Too Far Gone
Notes
Transcript
Welcome
Welcome
Intro
Intro
Who has seen the movie Finding Nemo?
If you haven’t I am about to ruin the movie for you. The whole movie is about a father clown fish trying to find his son who went to touch a butt (even though his father told him not to), got scooped up, and taken to “P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney”
In the same way, we are about to read a story about a long lost son. (Why hasn’t Disney made a movie about this story?)
Read
Read
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.
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.
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.’ ”
Teach
Teach
What is the plot of the passage?
1. Ruckus (vv. 11-13)
1. Ruckus (vv. 11-13)
I feel like every good story begins with a little bit of drama, and boy do you see it here. Let me give you a little back story:
In Eastern culture, it was customary for the oldest son to get the largest portion of the inheritance, while the younger sons got only a little bit.
It was also custom for you to wait until your father actually passed away before you got to collect your inheritance.
You can infer that their was a fight that happened between the father and son that led to the current situation.
It is also worth noting that this parable is the 3rd in a series of 3 stories that talks about being lost and found.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep: Speaks about about a heard of 100 sheep, but one gets lost, then the Shepherd goes to find it and rejoices when it is found.
The Parable of the Lost Coin: The woman has 10 coins, loses one, but searches relentlessly until the coin is found, then rejoices.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son: The son that is “lost” in this passage makes the decision to leave the father. He then finds out that the life that he thought would be fulfilling and wonderful was in fact empty and worthless. The one thing that differs from the other two stories is that the father remains at home waiting for his son to return.
There are a couple themes we should highlight:
What’s the tea: The prodigal son allowed his pride to consume him and he began chasing “the wind”. Meaning he was chasing something that was ultimately not what he thought it was because when he finally caught it, it disappeared right before his eyes.
My illustration of chasing what the culture celebrated, but when I had it, I realized that it meant nothing.
2. Revelation (vv.17-19)
2. Revelation (vv.17-19)
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.” ’
There comes a time in everyone’s life whether we know God or not, that we realize that life is better with our Father. Being with Him is like being at home. It’s your safe place and your refuge.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Acts 9 speaks about Paul’s “ah-ha” moment.
Once we see that we are in need of God’s presence we start the restoration process
3. Restoration (vv. 20-24)
3. Restoration (vv. 20-24)
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.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Respond
Respond
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.’ ”
3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.