The Prodigal Son: Why the Father Ran, and Luke 15 for Everyone Who Has Wandered or Stayed
You know the story of the prodigal son. But only one person in it runs.
Not the son who wasted everything. Not the servants. The father. And the son who never left? When Jesus ends the story, he is the one still standing outside.
Maybe you have been far from God for a long time, and you wonder if He would want you back. Maybe you never left, and somehow it stopped feeling like home. Or maybe someone you love is in the far country, and you are the one watching the road.
A story told to two crowds at once
Jesus told this parable to sinners who had come near to hear Him, and to religious men who murmured because He welcomed them. It was meant for both. It is still meant for both.
A slow, honest walk through Luke 15
The Prodigal Son: Why the Father Ran is an 8-chapter study built from our film Why the Father Ran. It walks through Luke 15 line by line, with the history behind each scene explained simply, and helps you find where you are standing in the story.
Inside, you’ll discover
- The complaint behind the story: why Jesus told three “lost” stories, and the pattern the third one breaks (Chapter 1)
- What “give me” would have sounded like, and why both sons received a share that day (Chapter 2)
- What “prodigal” really means, the far country, the pigs, and the words “no man gave unto him” (Chapter 3)
- When he came to himself: the speech he rehearsed, and the line he never got to say (Chapter 4)
- Why a father running in public was so surprising, and what Rembrandt painted in the father’s hands (Chapter 5)
- The son who never left: serving for years, and still standing outside (Chapter 6)
- “Son, thou art ever with me”: why Jesus left the ending open (Chapter 7)
- Coming home: for the one who left, the one who stayed, and the one still waiting for someone (Chapter 8)
What’s included
- The full 171-page study, 8 chapters
- A seven-day journey home: a verse, one step and a prayer for each day
- 5 printable worksheets, including Where Am I Standing? and Keeping the Door Open
- 16 small group question cards, ready for a Bible study
- Prayers and journaling prompts in every chapter
- A printer-friendly edition
- Every verse quoted word for word from the King James Version
- An instant PDF download (6×9 in, large 14-point type). Nothing ships to your house.
This book is for you if
- You have wandered from God and want to know the way home
- You stayed and served for years, and feel more like a servant than a child
- You are praying for a son, daughter or spouse who walked away
- You lead a small group and want a ready-made study
- You want honest hope, without promises God never made
A note on safety: if you are in danger, or have had thoughts of ending your life, please reach out today: call or text 988 (US), call 911 in an emergency, or find a free line in your country at findahelpline.com.
A note from the author
This book grew out of our film, Why the Father Ran. Whichever son you are, the one who left or the one who stayed, I pray this study helps you see the Father coming out to meet you.
The Exiled Storyteller
Because this is an instant digital download, all sales are final. If anything goes wrong with your file, write to us and we’ll make it right.
Questions you might have
Is this a marriage book?
No. It is for anyone: married or single, young or old. It includes a section for parents and spouses waiting for someone to come home.
Can I use it in a small group?
Yes. Each chapter has discussion questions, and there are 16 printable question cards.
Is it a physical book? Can I print it?
It’s a PDF you download instantly. A printer-friendly edition is included for the worksheets and cards.
Do I need to watch the film first?
No, but it helps. Why the Father Ran is free on The Exiled Storyteller YouTube channel.
Come home
The Prodigal Son is $15: an instant download you can open tonight. “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” (Luke 15:24)