“The Lost Son”Main point: God’s reckless love shows us the primacy of repentance and restoration.INTRODUCTIONOverview: We encounter a timeless story of a gracious and benevolent Father of two sons. Many notable authors in our day have composed beautiful, pastoral meditations on this story. Henri Nowen, Dutch-born Catholic priest, professor, and psychologist  - The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming Timothy Keller, preacher, theologian, and Christian apologist, Longtime Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City and prolific author - The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian FaithFamous song from 1985 by Benny Hester called “When God Ran” which was later covered by Phillips, Craig, and Dean for a new generation of Christians in 1999.The younger son looks at his prospects at home and doesn’t like what he sees. According to the customs of the day, his older brother would receive a double portion of the inheritance when their father dies. That means at best he would receive only ⅓ of the estate. Of course, a temptation for anyone who receives less than someone else due to factors beyond their control is to begin to feel jealous and resentful. (The word we used last week was envy.) It burns in him day after day, week after week, and year after year. The younger brother knows he can do better for himself. Though the day of his inheritance is guaranteed someday, he grows impatient. Finally, he just can’t take it any more. His discontentment and impatience erupts and he goes to his Father and makes his case. “Father, I’ve been patient. My brother is going to receive twice as much as me and he’s going to run the family’s estate. My prospects aren’t good, but Father, I have a plan to make my own way and create my own fortune. This plan I conceived will take time to develop so I don’t have time to wait. Please give me my portion of the inheritance now so I can begin the process.”The Father knows that the son, by asking for his inheritance early, is essentially turning his back on the family business. He’s rejecting the environment of prosperity and generosity the father has invested in for his entire life - and likely his father before him, and so on. But the Father is moved with compassion and, much to the surprise of all those around him, cashes out ⅓ of the estate and hands it over to his younger son.The son goes away to a distant country with a seemingly endless supply of money. It seems endless until decision after decision leads to loss after loss. His extravagant, and irresponsible living leads to his ruin and eventually he finds himself in such dire straits he longs for the food given to the pigs.But he comes to his senses and he returns home.His father sees him a long way off, and hitches up his robe, and runs to his son. He puts his ring on is finger. He puts a robe over his shoulders. He puts sandals on his feet. He even prepares a choice meal from the fatted calf that was reserved for the highest celebrations.But the older son comes in from a days work in the field and hears the celebratory music. He asks a servant what is going on and he’s told it’s a party to celebrate the return of the younger brother. What?!? A party??? Doesn’t anyone remember what this fool did?First he insults the father, the family, and the whole klan by requesting his inheritance before his father died. Then he squanders all of the inheritance until there is nothing left.Now he returns and we reinstate him into the family system?!?

Ver todos los episodios