THE PRODIGAL SON

Luke 15:1-32

Facts about the Parable

1. Uniquely Lukan

2. Longest parable

3. Interconnected with two other parables

4. Given many titles

5. A complex story

THE BIG MISTAKE

• The eldest gets 2/3 of the inheritance

• The rest gets 1/3• “Father I cannot wait

for you to die, so give me what is mine-right now!”

Possible Places

THE BIG MISTAKE

“Actually, every sin, because it is a choice in favor of the self, is always an act of selfishness, the very opposite of love. By forbidding us to sin, God is merely seeking to spare us these bitter

experiences. We have a sick need of being entertained, amused, and feted. Solitude

scares us. We think we are freeing ourselves in order to be ourselves, and we discover that we

are less free than ever, at the mercy of the latest fashion or slogan.”

THE GREAT AWAKENING

• “Cursed be the man who keeps swine.” - Baba Kamma a Jewish Rabbi

• “When the Israelites stand in need of carob-beans, they return to God.” – Jewish Proverb

THE GREAT AWAKENING

“It was a great awakening experience, a penetrating recognition and resolution that often comes in direst circumstances” – Jeremias

What repentance is?“Father, I have sinned against

heaven and against you…”Repentance is:1. Awareness that first and

foremost sin is an offense against God.

2. Awareness of our great need for God.

3. Awareness of the need to confess our unworthiness before God.

4. Awareness of the need to go back to God.

Things to reflect on

1. In what ways can you identify with the youngest son?

2. In what area/s of your life do you need the Father’s love?

3. Is there something in your life that you need to repent of?

AWESOME RESTORATION

Luke 15:11-32

I. THE BIG MISTAKE.

II. THE GREAT AWAKENING.

1. A more appropriate title for this story should be the Parable of the Loving Father.

2. Repentance is: A. Awareness that first and foremost sin is an

offense against God.

B. Awareness of our great need for God.

C. Awareness of the need to confess our unworthiness before God.

D. Awareness of the need to go back to God.

Awesome Restoration

1. “As is, where is”“For sinners only.”

2. Romans 5:20 “…But where sin increased, grace increase all the more.” (NIV)

Romans 5:20 “…But sin didn’t, and doesn’t, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it is sin versus grace, grace wins hands down.” (The Message)

Awesome Restoration

BY REMBRANT

3. The father restored his son through the following way:a. He was given a robe which implies that his son was special to him.b. A ring was placed on his finger which implies authority.

c. Sandals was placed on his feet which implies a free man.d. The fattened calf was prepared which implies that the whole village will be invited to join the celebration.

Quote: “The parable shows not only the kind of repentance the father responds to but the way the father responds to repentance!” – Peter Rhea Jones

Awesome Restoration

4. Instead of joining his father in rejoicing, the elder son became very angry and refused to go.

His response is was double insult to his father.

Instead disciplining his disrespectful elder son he showed humble love.

Awesome Restoration

5. If the younger so was lost in the far country, the elder brother was equally lost behind a barrier of self- righteous.”

The father in the parable both loved his sons and Jesus loved both the Pharisees and sinners alike.

Awesome Restoration

REFLECTION AND CONCLUSION:

1. That the more we come to him and recognize that we are sinners, the more God will welcome to us with his

forgiving love. If we remain in our pride and not recognize the disease that has overtaken us, God

cannot heal us.

2. The reason why we return to God is only secondary.

What matter to God is that we return to Him because He has so much love to offer us.

3. Grace is what God offers to sinners and the church must always welcome sinners. The church must always be a community of grace.

4. As the father rejoice with the return of the sinning son,

he enjoins all to rejoice with the return of sinners.

5. God does not only offer forgiving love to returning

sinners, but he also offers restoring love to those who will humbly return to the Him.