Prodigal Son Series

The Prodigal Son Sermon

Luke 15:11-23

11 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons.

12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them.

13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living.

14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout 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 to his fields to feed the pigs.

16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything.

17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger!

18 I will get up 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 like one of your hired hands.” ’

20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.

21 Then 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 slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;

Prayer……

(Intro) A young boy, around the age of eight, lived in Alaska with his parents. His dad was the Boy Scout leader of the area. The troop of the young boy decided to go mountain climbing up a two mile high mountain called Bald Eagle. The boy loved to climb and made a competition with the other boys to see who could climb the quickest to the top.

The boy went further and further up, losing sight of the troop and his father, but did not slow as he did not want the other boys to catch him. As he climbed he learned it was easier to climb at a diagonal. Spiraling up, he finally reached the summit. It was lonely and cold as the wind blew across the hard rock surface of the mountain.

Time passed as he waited for the troop. Fear began to take hold of his mind. "What if I’m on the wrong mountain? Maybe I crossed over to another mountain and I’m lost!"

Two hikers seemed to appear from nowhere and asked the boy if he was okay. "Yeah," he said, trying to muster courage in his voice. "My Boy Scout troop is coming up."

The men left and the young boy was again alone. With nowhere to sit securely, as time passed the fear and doubt began to creep in again, "What if a bear comes up here?" The boy thought of descending to find his father but was unsure the way as he had spiraled up to reach the top.

Looking down from the peak, he saw a small farm with a pond in the valley below. He decided to venture there. Going down was easy, but his fear of a bear grew as he entered a forest. He began to run with tears streaming down his face. He eventually found an abandon cabin and was able to break into the cabin through one of the windows. By luck, some would call it God’s grace there was food in the pantry mostly expired beans, canned vegetables, and fake meat cans.

The boy hated this food and would spit it out when his mom would try and make spam sandwiches (Come on somebody) before this whole ordeal. But now he was forced for 10 whole days to portion out old beans, peas, and spam cans. Until one day He hears the door broken down its his miliary father and leader of the local scouts. He runs to his boy and holds him as they both weep in each others arms. After a few moments the Father begins to say don’t you ever run away like that again look where you got yourself. That day the young boy learned a very valuable lesson.

SIMILAR STORY BUT NOT EVERY DETAIL EXACT AS THE PARABLE…

I WANT US TO UNDERSTAND TODAY THAT JESUS THROUGH HIS PARABLES WAS TRYING TO GIVE US THE FATHERS HEART…