Bringing Home the Prodigals

by Rob Parsons

There is no pain like parental pain and the love of a parent for a child is like no other. Our children can disappoint us, hurt us, even abuse us but somehow we cannot stop loving them. And yet as much as we love them we cannot live their lives for them. Our children make choices. And sometimes those choices are bad ones. And yet so often we feel the guilt ourselves. But is it possible that we have made prodigals of some of our children who never turned their backs on God at all - just on some pseudo caricature of the Church and discipleship? This incredible book is a call for parents to be released from guilt, the church to repent of the part it has played, and a call to prayer that the prodigals will come home.

Genres: Family, Christian

Paperback

First published March 1, 2003

About the author

Rob Parsons OBE is an international speaker on family issues and the author of many best-sellers including The Heart of Success and The 60-Minute Father. Over half a million people have attended his live seminars.

He is the founding chairman of Care for the Family.

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

READ JUL 2017

This addresses the prodigals in a unique way. I have not read anywhere else before this how the church could be "creating" an environment that produces prodigals.

[Janna Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am blown away by the heart of this book and Rob Parsons for the lost, even the lost who never left home. This book is timely and relevant to where the church is right now.

Rob mentions how we are leading people to Jesus and they are coming in the front door even as prodigals are leaving out the back door because of the older brother's critical spirit.

On page 105 he says... If your prodigals do come home, pray with all your hearts that they meet the father first and not the elder brother. Oh that elder brother! The one who did his sinning without ever leaving. The one who needed to "come home" every bit as much as his brother but who could never grasp what the heart of real love is - both to give and to receive it. For a non-fiction book, it is a very easy read but it will blow your mind!

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for anyone who has ever loved and lost a teenager to peer pressure, drugs, alchohol or just rebellion. Some never come back. Some are never forgiven. Many are left staring at the chasm which has opened up between a much loved child and the parents. I cried all the way through this book. It touches deep, and it gives strategies and hope where before there was despair.

[Herbert Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rob Parson offers some solid prayer points on asking God to bring your prodigal (child, spouse, friend, etc.) back to Him and the Kingdom first and foremost - and if they DO return to you, that you will receive them as the father, not the older brother.

[Melissa (So Behind) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are the parent of a prodigal, this one will hit close to home and be a help and comfort.

[James Tidd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rob Parsons uses the story of the Prodigal Son parable to let us understand that there is always a Prodigal Son, Daughter, Husband, Wife or even Friend out there somewhere. In this message to the whole church, he urges us to be released from our false guilts, to stop judging each other badly, and to remember that God, who is the perfect parent, has trouble with his children (us) too. With his usual honesty, he suggests that when our prodigals do come home, pray with all our hearts that they meet the father first and not the elder brother.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

If YOU struggle, your children or loved ones struggle or anyone you know struggles and has walked away from the Christian values you raised them or you know they were raised with, THIS is the book for you. LOVE them back and that begins with YOU figuring out how to do this. Great book, quick read, packed with a message for you.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible book filled with joy and hope in the midst of desperate times. The author declares that no one is outside of salvation and God no matter what the current circumstances may indicate.

[Sophie Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very powerful book!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read if you have a passion to serve the Lord! It is an awesome read if you are in a season of a prodigal, if you desire to lead others closer to Christ, or just to explore the heart of ministry.

[Miriam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bueno escuche muchos programas de Sixto Porras y pues me anime a leer uno de sus libros. Muy interesante pequeño y facil de leer. Les recomiendo :)