Son's or Slaves

Have you ever just got something so wrong? I mean you saw things one way and then, with a simple change of perspective, your whole view shifted?

When someone went off on me or my wife

I tend to like grace…except when it comes at the expense of my offense

I tend to like love…except when it means that I have to give up what I’m entitled too

I LOVE unity....specially when everyone agrees with me

Often it’s how we see things that make a difference…

>>>> How do you see God?

Both Ephesians and Luke show us the correct picture of God

God is a good Father

I am a loved Child

This revelation alone will free us from years of confusion, doubt, comparison and shame

“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ” - (NLT)

Ephesians 1:4–5 NLT

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

Big Idea: Our perception of God will determine our pursuit of Him:

Luke 15:17–19 NLT

“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” ’

“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” - (NLT)

Father’s don’t run

Father’s would never forgive like that

One phrase stands out to me: “when he finally came to his senses”

When he changed his mind AND his heart….through repentance

Father’s would never forgive like that

He decided that his father would at least treat him like a slave and that was enough to get him moving towards home

One phrase stands out to me: “when he finally came to his senses”

But instead of a slave…he reinstates him as a son…

but it all changed with the right perspective (admit I’m broken)

One son was looking for

Now let’s take a look at another perception problem...

When he changed his mind AND his heart….through repentance

Luke 15:29 NLT

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.

He decided that his father would at least treat him like a slave and that was enough to get him moving towards homeBut instead of a slave…he reinstates him as a sonStory:

Luke 15:29 NLT

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.

Truth: You can be in God’s House and still miss God’s heartExplain: How do we miss God’s heartWhen we take our salvation for grantedWhen we don’t see him as a good FatherWhen we can’t rejoice over someone who gets healed/restored/forgivenWhen we forget that we are saved by the GRACE of the Father and not the WORKS of a slaveStory:

When we take our salvation for granted

When we don’t see him as a good Father

When we can’t rejoice over someone who gets healed/restored/forgiven

When we forget that we are saved by the GRACE of the Father and not the WORKS of a slave

When I stopped seeing God as someone who I constantly needed to impress or prove myself to, then my experience of His love grew so much deeper.

Come to our senses:

Change of Heart

Change of Mind

(Why do they need to do this?)

Only by seeing God as He is, as He describes Himself, will we walk out our true identity of freed sons and daughters

How do we see God? How do we picture his love? What words would we use?

“You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.”—Jessica, age 8

Ephesians 1:7–8 NLT

He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

Ephesians 1:

tells us that he LAVISHES or SHOWERS us with love, kindness and grace! Because we are His Children

“When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s love.”—Rebecca, age 8

“When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.”—Billy, age 4

Transition to Video:

The story in Luke is simply a foreshadow to the REALITY of the cross

It’s at the cross that our adoption was sealed..

As we watch this next element..Let’s remember the love of the Father shown in the power of the cross.

Let’s take a look......Dance Element:

It’s the cross that perfectly captures the heart of His Son...

Let’s take a look at this and

“When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.”—Billy, age 4

Son's or Slaves

Introduction:

Introduction:

Big Idea: Our perception of God will determine our pursuit of Him:

1. Our perception of God will determine our pursuit of Him

Explain: The Powerful Details…

Story: Monty Python

2. You can be in God’s House and still miss God’s heart

Explain: How do we miss God’s heart

Story: A conversation with Christen at Fuller

Now What? (What do we need to do?)

Conclusion: My perception of God will determine my pursuit of Him

My perception of God will determine my pursuit of Him

Dance Element: