Found in the Drift

Embracing the Lost: Finding Home Again

Bible Passage: Lk 15:11–32

Summary: This passage recounts the Parable of the Prodigal Son, illustrating the themes of rebellion, repentance, and reconciliation, emphasizing the unconditional love of a father toward his wayward son.

Application: This sermon can help Christians understand that no matter how far they stray from God, they can always return to Him. It addresses feelings of guilt and shame and invites the audience to experience God’s grace and forgiveness, encouraging them to reach out to those who feel lost.

Teaching: The message teaches about the nature of sin, the process of repentance, and the joy of reconciliation, highlighting that God's love is greater than our failings and every person has the opportunity for redemption.

How this passage could point to Christ: In the context of scripture, this parable reveals Christ’s mission to seek and save the lost, demonstrating that through His sacrifice, all can be welcomed back into the family of God, resembling the loving father’s embrace in the story.

Big Idea: No one is beyond the reach of God's love, and through repentance, we can find our way back home.

Recommended Study: As you prepare your sermon, consider diving into the historical context of Jewish family dynamics in the first century, which could help clarify the significance of the son's demands and the father's reaction. Look into various commentaries on the literary structure of parables using your Logos library, focusing on the thematic contrasts between despair and joy evident in this story.

1. Drifted from Grace

Lk 15:11-16

Jesus is sharing this parable, because Lk 15:1

Luke 15:1 ESV

1 … the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.

…and

The religious leaders were grumbling, saying:

Luke 15:2 ESV

2 …“This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 5

Tax collectors

“Tax collectors, who bought their positions from Rome and profited by charging extra taxes, were despised by Jews as traitors and social outcasts. Their mention alongside non-Jews highlights both their poor reputation and Jesus’ mission to redeem all people, including society’s rejected. Matthew himself, a former tax collector and likely author of this Gospel, was seen as a shocking choice for a disciple.”

Most Jews hated tax collectors because of their reputation for cheating, their support of Rome, and their constant contact with “unclean” Gentiles. Tax collectors took a commission on the taxes they collected, so most of them overcharged the people and kept the profits.

Bruce B. Barton; David R. Veerman; Grant R. Osborne

This gives us context for Jesus’ parable about the Prodigal Son.

The son - sometimes we forget when we see criminals at large, or rebellious people on the run that they are a son/daughter.

At one point of their life, they were taken care of, loved on, by parents.

Given, not everyone’s upbringing is the perfect condition, but think about it: someone’s son/daughter.

The truth is, we can’t control people’s urges or desires, as we see in this story Jesus shares:

Maybe the beginning of the son's journey away from the father mirrors our own temptations and the allure of worldly promises. This point could suggest that if we identify with the son's initial rebellion, God's love remains constant, waiting for our return. Discuss how sin can lead us astray and make promises it cannot keep, leaving us empty, much like the son's experience in the distant country.

In the book of James, we read about how temptation lures us away from God's call. Picture a fisherman casting his net into the water, seeking perfectly innocent fish but using bait that looks enticing. Similarly, our hearts may long for God, yet we cast our nets toward fleeting pleasures, forgetting that they ultimately pull us away from His loving embrace.

How can we recognize and combat the ways we might be drifting away from God's grace in our own lives?

2. Realizing Our Need

Lk 15:17-20 (20a)

“…when he came to his senses,”

Perhaps this turning point in the narrative reminds us of the power of self-reflection and acknowledgment of our spiritual poverty.

The son’s realization could be a beacon of hope for those feeling lost.

There is a possibility of change in those whom we may think are too far off gone!

Some may drift out of sight, but it doesn’t mean they are too far off for God’s reach!

Someone needs to be reminded of this!

Repentance is the first step back to God, who is always ready to forgive us.

“Repentance is the act whereby one turns from his or her sin, idolatry, and creaturely rebellion and turns to God in faith.”

Humility and the awareness of our condition are crucial in seeking reconciliation.

Jesus is not saying that such people were simply to be accepted as they stand. Sinners must repent. The lost sheep and lost coin are found. The prodigal son comes to his senses and returns home. But Jesus has a different idea to his critics of what ‘repentance’ means.

N. T. Wright

3. Returning to Love

Lk 15:20-24 (20b)

This section could suggest the lavish nature of divine grace and forgiveness, as the father runs to his son and celebrates his return. Much like the prodigal’s homecoming, you might illustrate how God rejoices when we return to Him, expressing boundless grace and mercy. This paints a vivid picture of the joy and acceptance awaiting those who repent and come home to God, highlighted by the father’s unconditional love.

4. Resisting Resentment

Lk 15:25-32

You could explore the perspective of the older brother and the challenge of understanding grace. This contrast to the father's joyful forgiveness could illustrate the temptation of self-righteousness and bitterness. Maybe this point serves as a reminder to embrace God’s heart for the lost and not harbor judgment. Encourage the audience to share in the celebration of redemption, understanding that grace benefits all of us equally.