The story of the prodigal son reveals a father who is not waiting in anger or judgment, but instead is filled with compassion, watching and hoping for his son's return. When the son is still a long way off, the father sees him, runs to him, embraces him, and kisses him, breaking all cultural expectations of dignity and restraint. This is a vivid picture of God's heart toward those who have wandered away—He is not waiting to scold or shame, but to welcome, restore, and celebrate. No matter how far you have gone or how unworthy you feel, the Father’s arms are open wide, ready to receive you home. [12:58]
Luke 15:20 (ESV) "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."
Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you feel distant from God? Imagine the Father running to meet you—what would it look like to take a step toward Him today?
Day 2: True Repentance—Coming to Our Senses
The turning point for the prodigal son comes when he "came to himself"—a moment of awakening and honest self-assessment. He recognizes the emptiness of his choices, the futility of his independence, and the goodness he left behind. This is not just regret, but a deep realization of his need for grace and a willingness to return in humility, without excuses or demands. True repentance is not about groveling, but about honestly admitting our need and turning back to the Father, trusting in His mercy. [09:34]
Luke 15:17-19 (ESV) "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! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’"
Reflection: What is one area where you need to honestly admit your need for God’s help and turn back to Him without excuses today?
Day 3: We Bring Nothing—God’s Grace Is Everything
The prodigal son’s story reminds us that we come to God empty-handed; we are spiritually broke, unable to earn our way back or offer anything to deserve His love. Our best efforts and achievements are not what restore us—only God’s grace does. Like Job, Paul, and Isaiah, we must recognize that anything good in us is a result of God’s work, not our own merit. This humility positions us to receive God’s grace and allows Him to be glorified in our lives. [27:36]
Philippians 3:7-9 (ESV) "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith."
Reflection: In what ways have you tried to earn God’s approval? How can you practice coming to Him today with empty hands, trusting only in His grace?
Day 4: It’s Better at Home—The Joy of God’s Presence
The prodigal son realizes that even the lowest place in his father’s house is better than the highest place away from him. There is a deep truth here: life with God, even in humble service, is far better than anything the world offers. The psalmist echoes this, declaring that one day in God’s presence is better than a thousand elsewhere. When we return home, we discover the joy, security, and fulfillment that only come from being with the Father. [29:10]
Psalm 84:10 (ESV) "For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness."
Reflection: Where are you tempted to seek satisfaction outside of God’s presence? What is one way you can intentionally choose to dwell “at home” with God today?
Day 5: You Belong—Welcomed as Sons and Daughters
The father does not receive the prodigal son as a servant, but restores him fully as a beloved son, giving him honor, authority, and a place at the table. In Christ, we are not just forgiven—we are made co-heirs, seated with Him in heavenly places, welcomed into God’s family with all the rights and privileges of children. This is our true identity and home, no matter our past. The Father’s love is deeper and more generous than we can imagine, and He delights to call us His own. [32:44]
Ephesians 2:4-6 (ESV) "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: How does knowing you are a beloved child and co-heir with Christ change the way you see yourself and your relationship with God today?
Sermon Summary
The story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 reveals the heart of God toward those who have wandered away, whether through rebellion, disappointment, hurt, or simply drifting. Jesus tells this parable in response to religious leaders who are offended by His association with sinners, illustrating that God’s love is not reserved for the worthy, but is poured out on all who are lost and willing to return. The prodigal son’s journey is a mirror for all of us: we have all, at some point, run from God, seeking fulfillment elsewhere, only to find ourselves empty and broken.
When the son hits rock bottom, feeding pigs and longing for their food, he “comes to himself”—a moment of awakening and repentance. He realizes that even the lowest servant in his father’s house is better off than he is. This humility is the starting point for true repentance: recognizing our spiritual poverty and our inability to earn our way back. The son prepares a speech of contrition, expecting to be received as a servant at best.
But the father’s response is shocking. He sees his son from afar, runs to him, embraces him, and interrupts his apology with immediate restoration—robe, ring, sandals, and a feast. The father’s love is extravagant, unmeasured, and undignified by cultural standards. He does not wait for groveling or proof of worthiness; he celebrates the return of his child. This is the heart of God: not just to forgive, but to restore, to welcome, and to honor those who come home.
Yet, Jesus also reminds us through other parables that this invitation is not open forever. There is a day of reckoning, and the time to return is now. We are all spiritually broke, bringing nothing to the table but our need. Yet, in Christ, we are not just forgiven—we are made sons and daughters, co-heirs with Christ, seated with Him in heavenly places. This is a status we cannot fully comprehend, but it is the reality of God’s grace.
No matter how far we have wandered, or how many times we have failed, the way home is always open through Jesus. The Father waits, not with condemnation, but with open arms, ready to celebrate every return.
Key Takeaways
1. True repentance begins with humility and self-awareness. The prodigal son’s turning point was not just regret, but a deep realization of his own brokenness and need. Spiritual awakening often comes when we finally admit we are empty and cannot fix ourselves, opening the door for God’s grace to meet us in our lowest place. [09:34]
2. God’s love is radically generous and undignified by human standards. The father’s willingness to run, embrace, and restore his son without hesitation or demand for penance defies cultural expectations. God’s mercy is not measured or reserved for the deserving; it is poured out on all who return, no matter their past. [14:13]
3. Restoration in God’s family is not partial or conditional. The prodigal hoped to be a servant, but the father reinstated him as a son, complete with honor and authority. In Christ, we are not merely forgiven sinners—we are welcomed as beloved children and co-heirs, sharing in Christ’s inheritance and status. [32:44]
4. The invitation to come home is urgent and time-limited. While God’s grace is abundant, Jesus warns that there is a day when the offer will end—either at His return or at our death. The call is to respond now, not presuming on endless opportunities, but recognizing the seriousness of the moment. [25:42]
5. Our spiritual poverty magnifies God’s glory. The more we realize we bring nothing to God—no merit, no leverage—the more we see that every good thing is His gift. This humility not only positions us to receive grace, but also ensures that God alone receives the glory for any transformation or fruit in our lives. [27:36]
What are some of the reasons mentioned in the sermon that people “run away” from God? ([01:05])
In the story, what is the significance of the son “coming to himself” while feeding pigs? What does this moment represent? ([09:34])
How does the father respond when he sees his son returning? What actions does he take, and why are they surprising in that culture? ([14:13])
What does the son expect when he returns home, and how does the father’s response differ from those expectations? ([12:58])
Interpretation Questions
Why does Jesus tell this parable in response to the religious leaders’ complaints about Him eating with sinners? What is He trying to show them about God’s heart? ([02:18])
The son prepares a speech to ask for forgiveness and a servant’s place. What does this reveal about his understanding of repentance and his relationship with his father? ([11:05])
The father’s actions—running, embracing, restoring—are described as “undignified” and “extravagant.” What does this teach us about the nature of God’s love and grace? ([14:13])
The sermon mentions that the invitation to come home is urgent and time-limited. Why is this urgency important, and how does it affect our response to God? ([25:42])
Application Questions
The prodigal son’s turning point was when he admitted his own brokenness and need. Is there an area in your life where you need to “come to your senses” and admit your need for God’s help? What would it look like to do that this week? ([09:34])
The father doesn’t wait for his son to grovel or prove himself—he runs to him and restores him immediately. Are there people in your life you find it hard to forgive or welcome back? What would it look like to show them the same kind of grace? ([14:13])
The son hoped to be a servant, but the father restored him as a son. Do you ever struggle to believe that God fully accepts and honors you as His child? How does this truth challenge your self-image or the way you approach God? ([20:25])
The sermon says, “We are all spiritually broke, bringing nothing to the table but our need.” How does recognizing your spiritual poverty change the way you pray, worship, or serve others? ([27:36])
The invitation to come home is urgent. Is there a step of faith, repentance, or reconciliation you’ve been putting off? What is holding you back, and what would it look like to respond today? ([25:42])
The father’s love is described as “radically generous and undignified by human standards.” How can you reflect this kind of love in your relationships this week—at home, work, or church? ([14:13])
The sermon ends with a call to pray for prodigals. Is there someone in your life who has wandered from faith? How can you pray for them and show them the heart of the Father this week? ([37:45])
Sermon Clips
But eventually the party's over. And there's an old saying that says sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay. It's a fool's temptation. It's bringing you down this road that will actually destroy you. It's fun for a while. [00:07:17](19 seconds)
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We might say he had a come to Jesus moment. A lot of us who are praying for a prodigal, this is the prayer we're praying for. This is the moment we want to see. That person who's wandered off and they're far from the Lord, what we're praying is, Lord, wake them up. Take the blinders off their eyes. They are deceived right now. They think the direction they're going is the path to life, but we know it's a path to death. Lord, would you take the blinders off their eyes and help this person see how much they need you? [00:09:34](33 seconds)
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And it would be better to be a servant in my father's house. It would be better to be the lowest of the low in my father's house than to be in charge of my life outside of my father's house. [00:10:34](15 seconds)
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But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion and ran and embraced him and kissed him. Wow. There's so much vivid detail in this verse. It says the father saw him a long way off. [00:13:09](17 seconds)
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And so it says he's waiting. And then it says the father saw him and felt compassion, ran to him and embraced him. Now, some scholars have said that this would actually be very unusual for a father to take off running. And in this context, you could see, right, the son is supposed to be coming home groveling. So even if the father is going to receive him, you would expect the father to stand there very dignified, waiting for him to come and grovel at his feet. But it says the father runs to him, embraces him, kisses him. This is so undignified. The father should be standing his ground. He should be waiting for the disgraced son to come and grovel. The religious elites who are here, they're offended that Jesus would even eat with sinners. But here the father isn't just eating, he's embracing them, he's kissing them. [00:14:21](68 seconds)
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God's love is poured out to whosoever will. God's love and his mercy is so great that Paul and James and Jesus. They have to remind us, hey, don't keep on sinning because you know how good God is, right? Don't take advantage of this. But God's love and his mercy is so great. It's just like reckless. [00:17:26](26 seconds)
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He's given him the checkbook. Look, the shoes would have been, the sandals that they call for would have been the footwear of a free person. He's saying, take off those slave shoes and give him proper sandals. He's not a slave, but he's a son. And that's not enough. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us eat and celebrate. In Jewish culture, it's all about the feast. Remember, this whole story started with a meal. Jesus is sitting down and he's eating with sinners and tax collectors. The Pharisees are muttering about this. They're not at all happy about this. How dare you eat with this? And so Jesus tells three stories. And in the climax of this story, we arrive at another meal. He says, kill the fattened calf. Let us eat and celebrate. [00:21:17](53 seconds)
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The Pharisees, they were so put off by Jesus eating with sinners and in his story, the father isn't just eating with the sinner, but they're throwing a feast in their honor. Because verse 24, this is the punchline, for this, my son was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found and they began to celebrate. [00:23:20](24 seconds)
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So the son heads home. He's hoping for a job. He goes, I know I blew it. I know I don't deserve to be called your son, but man, if I could just be your servant, because I know it's better in your household than it is out here. That would be enough. But he's surprised to find out. Number three, you belong at home. You belong at home. That's what you were made for. You were designed to be in the house of your father. And look at the heart of the father. There's no condemnation. He doesn't even let him finish his apology, his speech. He calls the servants, bring the robe, get the ring, put shoes on his feet, kill the fattened calf. We're going to celebrate. He is treated as a son and not a servant. [00:31:01](43 seconds)
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In Ephesians 2, Paul says, but God, being rich in mercy because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. By grace, you have been saved and raised up with him and seated us with him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We were dead, no hope, but God, but God. That's beautiful words. But God made us alive together with Christ by grace we share in the resurrection. [00:33:03](32 seconds)
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