WeChat ESL Class on July 22, 2017

A. High-lights of the Week

B. Short Story: a glass of milk
One day, a poor boy, who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, How much do I owe you? "You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness."
He said... "Then I thank you from my heart."
As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was stronger also. He had been ready to give up and quit.
Many years later that same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.
Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.
Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once.
He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to her case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won.
Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words.....
"Paid in full with one glass of milk." -- Signed -- Dr. Howard Kelly.
Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank you, God , that Your love has spread through human hearts and hands."
There's a saying which goes something like this: "Bread cast on the waters comes back to you. The good deed you do today may benefit you or someone you love at the least expected time. If you never see the deed again at least you will have made the world a better place." And, after all, isn't that what life is all about?

C. American Idioms
1 (A) lady-killer:
     "He thinks of himself as quite the ladykiller. Unfortunately for him, women don't see him that way."

2. Last but not least:
  "Last but not least, I'd like to thank my parents."

3. Last ditch (adj.):
. "They made a last-ditch effort to win the game, but came up short."

4. (To) lay a finger on someone:
 "If you so much as lay a finger on him, you will be in trouble."

5. (To) lay low:
SEE "KEEP A LOW PROFILE"

6. (To) leave a bad taste in someone's mouth:
 "The experience left a bad taste in my mouth."

7. (To) leave someone high and dry:
*somewhat antiquated* To leave someone helpless.

8. (To) leave someone alone:
 "Leave me alone! I don't want to talk to anyone."

9. (To) let off steam:
 That's OK, he's just letting off a little steam."

10. (To) let someone off the hook:
"Natalie said she didn't want to wash the dishes, but her mom didn't let her off the hook." 

D. Bible Lesson - Luke 15:11-24

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Discussion Questions:

1. Who did Jesus tell this story to? Why?
2. What did the son in the story do wrong?
3. What happened to the son and how did he feel?
4. How did the son expect the father to treat him?
5. How did the father treat his son?
6. How is God like the father in Jesus' story?
7. According to the memory verse, what will happen if we admit our sins to God?

Memory Verse: 1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins.