FATHER'S DAY - THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON

LUKE 15:11-32

We have all heard the story of the Prodigal Son – I am pretty sure even atheist and people who have never been to a church or picked up a Bible have heard the story of the prodigal son. We as believers also know that this is an image of God as our Father – but for the men of the church there are 5 points we can take from this story that tell us what a great dad does. Whether we have young men in church who are not dads yet to men who have grandchildren and maybe even great-grandchildren – there is still time to apply these ageless principles in our lives. Men – Dads – you are the first teacher your children will have – you are the example to your sons as to what a Godly man is and how they should be and to your daughters the kind of man they should desire for a husband.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

Luke 15:11-32

And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

1. A Godly Dad Disciplines His Kids

Proverbs 12:1 – Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

Proverbs 13:24 – Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

Proverbs 19:18 – Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.

Proverbs 23:13 – Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.

Proverbs 6:23 – For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

Proverbs 29:17 – Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.

2. A Godly Dad Sets His Kids Free

Dads – you are their first teacher – as the best teachers know – some lessons in life are only learned thru experience

Proverbs 15:22 – Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.

Love your kids – even when they don’t love you

- Disrespectful request

- Squandered it on sinful living – father knew before hand – wisdom

You cannot protect their forever – they at some point need to fly the nest

They are their own person – need to make own mistakes – but…

3. A Godly Dad Never Stops Believing

Look at verse 20b –But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

While he was still a long way off …

His father saw him and filled with compassion and love …

Ran and embraced him …

Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Don’t stop believing –

4. A Godly Dad Lets Himself Feel

Look at the third part of verse 20 – 20c – and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

Ecclesiastes 3:4-6 – A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

Jeremiah 31:3b – I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.

Psalm 103:13 – As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

Romans 12:15 – Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

John 11:35 – Jesus wept

5. A Godly Dad Gives His Children The Best

Proverbs 1:7 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 2:6 – For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

Proverbs 13:13 – Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.

Proverbs 14:26 – In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.

Proverbs 20:7 – The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!

Matthew 7:9-11 – Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Luke 11:11-13 – What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

3 John 1:4 – I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

6. A Godly Dad Works For Family Unity.

1 Peter 3:8 – Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

Philippians 2:2 – Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Philippians 2:3 – Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Romans 12:16 – Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

Ephesians 4:3 – Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:13 – Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

I will close as I started –

there is still time to apply these ageless principles in our lives. Men – Dads – you are the first teacher your children will have – you are the best teacher they will have – you are the example to your sons as to what a Godly man is and how they should be and to your daughters the kind of man they should desire for a husband.

I still need my dad – your kids are never to old to not need their dad as a role model in their life – and while you may not be able to discipline and set them free – you can still

- Never stop believing in them

- Let yourself feel

- Give them your best

- Strive for Unity

Let us pray!