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Two lost sons, one running father, and a party you might be missing.

What if the parable of the Prodigal Son isn't really about one lost son — but two? In this episode of The Leader Lounge, Chris and Emily Storms dig into Luke 15:11-32 and unpack the story Jesus told the Pharisees about a reckless younger brother, a self-righteous older brother, and a father who ran to them both. They walk through the "came to himself" moment in the pig field, the scandal of a Middle Eastern father hiking up his robe to sprint, and the part of the story where Jesus abruptly stops. Perfect for youth ministry leaders, parents, and anyone wrestling with grace, religion, and what it really means to come home.

"One brother left in rebellion, but the other stayed in religion. Both were lost. Both were pursued."

SCRIPTURE REFERENCED

• Luke 15:11-32 (Parable of the Prodigal Son)
• Luke 15:1-2 (the audience: tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees, scribes)
• Luke 15:1-10 (context: Lost Sheep and Lost Coin)

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

• Emily's simple definition of a parable and why Jesus used them.
• Who Jesus was really talking to in Luke 15 — and why it matters.
• What the younger son was really saying when he asked for his inheritance early.
• A working definition of sin — using the Father's gifts while rejecting the Father.
• Why a Jewish audience would have heard "feeding pigs" as rock bottom.
• "When he came to himself" — the realization moment before repentance.
• The father watching the horizon: a picture of a God who pays attention.
• In that culture, men didn't run — the scandal of the sprinting father.
• The robe and the ring: full restoration, heir status, back in the family.
• Part 2: the older brother standing outside the party, refusing to come in.
• Why Jesus stops the story mid-scene and leaves it unfinished.
• A warning for lifelong church kids: don't miss the party by keeping score.

RESOURCES/LINKS MENTIONED

"When God Ran" by Benny Hester (1985) – The song Chris mentions about the father running to the prodigal son

FOR YOUTH LEADERS

• Great club talk hook: end the story with the question, "Are you in the party?"
• Use this parable alongside the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin (Luke 15:1-10) to show the escalating stakes of what's "lost."
• When teaching kids, clarify up front that a parable is a story Jesus told to illustrate a point — there was no actual father or son.
• Name the two ways people get lost: rebellion (younger son) and religion (older son). Both need grace.

NEXT WEEK ON THE LOUNGE

Join us next Tuesday as we continue through the stories of Jesus — and look for some youth-ministry-focused conversations mixed in alongside our Bible stories.

Note: We provide links to specific resources; this is not an endorsement of the entire website, author, organization, etc. Their views may not represent our's.

Contact Us: leaderlounge@gmail.com

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The hated tax collector thought he was hunting Jesus down. Turns out Jesus was the one doing the seeking.

Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree just to catch a glimpse of Jesus passing through Jericho — but when Jesus stopped, looked up, and called him by name, everything changed. In this episode of The Leader Lounge, Young Life leaders Chris and Emily Storms walk through Luke 19:1-10 and one of the most surprising encounters in the Gospels: a hated chief tax collector, a short man in a leafy tree, and a Savior who invites Himself to dinner. Along the way they talk about Jericho's biblical history, why the rich young ruler from the previous chapter makes such a striking contrast, and practical ways to teach this story to kids at club or camp. A perfect listen for youth ministry leaders, parents, and anyone who's ever felt too far gone to be found.

"Zacchaeus thought he was the one looking for Jesus. But really, Jesus was coming to seek him out and to save him."

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

• Why the story of Zacchaeus is only found in Luke's Gospel.
• Jericho's long biblical history — from Joshua's marching band to Jesus passing through.
• Setting the scene like a parade: crowds, a road, and one short man desperate to see.
• Why verse 3 matters — Zacchaeus was seeking to see who Jesus was, not what He could do.
• Context: Jesus healed the blind beggar right before this (Luke 18:35-43).
• What a chief tax collector really was, and why Zacchaeus was hated as a traitor.
• Contrasting Zacchaeus with the rich young ruler — two very different responses to Jesus.
• The interruptible life of Jesus — He always made time for the people who needed Him.
• The sycamore tree's leaves gave Zacchaeus a place to hide, until Jesus looked up.
• Fruit of repentance: radical generosity, restoring fourfold, salvation at his house.
• Luke 19:10 sums up the whole mission of Jesus: "The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
• Why being called "a son of Abraham" matters — for Zacchaeus and for us.

FOR YOUTH LEADERS

• Teaching tip: use a visual — a branch, a prop tree, even a chair the speaker climbs — to help kids remember the moment Jesus looked up.
• Great talk question: "What are you risking to see who Jesus is?"
• Pair this story with the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-30) to contrast two responses to Jesus.
• Point out the crowd's reaction ("they all grumbled") as a launch point for talking about being in the world but not of it.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCED
Luke 19:1-10 (Zacchaeus)
Luke 18:18-30 (the rich young ruler)
Luke 18:35-43 (Jesus heals the blind beggar near Jericho)
Joshua 6 (the fall of Jericho)

NEXT WEEK ON THE LOUNGE
Join us next Tuesday as we dig into one of Jesus' most famous parables — the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15.

Note: We provide links to specific resources; this is not an endorsement of the entire website, author, organization, etc. Their views may not represent our's.

Contact Us: leaderlounge@gmail.com

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In this episode we talk about Jesus standing on the beach when the disciples had fished all night. Similar to the story of Jesus first time calling Peter, Jesus fills their nets with fish! Then, he cooks them some breakfast and has a conversation with Peter, restoring him and telling him to follow him again!

Note: We provide links to specific resources; this is not an endorsement of the entire website, author, organization, etc. Their views may not represent our's.

Contact Us: leaderlounge@gmail.com

Emily's Instagram

Chris' Instagram

Chris' Substack - Love, Life, and Lampoonery