THE PRODIGAL GOD
Part One: Why a Prodigal God - Introduction of the series…
Inspired by and parts based on Tim Kellers book “The Prodigal God”
1. Tell the story…
luke 15: 11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ’Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 "When he came to his senses, he said, ’How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ 20 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. 21 "The son said to him, ’Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 "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. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 25 "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ’Your brother has come,’ he replied, ’and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ’Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 "’My son,’ the father said, ’you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’"
2. The impact of the passage:
1st heard by Tim Keller over 30 years ago preached by Dr. Edmund P. Clarrey. He has preached it at his church and now it is in the form of a book.
You will find yourself in this story…
If looking at the gospel was like looking into a lake… this passage would be the story that lets you see all the way to the bottom… in this passage Jesus redefines lostness, sin, and the path of redemption…
In it Jesus defines the path of Christianity that is so different from religion as people knew it then… that some scholars say it is why for 200 years Rome classified Christians as atheists… because their version of God was so different they couldn’t define it in their terms…
i. Imagine early Christians talking with their neighbors…
1. Where is your temple? We don’t have one
2. Where are the sacrifices made to please your gods? We don’t make those kind of sacrifices anymore…
3. But in today’s economy, Christianity has often become a religion again based on extreme morality… but what makes it different than other religions that also advocate extreme morality, and good works?
4. That answer is in this story…
Think you know this story? Think you are not in it? Stick around the next few weeks and study it together and let God speak to you.
3. The Context of the Story: how it all fits together
a. Who is talking: Jesus
b. The entire chapter – the other stories of lost…
i. 4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ’Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. 8 "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ’Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
c. Pattern: something lost, it is searched for, it is found.
d. This story: something/one lost – not found – comes back
e. Not only who is telling the story, but who is he talking to?
i. Luke 15: 1 Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." 3 Then Jesus told them this parable:
F. background of the timeframe…
Patriarchal moment of this society
Why the Father’s response is so amazing to them…
4. What about the Prodigal title?
a. Redefining our understanding of Prodigal
b. Passage opens up – a man had two sons… not just about the younger one
c. Merriam’s definition of prodigal – recklessly spendthrift – to give extravagantly, even to the point you have nothing left.
i. Recklessly extravagant
ii. Having spent everything
d. Shows the heart of God as He extravagantly pours out His grace, mercy, and kindness upon us…
i. 2 Cor. 5:19: God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses.”
ii. We deserved punishment for our sin… and God pardons with great expenditure… what Tim Keller calls God’s reckless hope… which is the point of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
iii. He is the prodigal… giving to us freely, openly… more than we deserve…
iv. And what you will see time and time again in this story is the Father, who represents God, is the Prodigal in this story, reckless grace that gives to us every day the chance we don’t deserve.
Each brother will represent a way of being alienated from the Father… and different ways in which we try to seek acceptance into the kingdom of God…
The two groups of people listening to the story will be important…
• It sets the context of the story…
• And is to convey the urgency of responding to God and seeking that which is lost…
This sets the stage for the next 3 weeks… Act One- the younger son; Act Two – The Older Son…; Act Three: The Fathers redefinition of sin/lostness and grace/mercy…
STUDYING THE WORD:
Today’s conversation is a great example of approaching scripture and studying a passage.
Rule #1 – don’t check your head at the door and assume you understand what you are reading.
Rule #2 - ask questions of context
Always ask questions of context..
Who is talking
Who is the audience
What is the context of the moment (Pharisees, the entire chapter consideration… the entire book of that part of the Bible consideration… common themes that are apparent)
Rule #3 – go deeper and research
Study and show yourself approved
Don’t just check off your list a devotional time.
STUDY AND KNOW THE WORD… wielding a sword is only powerful when the hands draw it and use it…
T
