Amazing Grace – Bible Study

Miss Alice’s daughter, Margaret, returns to Cutter Gap after selfishly staging her own drowning. How do Miss Alice and Christy react to her surprising visit in scene one? How would you have reacted? Watch scene two and compare Miss Alice with the father in the biblical story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32. Discuss “grace” and what it means.

There are a number of instances in this episode where Margaret’s self-centered behavior is evident, particularly when she leaves again without saying goodbye to her mother. Read the scriptures and then discuss the guidelines that the Bible provides for living a life that is selfless: Romans 12:10 & 15:1-2, I Corinthians 10:24 & 13:4-5.

When Margaret disappeared–believed to be a drowning victim–the pain that Miss Alice Henderson and Dr. Neil MacNeill, Margaret’s husband, experienced is unimaginable. Now after several years of their grieving over the loss, Margaret suddenly reappears, hoping to make amends. It’s Miss Alice who demonstrates “grace” even though she realizes the scope of her daughter’s selfishness. Like the biblical story of the prodigal son, Miss Alice welcomes back her daughter with open arms, declaring her deep love for her wayward daughter. Sadly, it isn’t long before Margaret selfishly walks away without a goodbye, turning her back on Cutter Gap and leaving her mother to mourn once more.

How similar this story is to the way Jesus Christ welcomes us into His loving arms. No matter what we have done, He loves us anyway, forgiving and forgetting our past. Still, like Margaret in the story, we may choose to reject that love, an act that grieves God’s heart. But the Lord’s love and forgiveness is never ending; it’s beyond our comprehension and available to us all. The only thing we have to do is accept His Grace. What a wonderful assurance!