The One week 3
Notes
Transcript
Family Found part 1
Family Found part 1
Today is Sanctity of Human life Sunday, and we are looking at the parable of the prodigal son.
Every human life has immeasurable value because every life is created by the Father, pursued by grace, and invited home into His family.
We live in a world obsessed with independence but starving for belonging.
People want freedom, but what they really want is family.
Sanctity of Human Life Sunday reminds us that the value of life doesn’t begin with productivity, perfection, or approval—it begins with relationship.
Life is sacred because it comes from God, and life is whole when it returns to Him.
Luke 15 is all about the One:
One sheep found
One coin recovered
And now, one son restored
This is not just a story about rebellion.
It’s a story about family found.
11 And He said, “A man had two sons.
12 “The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them.
13 “And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.
14 “Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.
15 “So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 “And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.
17 “But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!
18 ‘I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.” ’
20 “So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
21 “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet;
23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;
24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Pray
Pray
A Life That Forgets Its Worth (vv. 11–16)
A Life That Forgets Its Worth (vv. 11–16)
11 And He said, “A man had two sons.
12 “The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them.
13 “And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.
14 “Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.
15 “So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 “And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.
“Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.”
This is more than teenage rebellion.
In that culture, this request was equivalent to saying, “I wish you were dead.”
The son:
Severed relationship
Claimed independence
Chased autonomy
Squandered inheritance
Key Truth
When we forget who we belong to, we forget what we’re worth.
The son didn’t stop being a son when he left—but he forgot he was one.
Sanctity of Life Connection
So much of our culture treats life the same way:
Life is valued only when it’s wanted
Worth is measured by convenience
People are reduced to burdens or problems
But the son’s value didn’t disappear when he ran away.
And human life does not lose value because it is broken, inconvenient, unborn, aging, disabled, poor, or wounded.
A Life That Hits Bottom but Isn’t Forgotten (vv. 17–19)
A Life That Hits Bottom but Isn’t Forgotten (vv. 17–19)
17 “But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!
18 ‘I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.” ’
“But when he came to himself…”
This is the turning point.
Repentance begins when we remember:
Who we are
Whose we are
Where we belong
Notice:
He rehearses a speech
He lowers his expectations
He’s willing to settle for survival instead of sonship
Key Truth
Brokenness doesn’t disqualify us—it often awakens us.
The son assumes his father will respond with:
Anger
Distance
Conditions
But grace often runs faster than our shame.
A Father Who Runs Toward Life (v. 20)
A Father Who Runs Toward Life (v. 20)
20 “So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
This is the most shocking moment in the story.
Middle Eastern patriarchs did not run.
Running meant vulnerability.
Running meant humiliation.
But the father doesn’t wait for an explanation.
He doesn’t demand repayment.
He doesn’t test sincerity.
He runs.
Key Truth
God is not indifferent to human life—He runs toward it.
Sanctity of Life Connection
On Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, we declare this truth:
God sees life “a long way off”
God moves toward the vulnerable
God runs toward the broken
Every unborn child
Every single parent
Every addict
Every prodigal
Every woman carrying regret
Every man crushed by shame
God is not distant.
He is running.
A Family Restored, Not a Servant Tolerated (vv. 21–24)
A Family Restored, Not a Servant Tolerated (vv. 21–24)
21 “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet;
23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;
24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.
The son begins his speech—but the father interrupts.
He orders:
A robe (identity restored)
A ring (authority returned)
Sandals (sonship confirmed)
A feast (joy celebrated)
“This my son was dead, and is alive again.”
Key Truth
God doesn’t just preserve life—He restores it.
The father doesn’t say:
“My servant returned”
“My burden came back”
“My problem reappeared”
He says:
My son was dead and is alive
Sanctity of Life Connection
Life is sacred because:
God calls it His
God calls it family
God celebrates its restoration
The gospel is not merely pro-life in theory—it is pro-life in practice:
It rescues
It restores
It rejoices
Conclusion
This story ends with a party, not a lecture.
Because when the One is found, heaven rejoices.
Today, Sanctity of Human Life Sunday reminds us:
Life matters because God says it does
People matter because God calls them family
Grace makes room at the table
Three Invitations
If you feel unworthy — come home
If you feel forgotten — you are seen
If you feel broken — you are still a son or daughter
Final Line
In God’s kingdom, life is not discarded, hidden, or shamed.
It is found, restored, and welcomed home.
