The Elder Brother

Luke 15:25-32 – 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’ 28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’ 31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’ ” (New Living Translation)

Learning from the Elder Brother

A New Understanding of Lostness

▸ Jesus is saying that the older brother is ________

Luke 15:29 – . . . ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, . . .’ (English Standard Version)

▸ Why?

• It becomes evident the older son also wanted ______________ __________________ of the father’s things

• The older brother tries to get control by staying __________ and being very __________

• The older brother felt he has the ___________ to tell the father what to do with his possessions

▸ There are two ways to be your own savior and lord

• One is breaking all the _______ and being ________

• The other is by ____________ all the laws and being _______

What Are the Signs of Lostness?

● A deep sense of ____________

Luke 15:28 – The older brother was angry . . . (New Living Translation)

● A __________________ and mechanical __________________

Luke 15:29 – But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; . . . (New American Standard Bible)

● A __________________ to younger-brother types

Luke 15:30 – But when this son of yours . . . (New International Version)

● A lack of _____________________ of the Father’s love

Luke 15:29 – ‘. . . but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends?’ (The Message)

● An _____________________, _____________________ spirit

What Can We Do about this Spiritual Condition?

1. We have to see the _____________________ of the gospel

2. We have to see the _____________________ of Jesus

Luke 23:34 – . . . “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” (New Living Translation)

Romans 5:10 – Even when we were God’s enemies, he made peace with us, because his Son died for us. Yet something even greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, we will be saved by his Son’s life. (Contemporary English Version)