nouwen reflects on Rembrandt’s painting in light of his own life journey, he evokes a powerful drama of the classic parable in a rich, captivating way that is sure to reverberate in the hearts of readers. Nouwen probes the several movements of the parable: the younger son’s return, the father’s restoration of sonship, the elder son’s resentfulness, and the father’s compassion. The themes of homecoming, affirmation, and reconciliation will be newly discovered by all who have known loneliness, dejection, jealousy, or anger. The challenge to love as God loves, and to be loved as God’s beloved, will be seen as the ultimate revelation of the parable known to Christians throughout time, and is here represented with a vigor and power fresh for our times.

The Waiting Father is a collection of sermons by Helmut Thielicke, the great German preacher and theologian, which offer deep insights into the spiritual message of Jesus's fifteen major parables. They were originally preached in Michaelskirche, Hamburg, in the mid-1950s. Thielicke approaches the parables in novel ways. In treating the prodigal son, for instance, he concentrates more on the loving father than the rebellious son, emphasising the centrality of forgiveness. Similarly, when discussing the pharisee and the publican he shows that the publican is guilty of spiritual pride and arrogance, drawing attention to the dangers for the faithful. Both among expositions of the parables and among books for preachers, The Waiting Father stands in a class of its own. Great scholars are usually poor preachers, and great scholars are rarely good preachers, but Thielicke manages to combine distinguished scholarship with fine preaching.

From the celebrated imagination of Dean Koontz comes a powerful reworking of one of the classic stories of all time. If you think you know the legend, you know only half the truth. Here is the mystery, the myth, the terror, and the magic of . . . Every city has its secrets. But none as terrible as this. He is Deucalion, a tattooed man of mysterious origin, a sleight-of-reality artist who has traveled the centuries with a secret worse than death. He arrives in New Orleans as a serial killer stalks the streets, a killer who carefully selects his victims for the humanity that is missing in himself. Deucalion’s path will lead him to cool, tough police detective Carson O’Connor and her devoted partner, Michael Maddison, who are tracking the slayer but will soon discover signs of something far more terrifying: an entire race of killers who are much more–and less–than human and, deadliest of all, their deranged, near-immortal maker: Victor Helios–once known as Frankenstein.

Get an Easy-to-Understand Overview on the Parable of the Prodigal Son: Packed with engaging commentary, fascinating facts, and reflection questions, this easy-to-understand Bible Study pamphlet digs deeper into the beloved Parable of the Prodigal Son. Enjoy compelling life applications and relevant lessons on grace, anger, and compassion. Easily see how all the characters are “prodigals” with a quick-reference chart comparing the attitudes of the— Wayward Son Judgmental Older Brother Loving Father Explains the Historical Context of the Parable of the Prodigal Son Discover how Jewish culture, politics, and religion affected the meaning and lessons of the Prodigal Son parable. For instance, find out fascinating facts, including: Pigs were considered the most unclean animals in Jewish culture. Therefore, when the prodigal longed for pig food, it shows he hit rock bottom. The prodigal son’s request for his “share of the estate” was not just a desire for independence, but a sign of disrespect since family property was ordinarily given after the father’s death. The prodigal son parable is one of three parables Jesus shares in response to critical Jewish leaders. The joy of the father in finding his lost son is meant to teach the Jewish audience to have that same joy in finding their Messiah. Features Relevant Personal and Life Application Questions Whether you have children rebelling against their faith, family members no longer wanting to believe, or friends going through a mid-life faith crisis, discover lessons of healing, such as: How to show Christ-like forgiveness and grace in all relationships How parents can maintain an attitude of trust in God How all Christians can live out the grace the loving father showed to his son How to avoid being overwhelmed with anger and hurt and be willing to embrace our prodigals Includes In-Depth Character Studies on BOTH Prodigal Brothers Explains how both brothers are “prodigal” in their own way Provides key insights into the responses of the self-righteous older brother and the wayward younger brother Breaks down deeper into the reasons for the elder brother’s lack of compassion Shares Comforting Prayers for Those With Their Own “Prodigals” A prodigal is from a Latin word meaning a person who is “wasteful.” In this parable, the meaning is extended to suggest a person who is wasteful with their life. Whether the person is your own child who is rebelling against God, a Christian friend who doubts their faith, or a church member who is no longer sure of her belief, gain comfort with— Key prayers in the Bible as you wait on your prodigal child, friend or family member. Psalms for when you worry about your prodigal Psalms for protection for your prodigal Model prayer as you wait on your prodigal The Parable of the Prodigal Son Bible Study study tackles issues we all face today, and is perfect for Small groups covering the parables of Jesus, new Christians wanting to study God’s grace and forgiveness to all, and anyone needing a fresh reminder of the grace Christians are called to extend to all. Pamphlet has 14 panels, unfolds to 5.5 x 38” long, fits inside a Bible cover.

Prior to writing his great classic, The Return of the Prodigal Son, Henri Nouwen suffered an enormous personal loss and breakdown that took him away from his home in the L’Arche Daybreak community for a period of seven months. His thoughts were intense, raw and deeply private, and ultimately revealed to him the passionate drama of parenthood, filial duty, rivalry, anger and unconditional love on display in Rembrandt’s painting.On his return from solitude, Henri held small, private workshops on his revelations that were recorded in audio. The material of those extremely personal talks has now been formed into a unique work.Home Tonight brings to light Nouwen’s lectures on the Prodigal Son in a powerful guide for spiritual reflection. Providing exercises, suggestions for times of solitude, questions for pondering, simple prayers, and aides for personal journaling, Home Tonight leads readers to commune with God through spiritual listening.A practical guide for the inner journey home, this important book will give those who adore Nouwen’s works the chance to hear his voice anew on his most popular topic.