The Way of the Father - Luke 15:11-32

March 4, 2023 Pastor: Terry Embke Series: The Life of Jesus Christ

Topic: Study of the Life of Christ Passage: Luke 15:11–32

030523 - “The Way of the Father”...Luke 15:11-32

Luke 15:1-2...“All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to (Jesus). And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!’”

Sermon In A Sentence:God enthusiastically searches for every lost son or daughter & celebrates everyone who repents of their sin & trusts Jesus.

John 14:9...“Jesus said… ‘whoever has seen Me has seen the Father…’”

John 10:30...“I and the Father are One”

Luke 15:11-20...“He also said: A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets to them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living. After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing. Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. He longed to eat his fill from the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him any. When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired hands.’ So he got up and went to his father.”

The Way of the Prodigal Son:
-A rebellion that feels like freedom; but ends in despair
-A happiness hoped for, is never found in living for yourself
-A faith conversion occurs only when you come to your senses
- Everything he wanted was already in his father’s house

Luke 15:20-24...“So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father told his slaves, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate”

The Way of the Father:
-The Father is always attentive to His prodigal children
-The Father is full of compassion for His prodigal children
-The Father runs to receive His repentant, prodigal child
-The Father is eager to forgive His prodigal children

Jeremiah 29:13...“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart”

Luke 15:25-32...“Now his older son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he summoned one of the servants and asked what these things meant. ‘Your brother is here,’ he told him, ‘and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and didn’t want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’ ‘Son,’ he said to him, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

The Way of the Self-Righteous Son:
-He was focused on himself & felt he was treated unfairly
-He held an overly inflated view of himself
-He was quick to point his finger at the other brother’s sin
-He was offended at the scandal of the Father’s grace

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