2020 05 10 - Mother's Day - How To Waste Your Time as a Parent

1 Kings 18:41–44 ESV

41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. 43 And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times. 44 And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’ ”

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Today’s Passage: Luke 15:11-32

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I want to help you become the most wasteful parent you can.

This is not just a parenting sermon. These principles can apply to so many of your closest relationships.

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PRIMARY SCRIPTURE

Luke 15:11–24 ESV

11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. 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. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

UNDERSTANDING THE CONTEXT OF THE SCRIPTURE

Any relevant exegetical notes to better understand the scripture

MAIN IDEA

Transition from scripture to main idea

THE MAIN THING:

If you are going to love like God does, then you are going to need to learn how to be wasteful.

Explore the Main Idea

1. Make Sure You Don’t Follow Through on Your Plans

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We have to be willing to let go of control

Isaiah 55:8 ESV

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

Letting go of control doesn’t mean we don’t set boundaries

Song of Solomon 8:9 ESV

9 If she is a wall, we will build on her a battlement of silver, but if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.

You can mourn the ways your hopes and dreams are broken, but you can’t allow them to govern how you move forward.

2. Make Sure You Don’t Pay Attention to How Much Things Cost

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Luke 15:12 ESV

12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.

Love like God loves is costly.

Romans 5:6–8 ESV

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Often then people we love that cost us the most will seem the least worthy of the cost.

Luke 15:25–32 ESV

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”

You have to be willing to let the costs hurt in order to love well.

3.Make Sure You Spend a Lot of Time Staring off In the Distance

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Luke 15:20 ESV

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.

If you are going to see the arc of redemption completed you may have to spend a long time waiting with your forgiveness ready.

If you are waiting for repentance to forgive, then there is a good chance your patience will turn to bitterness and you will lose the moment of redemption. Look at the response of the older brother.

Transform

Coming Back to the Main Thing

If you are going to love like God does, then you are going to need to learn how to be wasteful.

Bring to Primary Application

Who in your life are you dealing with the hurt of their brokeness?

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Mourn the broken expectations

Stop counting the cost and the hurt

Stay hopeful and patient as you watch for their return

Lead Application to Commitment

Invitation

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