Elder Brother Syndrome

Finding our Way back to God

Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.

But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.

But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’

Luke 15:15-32

Elder Brother SyndromeTurning your back on God!

The younger son pursues“self-discovery”

I’m the impulsive one!Follow the crowd, live for the moment, feels good

do it,

Le isure produces Despair

The older brother pursues“moral superiority”

I’m the respectable one!Follow the rules, live for the

reward

Legalism produces Resentment

Grace reveals our TRUE NATURE

Many love the idea of forgiveness, few the act of forgiving.

Grace confronts our SUPERIORITY

Church is the collision of the “NOT GOOD ENOUGH”

with the “TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE”

Grace challenges our PRIORITIES

Your brother was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’

Signs of an Elder Brother…

First is the ULTIMATUMThe older brother became angry and

refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.


Second are the MARTYRS.

All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders.


Third is the SCOREKEEPER.

Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my

friends. But when, you kill the fattened calf for him!’


Fourth is the PERFECTIONIST.

This son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes

home

Will you come to the Party?Am I JOYFUL? – Worship is a priority

Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say “Rejoice


Am I CONNECTED? – Church partnership



Am I GRATEFUL? – Serving is an honor!



Am I GRATEFUL? – Serving is an honor!

Am I LEARNING? – Growing in Faith?

“The critical question for our generation—and for every generation— is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ were not there? ” ― John Piper

Spiritual

Elder Brother Syndrome