The Gift of Reconciliation

Story -

We have a father taking the initiative to love and trying to make things right with his

family. Seeking reconciliation. If you’ve ever healed from a broken relationship, experienced reconciliation, you know it is a gift. This whole series is about gifts that God gives us, gifts we can give each other - at Christmas

Series - irony of Christmas - a season of gift giving that obscures the true meaning of a gift

irony of Christmas - a season of gift giving that obscures the true meaning of a gift

getting harder to ‘get’ the nature of a gift; giving expecting a return; an enthusiastic response; impersonal giving (although a good idea to shop yourself); wrong giving 0- picked something up last minute - was cheap (sale sticker? regift?; why do we remove the sticker price? comparison? measure of love?

best gift comes through a relationship - you need this (careful with this); you mentioned this. I know you so well I knew you would like this; I saw this and I thought of you;

knew you didn’t want anything - I wanted to do something so I made your favorite...

transition: iAll gifts are cheap when you give out of compulsion; a strained relationship

Sermon Intro

So many opportunities for conflict (SIN) not controversial - sin easily proved

family.

conflict - so many affects (socially [avoid, awkward], physically [health, legal battles, violence], emotionally; financially)

conflict - so many affects (socially [avoid, awkward], physically [health, legal battles, violence], emotionally; financially)

…and of course family reunions (visit separately)

conflict can be nasty stuff - 1) glossing over it [email, pretend] conversely, 2) Reconciliation can be liberating

groups that recognize this: mediation programs in schools, community - settle outside the courtroom, non violently,

Peacemakers - restore relationship that we can enjoy, not just come to an agreement

God recognizes this and offers reconciliation -

Question: Are you ready for God’s way of reconciliation? Tired of the corrosion; unhappiness

sentimental - baby, peaceful scene; or acknowledge poverty, oppression; what was God up to? God was actively doing something. Here’s one thing:

2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 5:17–19 NIV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

main point: God offers reconciliation and is an example of how to do it.

running low on examples: Lafayette Elementary School “peace teacher” - getting harder after every mass shooting;

“Wouldn’t it be amazing if we had peace teachers in every school rather than investing so much money in security guards?” (I’m a parent - I can talk peace, but at the end of the day I feel better knowing there are police with guns

is laughable now - but yet a peaceful and reconciled world, where relationships is God’s vision - and we are running out of examples - the problem; it’s unimaginable bc we don’t see it a whole lot

explain main point: better caught than taught/ demonstrated, not described; authentic, not forced; healed, not glossed over

how does God offer and how do we offer?

better caught than taught/ demonstrated, not described; authentic, not forced; healed, not glossed over

overview: initiate reconciliation; take the risk of reconciliation; be ready for reconciliation

overview: God initiates, anticipates; offer a clean start (acknowledge difficulties)

1. God has taken the first step in Christ (people who reject repeatedly; rebel; ignore)

2 Corinthians 5:18 NIV

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

2 Corinthians 5:19 NIV

that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

New Beginnings

starting over?

clean slate?

forgiveness! right relationship, even when the damage lingers (myth that we can’t stay angry)

Prodigal Son - wasteful reckeless w money

why don’t you wear that? use that? play with that?

ungrateful recipient;

Luke 15:11–12 NIV

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

describe the extent of the sin: publicly dishonored father; embarrassed

how many of us can honestly say, “I love you no matter what?”

words into action:

We (the son) takes a risk, the next step - are you ready to take that step?

salvation requires our step

Luke 15:20–24 NIV

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. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “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. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

Luke 15:

2. father is expecting, waiting (eyesight? see from a distance?) - are you ready to reconcile?

Luke 15:11–12 NIV

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

see how deep the chasm - humiliate, disappointment

Luke 15:

Luke 15:18 NIV

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

Luke 15:20 NIV

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.

Luke 15:

God the father is waiting, hoping, expecting; (not he needs to come to me!) making oneself available

eyesight - either he was close up, or he had folks to look out for him? son knows his dad is merciful (do people know our character?)

son takes the step because he knows the father is

1. God takes the initiative - we don’t need to wait - will we go first?

reconciliation comes in the form of a person

bridging the gap - the best reconcilation is through human contact (no email!)

how many of us can honestly say, like the father in the video, “I love you no matter what?”

I love him…but;

words into action: public humiliation; disappointment; pain; not appreciating generosity;

we are guarded v. reaching out to

3. God has offered us a fresh start

Luke 15:24 NIV

For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!