Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong, or that your past disqualified you from being accepted—by others, by the church, or even by God? That feeling, often called “impostor syndrome,” is more common than we realize. It’s a persistent sense of self-doubt, a fear that if people really knew us—our failures, our struggles—they would reject us. This fear doesn’t just affect our relationships with people; it can keep us from returning to God, convinced that we’re too far gone to be welcomed home.

But Jesus came to rewrite that narrative. He spent time with those who felt unworthy, those who had been written off by society, and He welcomed them with open arms. In Luke 15, Jesus tells three parables with the same message: God rejoices over every lost person who comes home. The story of the prodigal son is the third and most detailed of these parables. The younger son, after squandering his inheritance and hitting rock bottom, returns home expecting rejection but instead finds celebration and unconditional love from his father.

Yet, the story doesn’t end there. Jesus shifts the focus to the older brother, who represents the religious people of His day—the Pharisees. The older brother is angry, resentful, and refuses to join the celebration. He feels he’s earned his place through years of faithful service, and he can’t accept the father’s grace toward his wayward sibling. This attitude is not just a relic of the past; it’s a temptation for all of us who have been in the church for a long time. Sometimes, our own sense of justice, our hurt, or our pride can make us slow to forgive and quick to judge.

The heart of God, however, is always to welcome, forgive, and celebrate the return of the lost. We are challenged to examine ourselves honestly: Do we have the attitude of the father, or of the older brother? Are we making it easier or harder for prodigals to come home? God calls us to align our hearts with His—acknowledging our own tendencies to judge, focusing on forgiveness over punishment, responding with love instead of lectures, and celebrating restoration rather than reliving rejection. No matter what someone has done or how far they’ve wandered, the door is always open. Our calling is to forgive, love, celebrate, and include—just as God has done for us.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The Fear of Not Belonging Is Universal, but God’s Welcome Is Unconditional Many people struggle with the fear that their past or their failures make them unworthy of acceptance—by others, by the church, or by God Himself. Yet, Jesus’ ministry was marked by His radical welcome of those who felt most unworthy. God’s love is not based on our achievements or failures, but on His grace, and He rejoices over every person who comes home, no matter their story. [03:14]
• 2. The Older Brother’s Attitude Is a Warning for the Faithful It’s easy for those who have been faithful for years to slip into the mindset of the older brother—resentful, self-righteous, and slow to forgive. This attitude is not only spiritually dangerous for us, but it’s also painfully obvious to those who are trying to return to faith. Our reluctance to forgive and celebrate can become a stumbling block for others, keeping them from experiencing God’s grace. [14:17]
• 3. Forgiveness Must Precede Restoration—Even Before the Prodigal Returns True forgiveness is not just a reaction to someone’s apology; it’s a proactive decision to release hurt and resentment, even before the person comes home. This mirrors the heart of the father in the parable, who forgave his son before he ever saw him on the horizon. When we forgive ahead of time, we create space for genuine restoration and healing, both for ourselves and for those returning. [21:28]
• 4. Love and Celebration Should Drown Out Judgment and Lectures When someone returns after a season away, what they need most is not a lecture or a reminder of their failures, but a tangible expression of love and joy. Lectures can add to shame and drive people away, but love and celebration communicate the heart of God. Our response should be to throw open the doors, embrace the returning, and let grace speak louder than correction. [22:30]
• 5. The Church Must Reflect the Heart of the Father, Not the Older Brother Our calling as a community is to be a place where prodigals know they can always come home. This means acknowledging our own tendencies to judge, focusing on forgiveness, and making celebration and inclusion our default response. When we do this, we not only reflect God’s heart, but we also remove barriers that keep people from returning to Him. [25:43]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:14] - The Struggle of Impostor Syndrome
• [01:20] - Personal Story: Feeling Unworthy
• [02:44] - How Self-Doubt Affects Faith
• [03:32] - Jesus Welcomes the Unworthy
• [05:00] - The Pharisees and Their Exclusion
• [05:40] - Three Parables of Lostness
• [07:25] - The Audience: Religious People
• [08:13] - The Story’s Unexpected Turn
• [09:46] - The Older Brother’s Anger
• [11:14] - The Danger of a Slave Mentality
• [14:17] - The Impact of Judgmental Attitudes
• [16:12] - The Pain of Rejection
• [17:17] - The Father’s Response to the Older Brother
• [18:37] - Who Are You in the Story?
• [19:24] - Four Steps to Align with God’s Heart
• [21:28] - Forgive Before They Return
• [22:47] - Celebrate Restoration
• [24:28] - Four Words: Forgive, Love, Celebrate, Include
• [25:43] - Becoming a Church Like the Father
• [27:27] - Prayer for Prodigals and the Church

Observation Questions

1. In the parable, how does the father respond when the younger son returns home? What actions does he take to welcome him? ([03:46])
2. What is the older brother’s reaction when he hears about the celebration for his younger brother’s return? How does he express his feelings to the father? ([09:46])
3. According to Jesus, who was the main audience for these parables in Luke 15? Why is that important? ([07:25])
4. What repeated message does Jesus give after the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin in Luke 15:7 and 15:10? ([06:25])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think the father forgave and celebrated the younger son before he even apologized or explained himself? What does this show us about God’s heart? ([21:28])
2. The older brother felt he had “slaved” for his father and deserved more. What does this reveal about his understanding of grace and relationship? ([11:14])
3. The sermon mentioned that the older brother’s attitude is “noticeable” to those trying to return to faith. Why might this be a stumbling block for people coming back to church? ([14:17])
4. Jesus leaves the story open-ended about whether the older brother joins the celebration. What do you think is the reason for this, and what does it invite us to consider about our own attitudes? ([18:21])

Application Questions

1. The sermon talked about “impostor syndrome” and the fear of not belonging. Have you ever felt like your past or failures made you unworthy of God’s love or acceptance in church? How did you respond to those feelings? ([02:44])
2. Think about a time when someone you know tried to return to faith or to church after being away. How did you or your church respond? Was it more like the father or the older brother? ([15:03])
3. The father forgave before the son even came home. Is there someone in your life you need to forgive ahead of time, even before they apologize or return? What would it look like to release that hurt? ([21:28])
4. When someone comes back after a season away, do you tend to focus on their past mistakes, or do you celebrate their return? What practical steps can you take to make love and celebration louder than judgment or lectures? ([22:30])
5. The older brother’s attitude was shaped by hurt and a sense of unfairness. Are there areas where you feel overlooked or resentful in your faith journey? How can you bring those feelings honestly to God and ask Him to help you respond with grace? ([12:32])
6. The sermon challenged us to “forgive, love, celebrate, include.” Which of these is hardest for you, and why? What is one specific way you can practice this in your relationships this week? ([24:28])
7. As a church or small group, what are some barriers that might make it hard for “prodigals” to come home? What changes can you make to reflect the heart of the father more than the older brother? ([25:43])