The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller
Week 5: Chapter 4 — Redefining Lostness
Read Chapter 4 of The Prodigal God.
Previewing Week 5 of The Prodigal God
Read 3 of 8 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 8-week guide when you’re ready.
Keller presses further into what it means to be truly 'lost,' arguing that lostness is not always visible from the outside — and that recovering a sense of our own lostness is the beginning of finding our way home.
Discussion Questions
8 questions1.Keller argues that there are two ways to be lost: you can be lost by running away from home (the younger brother) or you can be lost while appearing to be home (the elder brother). Which form of lostness do you think is harder to recognize and why?
2.Keller describes 'younger brother lostness' as obvious and visible — moral failure, broken relationships, consequences that are impossible to ignore. In what ways does this kind of lostness actually create an advantage in coming to God?
3.Keller describes 'elder brother lostness' as hidden — you can be inside the church, performing religious duties, and still be fundamentally alienated from the father's heart. What are the warning signs of this kind of lostness that Keller identifies?
a.Keller mentions joylessness, a need to be recognized for one's sacrifices, and resentment toward those who receive unearned grace. Which of these feels most personally convicting?
b.Is it possible to be genuinely converted and still fall into elder-brother patterns? How does Keller navigate that?