“Come Home To The Father”

Matthew, Tara & Nathan

This week we continue our series titled, “Coming Home For Christmas” as we take a closer look at Luke 15:11-31. This weeks message will truly be a blessing to those who need to come home to the Father. Plan on bringing that person who needs encouragement or may be far from Him and needs a challenge about returning home to God.

READ: Luke 15:11-32

When I come to the Parable of the Prodigal Son, I am both humbled and excited...humbled because there has been so much great preaching on this passage that I have nothing unique to add. But excited because I have an opportunity with you to study in greater detail one of the most loved parables that Jesus ever taught.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son follows two shorter parables in which something that was lost is searched for and found, followed by celebrating. Each of them is intended to illustrate that “There is rejoicing in the presence of God over one sinner who repents” (15:10). The Pharisees had grumbled about Jesus’ attention to the “sinners” and tax collectors; Jesus’ response is that God is delighted when these lost ones repents and turns to him.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son makes the same point -- God’s joy at the repentance of a lost and wayward son. Too often we look only at the first part of the parable that focuses on the younger, wayward son, who represents the “sinners” and tax collectors. The second part of the parable focuses on the older son’s reaction -- one of anger and jealousy --representing the Pharisees’ own reaction to Jesus seeking the sinners.

Now that we’ve looked at the overall context, let’s examine the details of the first part of the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

The father, of course, represents God, the Father. The Prodigal Son represents those who have rebelled against God, who repent, and return to God. Here’s what we learn from this parable:
God does not prevent us from sinning and rebelling. We have freedom in our choice to do so.

Repentance is necessary for us to return to God. Without repentance we act as if we have a right to something. Repentance recognizes and confesses our moral bankruptcy and changes our direction. Repentance is a strong theme here, since Jesus mentions it in each of these three parables (15:7, 10, 17-19).

Even though he loves us immensely, God waits patiently until we “come to our senses.” We can’t talk, pursue, or persuade people into repenting. It is a conviction one must come to by them- self with the help of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8). Of course, the Holy Spirit can work strongly through anointed preaching and witnessing, but without the Holy Spirit’s work, such preaching can come across as judgmental.

The sinner is morally bankrupt and has absolutely no claim on the Father, only the Father’s love.

God, our Father is ready to show us his abundant mercy. The son deserves nothing, but the father lavishes on him the adornment of sonship. It’s not due to merit but to mercy. Part of the charm of this story is the utter graciousness of the father contrasted with the stinginess and jealousy of the older son.

If this is the way my heavenly Father feels towards the wayward and sinful -- full of compassion and mercy -- so must I nurture his attitude toward the lost around me. As a disciple others, I must not be proud or self-righteous, but boast only of the grace of God. It’s not a matter of fairness toward sinners, but of love.

Parts have been excerpted from  Jesus Walk, by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson

OPEN:

What person or incident illustrates for you an exemplary fatherly love?

EXPLORE:

• What series of decisions did the younger son make after receiving his inheritance? (15:13-20)
• What did the father do in response to his son’s return? (15:20-24)
• What was the older son’s perspective on his father’s mercy? (15:28-30)
• How did the father defend his actions? (15:31-32)

GET IT:

• Why do you think we tend to become obsessed with fairness?
• When have you personally experienced God’s unmerited favor and blessing?
• How can every day be a celebration for those who are seeking to follow God and have returned home?
• In what way was the love extended by the father really the same for both brothers?

APPLY:

• Who do you know that is living a prodigal life in relationship to God? What can you do this Christmas season to help them “come home” to the Father? What step will you begin to take to help them move towards God?

Some questions excerpted from illumina