07.08.18 | Thread
Two Prodigals And A Father
Justin Detmers
Luke
We are all lost and only those who recognize their own lostness will be found. What does being found look like? Pastor Justin Detmers walks us through Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son and points out that we all have different characteristics of lostness in our lives, yet can be found in Jesus.
Luke
- Live Notes
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 pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers 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 workers.”’
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 servants, ‘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.
“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, questioning 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.”
Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.
All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to him. And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Younger Brothers – “Rule Breakers”
- Irreligious and unrighteous
- Disobedient, visible sins
- Obviously lost
Older Brothers – “Rule Followers”
- Religious and self-righteous
- Outwardly obedient, but hidden sin
- Don’t know why they’re lost
“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 goat so that 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.’
Heart of an Older Brother
- Anger and comparison
- Resentful duty
- Self-righteous
- Looks down in disgust
For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.
Heart of the Father
- Compassionate
- Bent towards reconciliation. Seeks and saves
- Values (Lost) People
- Patient
“‘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.’”
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