Lost: Part 2
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
2 of 3-Part Series looking @ God’s Love for His People
Enough to seek us out
Enough to Welcome us Home
Enough to send us out to find more lost!
Week-1 - God seeks lost People
Week-2 - God Welcomes the Lost to Return
Week-3 - We are mandated to GO TO the Lost w/ this message.
Last Week
Last Week
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
Jesus came to save & seek the lost
This week: What happens with those lost Sheep who respond to Jesus’ invitation to return to GtF?
Me
Me
Story: 4th-5th grade
Beginning of school year
after summer break
Teacher: “People change, give other students a chance.”
They never really changed!
Except one boy
From obnoxious to kind
Something changed in him…
…but we didn’t so so well in welcoming him back
his feelings were hurt, & he put up barriers in friendships
It wasn’t until weeks later that kids began to welcome him into their friend groups…
…myself included
We all share this nature:
We all share this nature:
Tell: Circle Game Story
Our nature is to exclude people
Once mind is set on exclusion..
..It’s hard to reset & include
But with God, it’s a little different…Luke 15:11-32…
The Embrace of Grace: God Awaits Our Return
The Embrace of Grace: God Awaits Our Return
Parable of the Prodigal Son, illustrates God's unconditional love and forgiveness for those who choose to return to Him…
…highlighting the warmth of His welcome after times of waywardness.
Reflecting on your own life and the times you have wandered away from God…
…or maybe you still haven’t accepted His offer of salvation…
..know that, no matter how far people have strayed..
..God is always ready to welcome them/YOU home with open arms.
Big Idea: No matter how far we are/go, God is always waiting with arms wide open, ready to embrace us when we decide to return home.
God’s Nature: is a loving Father who rejoices over every sinner who repents, emphasizing the importance of grace and forgiveness that comes from Him.
Last week we talked about the great lengths God went/goes to “FIND” us.
Now we see the lengths God went/goes to welcome us home!
1. Distance from Desires
1. Distance from Desires
11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. 13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
There are 3 people featured in this parable.
Father, Younger Son, & Older son
Younger:
Wants inheritance
While dad is still alive
Slap in face
Wasted/Squandered $$$
“Wild Living”
Antithetical to how he was raised
How often do we stray from God’s Will & pursue our own desires?
Ending in emptiness like the young man in this story.
money ran out, great famine, began to starve
Worked for Farmer feeding unclean pigs
Even further against God’s way!
Something needed to change:
Starve, Eat garbage, return home
Luke 15:17-19…
2. Dawning Realization of Need
2. Dawning Realization of Need
17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” ’
The young man came to his senses and realized his need to return to his father.
Not as Son, but as servant!
Desperation led to repentance
Repentance is a Self-awareness and the humbling path.
It reflects the moment when we, in our own lives, realize our need for God's grace, much like Christ calls us to himself from our brokenness.
What has Christ called you out of…while calling you to Himself?
That call for the younger son was not met with disdain, rejection, or anger…Luke 15:20-24…
3. Delightful Embrace of Grace
3. Delightful Embrace of Grace
20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ 22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.
What is the Father’s response?
Ran to him (filled w/Love & Compassion)
Not indicative of patriarch of family
embraced him - Hug - 30sec OXYTOCIN
kissed him - Holy Kiss Romans 16:16
16 Greet each other with a sacred kiss. All the churches of Christ send you their greetings.
Then the younger son began his rehearsed monologue:
21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’
And the Father cut him short…summoning the servants to bring all the Oikos Defining articles…
22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.
House Robe - for honored guests
Family Ring - Family signet (ability/approval for family/business transactions
Sandals - anthesis of poverty younger son just came from
In God’s Kingdom:
House Robe
Honor/Royalty
Family Ring
God’s Image Bearers again
Sandals
We are no longer in poverty outside of our relationship w/GtF
This wasn’t a simple exchange of This for That…Luke 15:23-24….
23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.
It was a celebration!
No disdain, anger, jealousy
That younger son insulted his father asking for inheritance while the father was still alive
Left the family business (OIKOS)
Squandered all his inheritance
Took a job that went wholly against God’s direction
Prostitution today
Yet the father’s response: PURE JOY
Remember last week: God rejoices when just 1 sinner repents and turns to Him?
That’s whats pictured here in this parable.
The Father rejoices over his son who returned home.
God rejoices when we return to him
No matter how low we sink
4. There is a warning of the Danger of Disdain in the closing
4. There is a warning of the Danger of Disdain in the closing
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’ 28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’ 31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’ ”
Those of us already at Home w/God…in His OIKOS:
The elder brother's reaction demonstrates resistance to grace and the danger of self-righteousness.
We are to REJOICE when people repent & return to God….
….never become jealous.
This is an opportunity for UNITY in God’s Family
The invitation to the elder brother to join the celebration is an invitation to all to embrace joy in God’s redemptive work, echoing Christ’s call to love and forgiveness.
You
You
What is/has been your reaction to God’s welcoming invitation to return to him?
Are you wandering in a land away from your Heavenly Father?
Finding brokenness/emptiness in your life?
So long as you are still breathing…
…God’s invitation to return stands.
You can’t sin greater that God’s grace & mercy.
God sets no criteria for your return other than repentance & acceptance of His welcome thru jesus Christ
What’s stopping you?
It can only be yourself at this point
Or, do you find yourself already welcomed back into God’s family.
Christ’s Oikos?
If so, are you a joyful recipient of God’s Grace & Mercy?
Or do you find yourself missing the joy…
…and, becoming resentful of others who return?
Big sinners?
Easy life?
Repentant but immature?
Will you celebrate with God/Family/Heavenly Hosts?
Or, will you stew over, sulk about, or even sabotage God’s returning sons & daughters?
We are called to rejoice!
We are called to rejoice!
Together!
We were lost.
God sought us.
Those who respond are now “found”.
And God’s Welcome Home for each of us is a celebration!
Thank you Jesus
Thank you Jesus
Our return to GtF is only thru Jesus Sacrifice on the Cross
He is the one responsible for paving the road of return.
Like the younger son leaving his sin behind…and coming home to His family…
…We too can return To GtF via the road of repentance marked by the blood of Jesus Christ.
PRAY Come Thou Fount - Raise an Ebenezer…
