Joy in Redemption: The Heart of God
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor sharing a personal story about losing the plug for their sailboat, rendering it unusable. This story sets the stage for the exploration of three parables from the Gospel of Luke, which all revolve around the theme of losing and finding something precious. The pastor emphasizes that these parables reveal the heart of God for all of us, and that they have something amazing to teach everyone about themselves and about God.
The first two parables discussed are the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the lost coin. The pastor explains that in Jesus's time, being a shepherd with sheep was a common vocation. The shepherd would leave the ninety-nine sheep in the open field and go after the lost one until it is found. When the lost sheep is found, the shepherd joyfully puts it on his shoulders and calls his friends and neighbors to rejoice with him. Similarly, the woman in the parable of the lost coin searches diligently until she finds the lost coin and celebrates with her friends and neighbors. The pastor emphasizes that Jesus is highlighting the importance of repentance and the celebration that occurs when someone who was lost is found.
The sermon then shifts to the parable of the prodigal son, which the pastor suggests should be called the parable of the gracious father. The pastor emphasizes that both the story of the younger son and the story of the older son have lessons for all of us. The younger son's request for his inheritance is seen as a great insult in the first-century Jewish context, where family and honor are highly valued. However, the father agrees to give the son his share of the inheritance, which the son subsequently squanders and descends into poverty. The son's desperation leads him to consider eating the food meant for pigs, highlighting his extreme circumstances. However, the son comes to his senses and decides to return to his father and confess his sins.
The pastor then focuses on the father's response, which defies societal expectations. Instead of shunning or disowning his son, the father is filled with compassion and runs to embrace him. The father's actions demonstrate his unwavering love and forgiveness. The pastor emphasizes the significance of the father's waiting and hoping for his son's return, highlighting the father's unconditional love and grace. The sermon concludes with the celebration that ensues as the father declares that his lost son is found and alive again.
Key Takeaways:
- The parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son all highlight the joy of finding something that was lost and the importance of repentance. Jesus uses these stories to challenge the belief of the religious leaders that they do not need repentance. [12:45]
- The parable of the prodigal son is not just about one son, but about two sons. Both the story of the younger son and the story of the older son have lessons for all of us. The younger son's request for his inheritance is seen as a great insult, but the father agrees to give the son his share of the inheritance, demonstrating his unwavering love and forgiveness. [24:30]
- The father's response to the prodigal son defies societal expectations. Instead of shunning or disowning his son, the father is filled with compassion and runs to embrace him. This highlights the father's unconditional love and grace. [36:15]
- The father's waiting and hoping for his son's return is significant. It demonstrates his unwavering love and his desire for reconciliation. This is a reflection of God's heart for every single one of His lost children to come home. [48:00]
- The pastor encourages the congregation to reflect on their own hearts and check if there is any reluctance to extend grace to others. God's grace is a free gift that no one deserves, and we should not condemn others but instead celebrate their return with genuine joy. [59:30]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
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1. Luke 15:1-2
2. Luke 15:11-32
3. James 1:14-15
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Observation Questions:
1. In Luke 15:1-2, who are the characters present and what is their reaction to Jesus associating with sinners and tax collectors?
2. In the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32, what are the actions of the younger son, the older son, and the father?
3. In James 1:14-15, what is the process described that leads a person into sin?
Interpretation Questions:
1. In the context of Luke 15:1-2, what might be the significance of Jesus choosing to tell parables about lost items being found?
2. In the parable of the prodigal son, how does the father's response to his sons' actions challenge or affirm the cultural norms of the time?
3. How does James 1:14-15 relate to the actions of the younger son in the parable of the prodigal son?
Application Questions:
1. Reflecting on the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin, when was the last time you rejoiced over someone's repentance and return to God? How can you express this joy in the future?
2. Considering the parable of the prodigal son, is there someone in your life whom you've been reluctant to extend grace to? What is one step you can take this week to show them grace?
3. In the context of James 1:14-15, can you identify a temptation in your life that you need to resist? What is one practical way you can avoid or resist this temptation this week?
4. Reflecting on the father's response in the parable of the prodigal son, how can you demonstrate unconditional love and grace to someone in your life this week?
5. Considering the father's joy at the return of his lost son, how can you celebrate and affirm someone's return to faith or repentance in your community this week?
Devotional
Day 1: The Joy of Repentance
The parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son all highlight the joy of finding something that was lost and the importance of repentance. Jesus uses these stories to challenge the belief of the religious leaders that they do not need repentance. [12:45]
Luke 15:7 - "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."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt lost. How did you experience the joy of being found by God and the importance of repentance in your life?
Day 2: Unwavering Love and Forgiveness
The parable of the prodigal son is not just about one son, but about two sons. Both the story of the younger son and the story of the older son have lessons for all of us. The younger son's request for his inheritance is seen as a great insult, but the father agrees to give the son his share of the inheritance, demonstrating his unwavering love and forgiveness. [24:30]
Luke 15:20 - "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."
Reflection: Is there someone in your life whom you need to forgive? How can you demonstrate unwavering love and forgiveness towards them today?
Day 3: Defying Societal Expectations with Compassion
The father's response to the prodigal son defies societal expectations. Instead of shunning or disowning his son, the father is filled with compassion and runs to embrace him. This highlights the father's unconditional love and grace. [36:15]
Luke 15:22 - "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.'"
Reflection: How can you defy societal expectations and show compassion to someone in your life today?
Day 4: Waiting and Hoping for Reconciliation
The father's waiting and hoping for his son's return is significant. It demonstrates his unwavering love and his desire for reconciliation. This is a reflection of God's heart for every single one of His lost children to come home. [48:00]
2 Peter 3:9 - "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
Reflection: Is there a relationship in your life that needs reconciliation? How can you take a step towards reconciliation today?
Day 5: Extending Grace to Others
The pastor encourages the congregation to reflect on their own hearts and check if there is any reluctance to extend grace to others. God's grace is a free gift that no one deserves, and we should not condemn others but instead celebrate their return with genuine joy. [59:30]
Ephesians 4:32 - "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
Reflection: Who is someone in your life that you find it difficult to extend grace to? How can you show them God's grace today?
Quotes
"I tell you in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don't need repentance." [26:17]
"What man among you who has 100 sheep and loses one of them does not leave the 99 in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it... Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep." [24:34]
"What does the father do when the son was a long way off? There's an implication for what the father has been doing, isn't it? What has the father been doing? He's been waiting, waiting and on the lookout. He's been looking for his son and waiting and hoping for him to come home." [36:16]
"The parable of the Prodigal Son...it's about the heart of the father for all of us...this passage from Jesus has something really amazing to teach all of us about us and what all of us are like and also about God and what he is like." #!!22:16!!#
"I want you to notice there's actually three distinct phases though right one person opens their arms and then the other person has a choice right you got to stay like this you're going to open your arms back and then there's the actual Embrace right there's the Open Arms there's the other person receiving that and then there's the Embrace and I think that's a great picture of what you have going on in the story right the father with the younger son opens his arms and the younger son receives it and the arms close there's reconciliation and then what we're told in the story is that the father does the same thing to the older son he opens his arms and we're left at the end of the story with the older brother like this not sure if he's willing to receive reconciliation and come into this party so invitation response and embrace." #!!49:13!!#
"Our Heavenly dad is not like, 'Well, I have there's a bunch of people who follow me, it's fine.' His heart is every single one of his lost kids. He wants them to come home. He's not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to believe and trust in him. He wants all of us to be home with him and to be restored." #!!39:23!!#
"But we had to celebrate and rejoice because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found." #!!45:52!!#
"The point is that since all of us are God's lost kids, we don't have a right to condemn other lost kids. We should celebrate their return with genuine joy." #!!48:00!!#
"For some of you here maybe you resonate more with the older brother you're like yeah there are some people and if I'm honest with myself I don't want them to get God's grace there's some judgmentalism or condemnation in my heart if you resonate with that God's arms are open to you too and he's saying hey join the party come in what's stopping you." #!!54:16!!#
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