True Discipleship Begins With...

Luke 15:11–32 NIV84

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”

Luke 15:17–20 ESV

17 “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! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ 20 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.

Insight to personal sin.

Luke 15:17 NIV84

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!

Sin?

Did not respect his father.

Demanded his share.

(was to receive one third of the inheritance.)

Deuteronomy 21:17 NIV84

He must acknowledge the son of his unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double share of all he has. That son is the first sign of his father’s strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him.

Deut.

In the end, he has sinned against his older brother and other family as well because in coming back to the family, he would be using resources that would no longer be his to use.

He knew this.

The younger brother sinned against “the future.”

He did this by taking and abusing now what could have been used in a greater way in the future.

He was wasteful with what he’d been blessed with. ( v. 13 and 30)

Disciples recognize when they’ve sinned against God and their fellow man.

Check out what happens when we don’t confess Christ as our Savior, and through the Holy Spirit have the ability to recognize sin:

Romans 2:5 NIV84

But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.

Romans

Recognition of consequences.

Luke 15:17 NIV84

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!

For the disciple, with repentance comes the recognition of consequences.

The one without Christ has no absolute moral compass, so they can say (and effectively do) whatever they want!

Mom dressing boy like a girl to make a point-because he likes it and it makes him happy, so it should be okay.

Using this rationale, in theory I could say to you, “I think we need to be more like the New Testament church and since I’m pretty much the King of this place, I’m going to disconnect the air conditioners all summer.”

What would the natural consequences be?

Well, hopefully (1) church discipline, because I’m not the King of this place, and

(2) we’ll lose a lot of people to other churches who do have air conditioning!

Proverbs 11:4–6 NIV84

Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.

Proverbs 11:4–6 NIV84

Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.

Proverbs 11:

Proverbs 11:

An understanding that sin isn’t abstract.

An understanding that sin isn’t abstract.

Luke 15:18 NIV84

I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

ab·stract

adjective abˈstrakt,ˈabˌstrakt/ 1. existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence.

Proven sorrow.

Proven sorrow.

Luke 15:18–20 NIV84

I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

Notice what the young man DID to prove his sorrow.

(1) He made up his mind.

(2) He called sin, “sin.”

(3) He was ready to take his lumps.

(4) He actually went to his father to apologize.

(5)

An understanding of actions.

Luke 15:21 NIV84

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

Proverbs 12:1–2 NIV84

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but the Lord condemns a crafty man.

Proverbs 12:1

True repentance.

Luke 15:21 NIV84

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’