Sermon Tone Analysis

Service Notes

Send-Off tonight

Bring Up Nate Wilkerson / If he is here

VBS Review

Bible Reading

We look at the first two of the 3 stories in this chapter.

Same story, same them; the Father’s Joy.

Heaven rejoices when this lost sinner is found, recovered, restored.

Why do angels rejoice?

Because they find joy in what the Father finds joy in?

We should read Luke 15:2 as the angels would not as murmuring like the pharisees.

Luke 15:2 “2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.”

Charles Dickens called this the greatest short story ever written.

Doubtful he knew how incredible wonderful it is.

Jeff Mize “He told me last week this was his favorite story because we all are the prodigal.”

As a teen I used to sing along to a song that said..

Part of me is the prodigal

Part of me is the other brother

But I think the heart of me

Is really somewhere between them

Some days I'm running wild

Some days we're reconciled

But I wonder all the while

Why you put up with me

When I wrestle most days

To find ways to do as I please

Eager to get to the prodigal love of the Father and to demonstrate their is more than one way to sin from the older brother.. but it will do us well to spend time looking at this younger brother today.

Luke 15:11–32 (KJV 1900)

11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.

And he divided unto them his living.

13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

20 And he arose, and came to his father.

But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.

And they began to be merry.

25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Introduction

Charles Dickens said it is the best story every written

Questions we must ask ourselves.

What would Jesus’ original hearers have thought about the descriptions of the prodigal son, of the loving father, and of the elder brother?

Would they have related with the rebel child?

Would they have judged the father as lenient?

Would they have related and understood the issues that the elder brother had?

Tell the Story / Again

1.

The Far Country (our need for repentance)

2. The Prodigal’s Return (repentance defined)

3. The Father’s Welcome (the motive for repentance)

Far Country

Wherever you are not in fellowship with God your life is a far country.

You do not belong there.

Luke 15:13 “13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.”

Selah telling us during covid she was homesick.

We said “ you are home.”

She says I know “I am tired of being here,”

Publicans & Sinners knew they were far away

Luke 15:1 “1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.”

They should have been able to see themselves as people in the pig pen.

A sinful state is also a state of constant discontent.

Younger son wanted more than the Father was offering him in life.

Luke 12:15 “15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

Without hope or help

Luke 15:16 “16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.”

Sin promises freedom but brings slavery

John 8:34 “34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.”

“Sin always takes you further than you want to go, costs you more than you want to pay, and keeps you longer than you want to stay.”

We all were born prodigals

The Prodigal walks away from home.

Luke 15:12-13 “12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.

And he divided unto them his living.

13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.”

Here is the beginning of our story.

Romans 1:23-25 “23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever.

Amen.”

shameless request and then a shameless rebellion

no love for the father

no love for the family

no desire for accountability

no love, except a love for self

Isaiah 53:6 “6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Prone to Wonder

Believers have been justified.

Those who have repented of sin and trusted in Christ as Lord and Savior, God declares them right before him on the basis of Christ’s righteousness and substitutionary death. 2 Cor 5:19 “19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”