Our church cares about the unchurched, the de-churched, and the lost. - Pastor Charlie Dates

Luke 15:11-32

11 And He said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that is coming to me.’ And so he divided his wealth between them. 13 And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his estate in wild living. 14 Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began doing without. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he longed to have his fill of the carob pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving him anything. 17 But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired laborers have more than enough bread, but I am dying here from hunger! 18 I will set out and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired laborers.”’ 20 So he set out and came to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, slaughter it, and let’s eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. 29 But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you never gave me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; 30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”

Each of the parables that Jesus tells in Luke 15 is about how we need to care about other image-bearers enough to share the gospel. 

Runaway teens and children are not new to our society. Most of us can empathize with the emotions of the father in Luke 15 when his child left home. 

This is the third story that Jesus tells and the pattern is the same as the two stories from last week: lost, found, celebrate. 

This parable was scandalous and shocking like many of the stories Jesus told:

• The Levite priest passing by the traveler who was in need of assistance (Luke 10)

• The story of the moneylender where he cancelled the debt of two men (Luke 7)

• The compassionate employer who paid a full-day’s wage to the people who only worked a half-day (Matthew 20)

What is the biggest scandal? YOU

• We have done so much, committed so many sins, been through so much, but God has brought you here. 

• You were lost just like the first son. 

• Just like God cared enough to rescue you, you should care enough about other people who are far from him. 

This story is called the Prodigal Son. Prodigal means extravagant, lavish, reckless. 

The passage is not really about the son’s prodigal actions, but the father’s.  

The Younger Son

People have little tolerance for delayed gratification. The son wanted to please himself and went far from the father to do so. 

• Getting his share of his father’s wealth required the father to sell his assets. 

• The son was basically saying “I want your stuff but not you.”

Even people who go to church act like the son… they want God’s stuff but not God. 

• They want God’s resources but not his discipline. 

• They want God’s wisdom but not his leadership. 

• They want all the perks of being a child of God without actually being a child of God. 

The insanity of life is thinking that the fun and pleasure offered by the world is better than what God has. 

The Father

The father in the text is God. It is the love of God that allows his children to be reckless. 

The father gave his son what he asked for. 

• One of the best things God has ever done for some is to give them what they wanted but I didn’t need. 

• God had to let them go, so the world could make them want run back to him. 

• Psalm 119:71 - It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.

• God will give you what you wanted to show you that he’s the one you wanted all along

The son is taking care of pigs and thinking about eating their food. Something no self-respecting Jewish man would do.

The reason he was doing this is the same reason people in the world do the things they do. Their souls are hungry. 

They haven’t found the well that never runs dry.

They never met the bread of life.

They don’t know that God can satisfy far better than our earthly pleasures.  

That’s why we should not look down on other people.

The son comes to himself in verse 17...

He goes home and is prepared to beg for his father’s forgiveness but before he can open his mouth…

The father is moved with compassion. 

God doesn’t need your confession before he gives you his compassion. 

The Older Brother

When the younger brother comes home and the father throws a party, the older son is angry. 

Some people have tried to please God and follow the rules. They never did anything wrong so they feel more entitled to God’s grace and favor. 

When you walk with God, you come to see that if he never gives you the stuff you want, it’s alright because he’s better than anything you’ve ever desired.  

People who grew up in the church or have walked with God for a while, should be able to rejoice when the loss are found because they have had the prize all along. 

At the end of the story, the older son is left outside the party… mad. 

Jesus as an Older Brother

When we were out in a far country, lost and on our own, our older brother came looking for us. 

He came through 42 generations and let them put nails in His hands to come find you!

Reflection Questions:

• When have distanced yourself from God? What brought you back, and how did you experience His grace?

• In what ways do you see yourself in the older brother's reaction to his sibling’s return? Consider any feelings of resentment or self-righteousness you might have. How can you cultivate a more gracious and celebratory attitude towards others who find their way back to God?

• How has God's love been unconditional and extravagant in your life? How can this understanding transform your relationship with Him and others?

• Are there people in your life whom you find difficult to forgive or welcome back?

• How can you more effectively share the gospel and reflect God’s grace to those who feel far from Him?

Watch the full sermon here.