May 9, 2025 • 45 mins
What happens when we shift from being the grateful recipient of grace to becoming its gatekeeper? In this profound exploration of Jesus' parable of the father with two sons, we discover that this isn't simply a story about a prodigal returning home—it's about two different ways we can miss the heart of God.
The religious leaders criticized Jesus for welcoming "notorious sinners" to his teachings. In response, Jesus tells three parables about God's pursuit of the lost, culminating in this story of a father with two sons. We witness the younger son's journey from rebellion to "coming to himself" in humility, and the father's extraordinary response—running to meet him, restoring his sonship, and throwing a celebration.
But the story doesn't end with this beautiful reconciliation. The older son, dutiful and obedient, refuses to join the celebration. His complaint reveals a heart that has reduced relationship to transaction, sonship to servitude. The father's response is just as gracious to him: "Everything I have is yours"—yet the invitation to join the feast remains open-ended.
This challenges us to examine where we stand. Many of us begin our faith journey grateful for grace like the younger son, only to gradually transform into the older brother—judging those we deem less worthy of God's favor. During Lent, we're invited to replace grumbling with gratitude, judgment with joy, and to recognize that God's grace extends beyond our comfort zones.
The question Jesus leaves unanswered becomes ours to answer with our lives: Will you join the celebration? Will you allow the father's love to center you? The hope of the world depends on our willingness to enter the feast where there's music and dancing, celebrating every time someone finds their way home.
This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would like to support the ongoing work of First Love Church you can donate at https://www.firstlovechurch.org/giving
In the service of LOVE,
Pastors Dennis and Heather Drake
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to the First Love Church Podcast.
This is a collection of Sundayteachings inspired by the
Revised Common Lectionary andrecorded weekly in Ocala,
Florida.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
I want to read this morning to you from 2
Corinthians, chapter 5, in thisfourth Sunday of Lent.
Because of this decision, wedon't evaluate people by what
they have or how they look.
We looked at the Messiah thatway once and we got it all wrong
, as you know.
(00:31):
We certainly don't look at himthat way anymore Now we look
inside and what we see is thatanyone united with the Messiah
gets a fresh start, is creatednew.
The old life is gone, the newlife.
Virgins look at it.
All of this comes from the God,who settled the relationship
(00:54):
between us and him, and then hecalled us to settle our
relationships with each other.
God put the world square withhimself through the Messiah,
giving the world a fresh startby offering forgiveness of sins,
and God has given us the taskof telling everyone what he is
(01:15):
doing.
We are Christ representatives.
God uses us to persuade men andwomen to drop their differences
and enter into God's work ofmaking things right between them
.
We are speaking for Christhimself.
Now become friends with God.
He's already a friend with you.
How you ask in Christ, god putthe wrong on him, who never did
(01:40):
anything wrong, so we could beput right with God.
What a beautiful hope, and Ilove this invitation, that it's
our responsibility to tellpeople what God is up to.
And I want to tell you, in caseyou didn't remember God is up
to good.
God is up to restoring beautyand making things new.
(02:01):
In John, chapter 3, thescripture tells us this that God
so loved the world that Godsent Jesus, his one and only
beloved son, so that anyone whobelieved in him might not perish
but have eternal life.
Because God did not send Jesusinto the world to condemn the
(02:22):
world, but that the world,through Jesus, might be saved.
God is up to saving the world.
God is up to offering asalvation, offering a joy,
offering a renewal and tellingus all come home, come to the
table.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
I'd like to remind you something, too, that the
scripture just reminded you andI that we're representatives of
Christ, not of the Bible, and Ifind that a lot of times,
christians have trouble becausethey're arguing the Bible with
people, and it didn't ask you todefend them.
(03:02):
God doesn't need your defense.
Did you ever think about thatfor a second?
And so we tend to.
You know people.
Well, I don't believe the Bible.
Well, you're going to hell ifyou don't.
You start yelling at people.
It's like what are you doing?
We were called to be arepresentative of Christ, and so
that is called to share love,remind them of forgiveness and
(03:24):
grace.
Grace, that's what we're torepresent.
And and oftentimes, uh, we willtake a doctrine that we or
someone else has pulled uh, manhas pulled out of scripture, and
we defend that thing to thedeath as if it is god.
It was an idea you had, based onsomething you or someone else
(03:47):
read, and we're defending thatand arguing.
Sometimes.
I think that maybe, if we wouldjust maybe say a little bit
less of that and a little bitmore of the representing of
Christ, I believe your witnesswould be a lot more effective.
(04:08):
I think your influence onpeople would be greater.
I'm not suggesting that we justsurrender all of the things
that we believe to heathens, butI'm just saying that, while we
maintain our own convictions,it's not your responsibility to
(04:30):
convict the world of sin.
It turns out that's the job ofthe Holy Spirit.
Oh yeah, my job is to be arepresentative of Christ, and
that's a tough one because theconviction one that sounds fun
and the arguing oh, I'll take agood argument anytime and we
tend to maybe derail what ourpurpose is, and so we wonder why
(04:53):
we're not effective.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
You set us up for the lectionary reading today and
the intention that we see.
And I remind you of this truthif it ever gets murky for you,
the written word must always bowto the living word.
The living word is Christ, andthat is the way to the Father.
Jesus is the way to the Father.
(05:17):
Jesus in fact said I am the way, I am the truth and I am the
life.
And when you represent Christto someone, when you behave like
Christ did to someone, you arereminding them that there is a
way home, that there is a wayback to God, back to love, and
to return to love as quickly aspossible.
So we read to you this morningin Luke's gospel, and I read
(05:45):
you'll find it in just a minuteMany dishonest tax collectors.
They had dishonest taxcollectors in that time.
I just you.
So open your holy imaginationwith me, just imagine, like,
expand a little bit and thinkwhat that may have been like.
And other notorious sinners dohave to love that.
(06:09):
They're calling them notorioussinners, since we're all sinners
.
There's some notoriety aroundwhat these people are doing, and
so I love this idea too.
Again, in hearing the text, inallowing it to form us Now the
text is to us a witness of whoJesus is, and this is Luke's
gospel and he's telling ussomething here.
(06:31):
They've gathered around tolisten as Jesus taught.
The people Pay attention tothat.
Jesus's teachings do causepeople to have interest, to be
curious, because they'redifferent than the other
teachings.
They're different than the wayother people taught the
scripture.
So Jesus began to teach themand the people in charge raised
(06:56):
concern.
I just like the way that thatwas written.
These are notorious sinners anddishonest tax collectors and
we're simply raising a concernbecause we are good and they are
not.
Do you hear this kind oflanguage where we begin to
separate ourselves and say it'sus and them?
And so I remind you of whoJesus is and what the gift is
(07:20):
today.
I was blessed this week bysomeone in their leaving and
they leaned over to hug me andbless me and they said I bless
you, I bless your family and Ibless your enemies.
And I thought to myself no onehas blessed my enemies before
and I loved it with my wholeheart.
I hope you will do that topeople.
I hope that you will bless them, bless their families and bless
their enemies, because that'sthe way to change the world.
(07:43):
Beloved Jesus told us this thatwe are to pray for people that
we disagree with, that.
We are to bless people that wedisagree with that.
There is an invitation into somuch more.
But these particular folksraised concern with the Jewish
leaders and the experts in thelaw.
Indignant, they grumbled andcomplained.
Look at how this man associateswith all these notorious
(08:05):
sinners and welcomes them all tocome to him.
Now, what they were absolutelyconcerned with is a separation.
If you don't keep yourselfseparate from those people, you
may become like them, and thisis the invitation.
This is where we're set up inthe story, and I want to remind
you about a few things.
On a particular Sunday, wedon't get to read all of the
(08:29):
portions of this, but hopefullyit will inspire you, the Holy
Spirit will direct you andyou'll go home and read this
some more.
So Jesus has an answer to this.
He knows what people are saying, but in this particular Sunday
morning, we don't get to readthe whole answer.
I hope you will go home and Ihope that you will read it as
much as you will also readIsaiah, chapter 58 again.
(08:51):
This is the hope for us duringLent that what God wants will be
so formed in us by thatrepetition and by that
reflection that we'll be apeople who live like Jesus is
living like Jesus in our stead.
We had someone once ask us aquestion because we were talking
about how do we really fulfillthe Great Commission?
(09:11):
What does it look like to bepeople filled with God and
filled with love?
And they said just imagine ifJesus came to you in the morning
and said it's okay, you stay inbed, I'll do all of your things
today.
What if Jesus made breakfastfor your family?
What if Jesus went to work foryou?
What if Jesus took yourneighbor's garbage cans in?
What if Jesus was in the carinstead of you and then he said
(09:36):
this?
And then, at the end of the day, would anyone notice that it
was not you?
Because that's our intention tolive.
Go through this life as ifJesus were living it Our hands,
our feet, our creativity, ourlove offered to the world.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
I want to interject something because you know, when
you ask us to do something likethat, you know I think
sometimes we're half inspiredand half aggravated that you're
asking us to do more stuff, likepastors are standing up here
asking you to do more stuff.
You already do so much.
But I wonder if you realizethese things that we're asking
(10:16):
you to do would be like myneighbor has a rescued fighting
dog right behind our houserescued fighting dog right
behind our house and it would belike me saying, you know what?
I'm trying to refrain fromreaching my hand over the fence
and having that dog maul myfingers off.
I'm really trying to disciplinemyself to not do.
(10:39):
And you say, yeah, that's apretty good idea.
You should not do that.
Let's try to use the season ofLent and let's offer that as a
sacrifice.
I'm going to stop sticking myhands over the fence.
There are things here thatwe're asking and I don't think
you realize how much benefit youhave by not sticking your hands
(11:01):
over the fence and have yourfingers mauled up.
We don't really understandwhat's at stake.
I've been on this kick for aboutsix months now about really
just changing my attitudetowards other drivers, and at
first it seemed like just thisthing that I had to do, and I
lost all my enjoyment of beingable to tell people what I
(11:23):
really think In the privacy ofmy own car that I paid way too
much money for I should have theright to direct traffic and
call people whatever names Iwant to call them.
And now I'm being encroached onthis time and God is asking
something of me and I'm tellingyou there is a peace in my car
(11:44):
and I'm feeling God's presencewhere I used to just feel anger,
and I'm able to allow and it's.
My day isn't any longer.
My trips aren't any moredifficult.
I in fact there's something Ibenefited from stopping sticking
my hands over the fence andbeing mauled, and I'll tell
something the power is not onlyin the transformation of you,
(12:07):
but everyone that's around you.
I was on the phone and I think Ishared with you guys that I was
with my brother, came andvisited and he was driving my
car and he was losing it on the,and so I was preaching to my
brother the stuff I'm learningand I told him.
I said, danny, I treat everyonelike they're my brother, so
(12:27):
that's you trying to get inthere.
And he goes well.
I'm treating them like you andyou're irritating me and you
need to get out of my way.
I'm like I think you're missingthe point, danny.
We're good, loving brothershere, but you kind of wonder how
that affects people.
But I was on the phone with mybrother yesterday and he was
driving in St Louis and he goeswhat is this guy doing?
(12:49):
He doesn't realize that he's mybrother yet and I got to tell
you I witnessed a miracle.
It was a miracle that happenedbecause of influence, because of
exposure, because of somebodyelse's will to allow God to do
(13:12):
something in me that benefits me, like God isn't just up there
going oh look, I made Dennishave a traffic problem and now
he can't even express himself.
I'm so happy, you know, god'sall grateful because I didn't
say a cuss word and that offendsGod's ears.
No, it's wanting my heart tochange, for me to have a joyful
(13:35):
day, for me to walk in the graceof God.
But I have to turn loose ofsome things.
But I don't realize the thingI'm turned loose of isn't
something that I don't want tostick my hands over the fence.
I shouldn't realize the thingI'm turned loose of isn't
something that I don't want tostick my hands over the fence.
I shouldn't want these things.
I don't realize how hurtfulthey are to me, and so I see
this offer in this and whenwe're talking about this season
(13:56):
and things we can give up,realize it's not just some chore
so that God can see you workharder, but it's something that,
if you will make that effort,will come upon you with such
enveloping love and grace andjoy.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
I remind you that during the season of Lent and
these are the three pillars thatJesus talked about in Matthew,
chapter six when we pray, whenwe fast and when we give the
idea of fasting and theambiguity of it, of what do we
decide to give up.
And it is not in any way tocoerce God to do something for
(14:32):
you.
It is a practice in surrenderof things that are not helpful
to us, that are not helpful toour neighbor, that are not
helpful to our enemies, and itis a practice.
Thomas mentioned this morningthat he's giving up grumbling,
and I appreciate that so muchand I love the fact that he was
so very honest to say it doesn'talways go as planned, Because
(14:52):
very often we have habits thatare so much a part of our life
that we don't even realize whatis happening.
And so, by offering it up, andeven when you recognize the
failure of it, sometimes that'shope enough.
The awareness that something ischanged or something needs to
be off.
It's so beautiful.
But I remind you that grumblingisn't necessarily always
(15:14):
outside talking.
That's complaining.
Grumbling is this attitude.
Sometimes it has a little lowmoan to it.
That is a grumble.
It is a low, like a frequencysound, but it is a genuine
unhappiness.
If someone is close enough,they can feel that frequency
coming from you and theinvitation is.
In fact, if you look at thefirst Testament, God has some
(15:37):
things to say about grumbling.
That's not the way that hewants any of us to live.
There is an invitation to livein peace.
There is invitation to live insomething else and I think if
you will look at these versesthere, the people here were
complaining and grumbling.
This is not right that Jesus issitting with these people,
talking with them.
I don't want to see them aroundhere.
This is the time for seriousstudy.
(15:57):
We are people who are devotedto God and to the ways of God,
and Jesus, with the way thathe's teaching, is letting all of
these people just in, and thiswas their complaint.
And so Jesus, in response tothis complaint of notorious
sinners and tax collectors andpeople that were outside being
allowed to hear the message, tobe in the presence of God.
(16:21):
I love that.
The person this week said to meI want a blessing for your
enemies, Because I can't thinkof a greater blessing for my
enemy than the presence of Jesus, Whoever they are, whatever
they've done in the presence ofJesus.
We see this in Saul, who becamePaul the apostle.
We see this many times.
What our world needs, what weneed, what our enemies need, is
(16:44):
an invitation to sit in thepresence of all loving jesus you
know when we talk about thesethings, and so I just want to.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
You know, we're getting ready to give an
illustration and it's reading,just uh, the illustration that
jesus gave.
So we could do no better.
But I want us to uh, uh, seewhat we can glean from that,
because, you know, I think theproblem sometimes with our
religion is that we get thisidea.
Okay, you're right, I've got togive up grumbling.
But what do I give it up to?
Just stop it.
(17:13):
Like you said, sometimes habitsare so strong that, as willful
my intention is to give it up,it still comes back.
So there really has to bereplacement theology.
Heather, and I call it, youfind that thing that you're
going to do instead, and so Ihopefully that in these
illustrations, you'll findthings that could be practical.
Oh, I hear you, lord, I'm goingto write that down.
(17:35):
That's the thing I'm going todo For me and Heather.
We have made gratitudesomething.
That is our intention, and itwill absolutely swallow up
grumbling and be the replacementthat, if you're doing it, you
can't do the other.
If I'm so busy being grateful,it changes and shifts my spirit,
(18:00):
and so I don't stay in thatmulligrub, I don't stay negative
.
I don't stay focused becauseI've just changed my focus to
what I do have and that lightensup and brings joy, and so, if
we can make that shift, I hadsomething happen recently.
There's somebody that is a partof this church, but they they
live far away and so they justkind of watched online.
But they had contacted mebecause they were having a legal
(18:22):
issue that has been droning onfor months and months without
any kind of response or any kindof change or whatever.
It's just hanging over them.
And they called us and saidwould we pray?
And about a week later thisindividual called me back and
(18:42):
said you know, I asked you topray and we got a response.
In fact, the very next day wegot a response.
It wasn't the response I waslooking for.
I wanted the green light goahead.
It wasn't the opposite though.
The stop it's over, you're sunk.
It was just we need a littlemore information and a little
more time.
We need a little moreinformation and a little more
(19:05):
time.
And he said to me he goes, youknow, for a day or two.
I was so disappointed that Ididn't get my answer and that
wasn't exactly what I wanted.
But he didn't say this.
But what happened is he shiftedinto gratitude Because he said
to me he goes.
I realized I didn't get ananswer, a single response, in 10
(19:27):
, ten months, but after I hadcalled my friends for prayer is
it a coincidence the very nextday?
If it is, it's a really awesomecoincidence, and prayer
provides a lot of awesomecoincidences a lot of the time.
And so go with these awesomecoincidences.
(19:48):
If you consider the benefit, andwhat happened was he started to
meditate on man.
I had nothing and I was sostirred and though it wasn't the
answer I wanted, now I know atleast what next, because for 10
months I had no idea and now Iknow the next step.
So, in rehearsing thisgratitude he goes.
(20:12):
Then it dawned on me I need tocall and encourage the folks
that had prayed for me.
And so I got that call of anencouragement and it was a place
of genuine gratitude and givingGod glory.
And we tend to, if we don't getthe perfect answer, we're still
mad.
But can you find, on the pathto glory, some things to be
(20:36):
grateful for?
If you learn that habit, it'stransformative.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
In the first testament it talks a lot about
gratitude.
In the second testament it alsoreminds us of this In
everything, give thanks, forthis is the will of God in
Christ Jesus concerning you.
Let that be an effort that youdo for the rest of your life.
Find a way in everything togive thanks, not necessarily for
everything it doesn't ask us todo that but in everything While
(21:02):
you're suffering, for however,it ended up that you're there.
In everything, give thanks,because this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus concerning you.
But in response to thisgrumbling, this accusation
against Jesus, jesus gives themthis illustration.
And then we go to verse 11.
(21:23):
And I want to tell you whathappened between 3 and 11.
Jesus said God is like ashepherd who leaves the 99 and
goes after the one.
God is like this beautiful,tender shepherd.
In fact, in the prophet Isaiahhe said the one that you should
(21:44):
follow, the Messiah, will leadhis flock like a shepherd and he
will draw them tenderly tohimself and he'll be gentle with
those that are with young.
And so Jesus is telling thepeople, they're reminding them.
God is like the shepherd.
And then Jesus says God is likea woman who has lost a coin and
(22:04):
tears up the house until shefinds that coin.
And when she finds it, shecalls her neighbors and they
have a party, because what waslost is now found.
And then Jesus gives thisillustration, and I think it's
essential for us, as followersor people who are paying
(22:25):
attention to the witness, to notexclude this.
It's not an either, or God isas a shepherd, god is as a woman
who looks for a coin, god is asa father who has two sons, and
this is where we go.
I invite you this morning topay attention to a few things.
Perhaps you've heard this.
In fact, sometimes in ourBibles, over the top of it it'll
(22:48):
say this is the story of theprodigal son.
That is not true, beloved.
This is the story of a fatherwho has two sons.
And there are two sons and theyare a beautiful invitation for
us.
And in this metaphor, there issomething so powerful about the
metaphor and what it offers tous.
(23:09):
We listen, for the goodness.
I hope that you'll hear anall-loving father tell this part
of the story.
The younger son came to hisfather and said Father, don't
you think it's time to give meyour share of the estate that
belongs to me?
So the father went ahead anddistributed among the two sons
their inheritance, and shortlyafterward the younger son packed
(23:32):
up his belongings and traveledoff to see the world, and he
journeyed to a faraway landwhere he soon wasted all that he
was given in a binge ofextravagant and reckless living,
with everything spent andnothing left.
He grew hungry, for there was asevere famine in the land, and
so he begged a farmer in thatcountry to hire him, and the
(23:54):
farmer hired him and sent himout to feed the pigs.
At this particular point in thestory we've heard it so much,
it becomes callous to us.
But to the story, to the peoplesitting there, jesus would have
lost them.
At this point they would havebeen like no, no, that didn't
happen.
I mean, we got with metaphor.
We're good with sheep, we'regood with women finding coins,
(24:14):
we're not going with a son whoeats with pigs.
In fact, many people at thatparticular time, because of
their religion, wouldn't evensay the word that they used as
pig.
And so Jesus began to talkabout how far this son had gone
and how loving the fatheractually is.
But again, people's the neck,the hairs on their neck would
(24:36):
have been up.
They would have been in a huffand you know, if there were
children around, maybe they werecovering their ears like we're
not going to talk of this.
The son was so famished he waswilling to eat the slop given to
the pigs because no one wouldfeed him a thing.
This is a horror like this is ahorror story to the people who
(25:03):
are sitting there.
There's an indictment here onthe neighbors and on his
brothers and on his countrymenwho would not feed him.
He was forced to go to thetable of the pigs.
People would have been againtuning out no, this is not for
me.
This has nothing to do with God.
Because again, here's the verybeginning, one of the beginning
(25:24):
questions where is your brother?
This person is doing without somuch and it says because no one
would feed him a thing.
We could all look at that and gowell, he should have been
getting food for himself.
He's an adult, he had theopportunity and he wasted it.
I mean we could make up lots ofreasons why no one would feed
(25:45):
him and again, jesus is clearlyindicting the people in this
story and saying the reason hehad to sit at the table of the
pigs was because no one elsewould feed him a thing.
Humiliated, the son finallyrealized what he was doing and
thought and I love in anothertranslation it says when the son
came to himself, that is one ofthe prayers that I pray over
(26:07):
myself may I come to myself.
May I come to, for whateverillusion I have remembered,
whatever kind of amnesia I havesuffered, may I come to myself.
And he thought there are manyworkers at my father's house who
have all the food they want,with plenty to spare, and they
lack for nothing.
Why am I here dying of hunger,feeding the pigs and eating
(26:29):
their slop?
Speaker 1 (26:30):
We pause here for a moment to thank you for joining
us today.
If you're finding this episodemeaningful, would you take a
moment to share it with a friend?
This podcast is made possiblethanks to the generosity of
people just like you.
If you would like to supportthe ongoing work of First Love
Church and the continued work ofour podcast, visit us online at
(26:53):
firstlovechurchorg, remindingyou to like, follow and
subscribe.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
I think one of the greatest things that God does in
our lives, if we'll allow himto, is, through awareness, bring
change.
And that's kind of thepractical thing that I would
like for you to consider as atakeaway, because there are
things you're struggling withand until you really become
aware of how painful they are toothers and how they're hurting
(27:21):
you, you'll just continue tostay in that place.
The problem with awareness isrealizing you're naked and you
have no way to clothe yourself.
You know what I mean.
There's such an embarrassmentthere that humility, you know
it's just humiliating.
But awareness is, I think, arequirement for transformation.
(27:44):
I know that there were issues inmy life of anger and how it was
damaging my children and mywife was profound, but I would
swear to you I had no angerproblem.
Look, I have never, ever struckmy wife.
I cussed out the family, but Idon't get drunk and beat anyone,
(28:13):
so I don't have the anger,there's other people.
And then when I really becameaware that even just to someone
who grew up in an abusive home,like my wife did, just raising
your voice brings back thatrecall and it's and it's
(28:34):
tormenting and and for mychildren being so little, they
don't know what their dad'sgonna do if one minute I'm quiet
, the next minute I'm yelling,turning over tables, that that
creates an atmosphere ofuncertainty.
So I didn't realize, you know,because I could say, well, you
know, look, I provide for themthere.
You know about what do they gotto complain about?
I take him to Disney, yeah, butif I terrify them in the car,
(28:56):
ride over because I'm gettingout of the car to fight somebody
in on the turnpike, you know,but all those I could justify,
because I've seen people doworse and I've seen people do a
lot worse.
So if you can justify, as longas you hang around some super,
super bad people, then you'refine.
And the thing about it is whenyou actually come to yourself
(29:18):
and you say, and you allowyourself to become aware how
painful that is and how much youneed God.
That's when change starts tohappen.
But it takes awareness andsometimes we would rather just
departmentalize and not evenconsider, and so many people
(29:42):
they close doors off in theirown minds and in their life.
I'm just not even going to dealwith that.
Yeah, that stuff happened.
That's something I'm ashamed of.
But you know what?
In the grace of God, I'mforgiven and so I'm just moving
on and I'm telling you we haveto open that door and become
aware of how much we need God'sintervention in that space and
(30:03):
that thing.
I'm telling you from personallyexperiencing it, and we see it
over and over this is whatscripture is reminding us here,
this person, I've become awareof how much I have fallen and
where I could be if I wouldallow God to bring
transformation, if I wouldreturn home.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
I want to go back home to my father's house and
I'll say to him Father, I waswrong, I have sinned against you
.
Now he begins this particularlittle idea or thought pattern.
He says I have sinned againstyou.
And then he uses an ancientrabbinical prayer and he begins
rehearsing what his teacherstaught him Father, I have sinned
(30:43):
against you and against heavenand I am no longer worthy to be
called your son.
He begins to say this type ofprayer.
He said this is what he has.
He's practicing how he'llapproach his loving father and
perhaps win some mercy back.
I will never be worthy to becalled your son.
Please, father, just treat melike one of your employees.
(31:04):
So the young son set off fromhome, from a long distance away.
His father saw him coming,dressed like a beggar.
I love that part.
His father saw him coming.
I'm telling you, beloved, thisis a story of a loving father
who is watching for the son tocome home.
Who is out there waiting,watching for the son to come
(31:27):
home.
Who is out there waiting forthat son to come back, not so
that he can repent, not so thathe can say he was wrong, but so
that he would be back in thefather's house.
Speaker 2 (31:32):
His father saw him coming.
I just want to interject that Ibelieve that's that place where
you know, for much of our liveswe feel like we've got to beg
God and nothing seems to behappening.
And I really believe, with thathumility of awareness, it's not
a beg at all.
I have seen over and over whensomeone truly repents and truly
(31:57):
brings one of those areas ofbrokenness to God in humility,
God is waiting from afar off tocome and resolve that thing.
It's not going to be.
I'm telling you because maybesome of you tuned me out, but if
there's anybody here that'sreally listening and going, yeah
, there's an area in my lifewhich I'm scared to, but I know
(32:21):
I need to bring awareness to.
I'm telling you the path, knowI need to bring awareness to.
I'm telling you that the pathis not long like you feel like
it might be, or you're going tobeg and beg and get no
transformation.
It's a thing where, once you'rereally aware of how much you
need God, it's that space ismade and God will come, fill it
(32:42):
and really drive out thosethings that hinder us from
returning home.
Speaker 3 (32:49):
From a long distance away.
His father saw him comingdressed as a beggar.
I love this about God.
No matter how we come, herecognizes us as sons and
daughters.
It doesn't matter what disguisewe have on, what we've decided
to wear, we are recognized asbeloved children and a great
compassion swelled up in hisheart.
(33:09):
Over and over again, we seethis with Jesus, who tells us
that our God is merciful, ourGod is full of compassion, our
God is full of empathy toward us.
In fact, it is one of thethings that Jonah, when Jonah
was having a tussle with God,was most upset about.
In fact, jonah says to Godafter God relents and does not
judge the people.
(33:30):
He said I knew you were likethis.
I should have stayed homebecause I knew that once these
people turned that you wouldrelent.
He said I knew you were full ofmercy.
I love this about God and youshould too, and this is for us
an invitation.
But Jesus is telling us again inthis story, in this metaphor,
(33:50):
he's reminding us of this fatherwho is so loving that great
compassion swelled in his heartfor his son who was returning
home.
So the father raced out to meethim.
He swept him up in his arms.
He hugged him dearly and hekissed him over and over with
tender love.
And the son said Father, I waswrong.
(34:10):
I have sinned against you.
I would never deserve to becalled your son.
Just let me be.
And the father interrupted him.
I love that we can have allthese words planned for God.
We can have all these plans onhow we will come back.
And the father interrupted andsaid son, you're home now.
(34:31):
This is the good news, this isthe gospel.
I remind you.
This is so reminiscent of Peter, who is going to tell these
Gentile believers about God andabout how they need to turn from
their way of living, and theHoly Spirit falls on them.
Before Peter can start talking,the Holy Spirit interrupts the
(34:51):
plan.
And here is this man who isalso I've got a plan for
repentance.
And God is like you're home now.
Turning to his servants, thefather said quick, bring me the
best robe, my very own robe, andplace it on his shoulders.
Bring the ring, the seal ofsonship, and I will put it on
his finger, and bring out thebest shoes that you can find for
(35:12):
my son.
Let's prepare a great feast andcelebrate, for this beloved son
of mine was once dead and isnow alive again.
Once he was lost, but now hewas found and everyone
celebrated with overflowing joy.
And now the older son was outworking in the field when his
brother returned and as heapproached the house he heard
(35:36):
the music of celebration anddancing.
And he called to one of theservants and asked what's going
on and the servant replied it'syour younger brother, he's
returned home and your father isthrowing a party to celebrate
his homecoming.
And the older son became angryand refused to go in and
celebrate.
(35:57):
I just let that sit there withyou.
Sometimes we have a bad case ofolder brother-ishness.
We do.
When somebody returns and Godis just the blessing of their
(36:21):
sonship, it angers us.
Instead of causing us to joinwith the Father and welcome and
party and celebrate with joy,the older son becomes angry and
refuses to go in and celebrate.
And I want to ask in your life,where are you refusing to go
into God and celebrate?
Where are you holding back joybecause you just don't think
(36:45):
it's right?
We should not be celebrating.
We should be getting this rightwith this son.
He should not have done that.
We should all have been outworking in the fields.
The older brother became angryand refused to go in and
celebrate.
So his father came out.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
I want you to kind of see that the beauty of what the
father did for the youngerbrother, because he had that
robe of the beggar.
And so he gives him this newrobe, this new identity.
And he does that for us,doesn't he?
And then all is forgiven whenyour debt is paid, you're back
in the family.
In fact, we're going to throw aparty, kill the fatted calf.
The best is given to us, and soa lot of us want to identify as
(37:34):
the younger brother, and I betthere's a portion in your life
where you have experienced thiskind of grace, and it was
probably the time that you cameto the Lord, and so you have an
understanding of that story.
And so the story becomes reallyone-dimensional in the fact
(37:55):
that I see the Father, I see howhe forced grace, because we see
ourselves as that youngerbrother all the time.
But time goes on in yourChristian walk and I think that
you didn't realize that youswitched All of a sudden.
Some of you are now olderbrothers, older sisters, because
(38:17):
you were that young one, butthat was a few years back now,
as I recall.
Young one, but that was a fewyears back now.
As I recall I was back inChicago when I was you know, 20,
and I walked in that church andthey gave me that Bible and
they told me that I was lovedand I just cried on everyone's
shoulder and was just sograteful that I was forgiven.
And then I went off to Bibleschool and I learned some stuff.
(38:40):
I realized there were some do'sand don'ts, and so I started
doing the do's and not doing thedon'ts.
Then I started noticing therewas other people doing the
don'ts and not doing the do's.
I'm like, hey, you're notpaying your do's and you're
stepping all over me with yourdon'ts and I'm doing such a
better job.
I think I ought to berecognized here as a doer and I
(39:05):
I think I ought to be recognizedhere as a doer and I think
nobody ought to recognize thedonors.
And and all of a sudden we makea shift where, whether we
realize it or not, and then webecome, as I looked around, a
whole room filled with olderbrothers and room filled with
older brothers, and then we gooh, this part of the story
(39:26):
doesn't apply to us.
I just remember fondly when Iwas taken back, and so I
celebrate my testimony and Imiss the meat of this story,
because we become so judgmentalof those people that did it
wrong.
Because we've done some things.
Right now We've got a littlebit of right under our belt,
(39:54):
just enough right to seeourselves as so much better than
those wrong doers.
Now Heather might have to runout and get the car started and
get us out of here, becausethere's about to be a mutiny.
It looks like on your facesBecause I am talking to each one
of you and I'm talking tomyself.
Don't miss the lesson that theopen-ended story here because we
(40:17):
don't really ever see whetherthe older brother goes into the
party or not, because that iswaiting to be answered in your
life and in mine.
How are we going to handle this?
Speaker 3 (40:31):
so the father comes out and pleads with him come and
enjoy the feast with us.
I think everybody there wouldhave remembered the wedding that
, at least we heard about, wasfull of really good wine.
There was a lot of celebrating,there was a lot of joy in that
(40:52):
particular time, and Jesus isagain giving this beautiful
metaphor of the father who iscoming out and is pleading with
his son come into the joy, comein.
And the son come into the joy,come in.
And the son said Father, listen, how many years have I been
working like a slave for you,performing every duty that you
have asked as a faithful son,and I've never once disobeyed
(41:15):
you.
And I remind you, it is thereligious leaders to whom Jesus
is talking.
These are people who obeyed therules and beloved.
There were a lot of them.
At least they obeyed the rulesthat they agreed with or the
rules that they felt like theycould do, and I've never once
disobeyed you.
But you've never thrown a partyfor me because of my
(41:38):
faithfulness.
Never once have you given me agoat that I could feast on and
celebrate with my friend, likehe's doing now.
But look at this son of yours.
It's important that we seewhere he puts the relationship.
He does not say look at thisbrother of mine, look at this
(41:59):
son of yours, and he showsseparation in that word it's not
my brother, it's your son.
Speaker 2 (42:07):
And it's so easy to choke on that grace that other
people get.
This is for us to wrestle with.
Speaker 3 (42:16):
And he comes back after wasting your wealth on
prostitutes and reckless living.
It's a little bit of a stretch.
Speaker 1 (42:26):
I mean, we don't.
Speaker 3 (42:28):
This is the way the older brother's telling the
story about his own brother.
How does he know?
Does he have spies?
Did he know that's what he did?
I mean, the guy wasn't there,I'm just hearing.
This word is like we assume alot about other people and what
they've done with what God hasgiven them.
And here you are throwing agreat feast to celebrate for him
(42:50):
.
And the father said my son, youare always welcomed with me by
my side.
Everything I have is yours toenjoy.
I have is yours to enjoy, butit is only right to celebrate
like this and be overjoyed.
Beloved.
(43:14):
When is the last time someonetalked to you about the fact
that God loves celebration, thatGod is a God of joy, that God
is a God of all love, that Godis a God of mercy?
This is the God we are callingpeople to saying.
Come home to God, come home tojoy, not come home to a bunch of
rules that you are going tofeel overwhelmed by.
Come home to joy because thisbrother of yours see here's
(43:36):
where the story corrects him hesaid this is your son and he
said this is your brother.
Again, here we have thisrestoring of right relationship,
of right report of priorities.
This brother of yours was oncedead and gone, but now he's
alive and back with us again.
He was lost but now is foundand we don't get to hear if the
(44:01):
older brother goes into theparty, because the choice is
ours.
Will we go into the feast, willwe go back to the father's
house, will we allow thefather's love to be what centers
us?
This is the hope of the worldthat we would take our place in
(44:24):
the joy, in the celebration, inthe hope that those that were
once gone will now come home.
To the father that we who wereonce suffering with older
brother Ishnus would say thankyou for reminding me of who I am
.
Let's go into the feast.
I hope they both ran back intothe house where there was music
(44:45):
and dancing.
I hope he no longer refused topart.
Speaker 1 (44:51):
We hope you've enjoyed this week's sermon.
If you would like moreinformation about us, visit us
online at firstlovechurchorg.
Welcome to the First Love Church Podcast.
This is a collection of Sundayteachings inspired by the
Revised Common Lectionary andrecorded weekly in Ocala,
Florida.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
I want to read this morning to you from 2
Corinthians, chapter 5, in thisfourth Sunday of Lent.
Because of this decision, wedon't evaluate people by what
they have or how they look.
We looked at the Messiah thatway once and we got it all wrong
, as you know.
(00:31):
We certainly don't look at himthat way anymore Now we look
inside and what we see is thatanyone united with the Messiah
gets a fresh start, is creatednew.
The old life is gone, the newlife.
Virgins look at it.
All of this comes from the God,who settled the relationship
(00:54):
between us and him, and then hecalled us to settle our
relationships with each other.
God put the world square withhimself through the Messiah,
giving the world a fresh startby offering forgiveness of sins,
and God has given us the taskof telling everyone what he is
(01:15):
doing.
We are Christ representatives.
God uses us to persuade men andwomen to drop their differences
and enter into God's work ofmaking things right between them
.
We are speaking for Christhimself.
Now become friends with God.
He's already a friend with you.
How you ask in Christ, god putthe wrong on him, who never did
(01:40):
anything wrong, so we could beput right with God.
What a beautiful hope, and Ilove this invitation, that it's
our responsibility to tellpeople what God is up to.
And I want to tell you, in caseyou didn't remember God is up
to good.
God is up to restoring beautyand making things new.
(02:01):
In John, chapter 3, thescripture tells us this that God
so loved the world that Godsent Jesus, his one and only
beloved son, so that anyone whobelieved in him might not perish
but have eternal life.
Because God did not send Jesusinto the world to condemn the
(02:22):
world, but that the world,through Jesus, might be saved.
God is up to saving the world.
God is up to offering asalvation, offering a joy,
offering a renewal and tellingus all come home, come to the
table.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
I'd like to remind you something, too, that the
scripture just reminded you andI that we're representatives of
Christ, not of the Bible, and Ifind that a lot of times,
christians have trouble becausethey're arguing the Bible with
people, and it didn't ask you todefend them.
(03:02):
God doesn't need your defense.
Did you ever think about thatfor a second?
And so we tend to.
You know people.
Well, I don't believe the Bible.
Well, you're going to hell ifyou don't.
You start yelling at people.
It's like what are you doing?
We were called to be arepresentative of Christ, and so
that is called to share love,remind them of forgiveness and
(03:24):
grace.
Grace, that's what we're torepresent.
And and oftentimes, uh, we willtake a doctrine that we or
someone else has pulled uh, manhas pulled out of scripture, and
we defend that thing to thedeath as if it is god.
It was an idea you had, based onsomething you or someone else
(03:47):
read, and we're defending thatand arguing.
Sometimes.
I think that maybe, if we wouldjust maybe say a little bit
less of that and a little bitmore of the representing of
Christ, I believe your witnesswould be a lot more effective.
(04:08):
I think your influence onpeople would be greater.
I'm not suggesting that we justsurrender all of the things
that we believe to heathens, butI'm just saying that, while we
maintain our own convictions,it's not your responsibility to
(04:30):
convict the world of sin.
It turns out that's the job ofthe Holy Spirit.
Oh yeah, my job is to be arepresentative of Christ, and
that's a tough one because theconviction one that sounds fun
and the arguing oh, I'll take agood argument anytime and we
tend to maybe derail what ourpurpose is, and so we wonder why
(04:53):
we're not effective.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
You set us up for the lectionary reading today and
the intention that we see.
And I remind you of this truthif it ever gets murky for you,
the written word must always bowto the living word.
The living word is Christ, andthat is the way to the Father.
Jesus is the way to the Father.
(05:17):
Jesus in fact said I am the way, I am the truth and I am the
life.
And when you represent Christto someone, when you behave like
Christ did to someone, you arereminding them that there is a
way home, that there is a wayback to God, back to love, and
to return to love as quickly aspossible.
So we read to you this morningin Luke's gospel, and I read
(05:45):
you'll find it in just a minuteMany dishonest tax collectors.
They had dishonest taxcollectors in that time.
I just you.
So open your holy imaginationwith me, just imagine, like,
expand a little bit and thinkwhat that may have been like.
And other notorious sinners dohave to love that.
(06:09):
They're calling them notorioussinners, since we're all sinners
.
There's some notoriety aroundwhat these people are doing, and
so I love this idea too.
Again, in hearing the text, inallowing it to form us Now the
text is to us a witness of whoJesus is, and this is Luke's
gospel and he's telling ussomething here.
(06:31):
They've gathered around tolisten as Jesus taught.
The people Pay attention tothat.
Jesus's teachings do causepeople to have interest, to be
curious, because they'redifferent than the other
teachings.
They're different than the wayother people taught the
scripture.
So Jesus began to teach themand the people in charge raised
(06:56):
concern.
I just like the way that thatwas written.
These are notorious sinners anddishonest tax collectors and
we're simply raising a concernbecause we are good and they are
not.
Do you hear this kind oflanguage where we begin to
separate ourselves and say it'sus and them?
And so I remind you of whoJesus is and what the gift is
(07:20):
today.
I was blessed this week bysomeone in their leaving and
they leaned over to hug me andbless me and they said I bless
you, I bless your family and Ibless your enemies.
And I thought to myself no onehas blessed my enemies before
and I loved it with my wholeheart.
I hope you will do that topeople.
I hope that you will bless them, bless their families and bless
their enemies, because that'sthe way to change the world.
(07:43):
Beloved Jesus told us this thatwe are to pray for people that
we disagree with, that.
We are to bless people that wedisagree with that.
There is an invitation into somuch more.
But these particular folksraised concern with the Jewish
leaders and the experts in thelaw.
Indignant, they grumbled andcomplained.
Look at how this man associateswith all these notorious
(08:05):
sinners and welcomes them all tocome to him.
Now, what they were absolutelyconcerned with is a separation.
If you don't keep yourselfseparate from those people, you
may become like them, and thisis the invitation.
This is where we're set up inthe story, and I want to remind
you about a few things.
On a particular Sunday, wedon't get to read all of the
(08:29):
portions of this, but hopefullyit will inspire you, the Holy
Spirit will direct you andyou'll go home and read this
some more.
So Jesus has an answer to this.
He knows what people are saying, but in this particular Sunday
morning, we don't get to readthe whole answer.
I hope you will go home and Ihope that you will read it as
much as you will also readIsaiah, chapter 58 again.
(08:51):
This is the hope for us duringLent that what God wants will be
so formed in us by thatrepetition and by that
reflection that we'll be apeople who live like Jesus is
living like Jesus in our stead.
We had someone once ask us aquestion because we were talking
about how do we really fulfillthe Great Commission?
(09:11):
What does it look like to bepeople filled with God and
filled with love?
And they said just imagine ifJesus came to you in the morning
and said it's okay, you stay inbed, I'll do all of your things
today.
What if Jesus made breakfastfor your family?
What if Jesus went to work foryou?
What if Jesus took yourneighbor's garbage cans in?
What if Jesus was in the carinstead of you and then he said
(09:36):
this?
And then, at the end of the day, would anyone notice that it
was not you?
Because that's our intention tolive.
Go through this life as ifJesus were living it Our hands,
our feet, our creativity, ourlove offered to the world.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
I want to interject something because you know, when
you ask us to do something likethat, you know I think
sometimes we're half inspiredand half aggravated that you're
asking us to do more stuff, likepastors are standing up here
asking you to do more stuff.
You already do so much.
But I wonder if you realizethese things that we're asking
(10:16):
you to do would be like myneighbor has a rescued fighting
dog right behind our houserescued fighting dog right
behind our house and it would belike me saying, you know what?
I'm trying to refrain fromreaching my hand over the fence
and having that dog maul myfingers off.
I'm really trying to disciplinemyself to not do.
(10:39):
And you say, yeah, that's apretty good idea.
You should not do that.
Let's try to use the season ofLent and let's offer that as a
sacrifice.
I'm going to stop sticking myhands over the fence.
There are things here thatwe're asking and I don't think
you realize how much benefit youhave by not sticking your hands
(11:01):
over the fence and have yourfingers mauled up.
We don't really understandwhat's at stake.
I've been on this kick for aboutsix months now about really
just changing my attitudetowards other drivers, and at
first it seemed like just thisthing that I had to do, and I
lost all my enjoyment of beingable to tell people what I
(11:23):
really think In the privacy ofmy own car that I paid way too
much money for I should have theright to direct traffic and
call people whatever names Iwant to call them.
And now I'm being encroached onthis time and God is asking
something of me and I'm tellingyou there is a peace in my car
(11:44):
and I'm feeling God's presencewhere I used to just feel anger,
and I'm able to allow and it's.
My day isn't any longer.
My trips aren't any moredifficult.
I in fact there's something Ibenefited from stopping sticking
my hands over the fence andbeing mauled, and I'll tell
something the power is not onlyin the transformation of you,
(12:07):
but everyone that's around you.
I was on the phone and I think Ishared with you guys that I was
with my brother, came andvisited and he was driving my
car and he was losing it on the,and so I was preaching to my
brother the stuff I'm learningand I told him.
I said, danny, I treat everyonelike they're my brother, so
(12:27):
that's you trying to get inthere.
And he goes well.
I'm treating them like you andyou're irritating me and you
need to get out of my way.
I'm like I think you're missingthe point, danny.
We're good, loving brothershere, but you kind of wonder how
that affects people.
But I was on the phone with mybrother yesterday and he was
driving in St Louis and he goeswhat is this guy doing?
(12:49):
He doesn't realize that he's mybrother yet and I got to tell
you I witnessed a miracle.
It was a miracle that happenedbecause of influence, because of
exposure, because of somebodyelse's will to allow God to do
(13:12):
something in me that benefits me, like God isn't just up there
going oh look, I made Dennishave a traffic problem and now
he can't even express himself.
I'm so happy, you know, god'sall grateful because I didn't
say a cuss word and that offendsGod's ears.
No, it's wanting my heart tochange, for me to have a joyful
(13:35):
day, for me to walk in the graceof God.
But I have to turn loose ofsome things.
But I don't realize the thingI'm turned loose of isn't
something that I don't want tostick my hands over the fence.
I shouldn't realize the thingI'm turned loose of isn't
something that I don't want tostick my hands over the fence.
I shouldn't want these things.
I don't realize how hurtfulthey are to me, and so I see
this offer in this and whenwe're talking about this season
(13:56):
and things we can give up,realize it's not just some chore
so that God can see you workharder, but it's something that,
if you will make that effort,will come upon you with such
enveloping love and grace andjoy.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
I remind you that during the season of Lent and
these are the three pillars thatJesus talked about in Matthew,
chapter six when we pray, whenwe fast and when we give the
idea of fasting and theambiguity of it, of what do we
decide to give up.
And it is not in any way tocoerce God to do something for
(14:32):
you.
It is a practice in surrenderof things that are not helpful
to us, that are not helpful toour neighbor, that are not
helpful to our enemies, and itis a practice.
Thomas mentioned this morningthat he's giving up grumbling,
and I appreciate that so muchand I love the fact that he was
so very honest to say it doesn'talways go as planned, Because
(14:52):
very often we have habits thatare so much a part of our life
that we don't even realize whatis happening.
And so, by offering it up, andeven when you recognize the
failure of it, sometimes that'shope enough.
The awareness that something ischanged or something needs to
be off.
It's so beautiful.
But I remind you that grumblingisn't necessarily always
(15:14):
outside talking.
That's complaining.
Grumbling is this attitude.
Sometimes it has a little lowmoan to it.
That is a grumble.
It is a low, like a frequencysound, but it is a genuine
unhappiness.
If someone is close enough,they can feel that frequency
coming from you and theinvitation is.
In fact, if you look at thefirst Testament, God has some
(15:37):
things to say about grumbling.
That's not the way that hewants any of us to live.
There is an invitation to livein peace.
There is invitation to live insomething else and I think if
you will look at these versesthere, the people here were
complaining and grumbling.
This is not right that Jesus issitting with these people,
talking with them.
I don't want to see them aroundhere.
This is the time for seriousstudy.
(15:57):
We are people who are devotedto God and to the ways of God,
and Jesus, with the way thathe's teaching, is letting all of
these people just in, and thiswas their complaint.
And so Jesus, in response tothis complaint of notorious
sinners and tax collectors andpeople that were outside being
allowed to hear the message, tobe in the presence of God.
(16:21):
I love that.
The person this week said to meI want a blessing for your
enemies, Because I can't thinkof a greater blessing for my
enemy than the presence of Jesus, Whoever they are, whatever
they've done in the presence ofJesus.
We see this in Saul, who becamePaul the apostle.
We see this many times.
What our world needs, what weneed, what our enemies need, is
(16:44):
an invitation to sit in thepresence of all loving jesus you
know when we talk about thesethings, and so I just want to.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
You know, we're getting ready to give an
illustration and it's reading,just uh, the illustration that
jesus gave.
So we could do no better.
But I want us to uh, uh, seewhat we can glean from that,
because, you know, I think theproblem sometimes with our
religion is that we get thisidea.
Okay, you're right, I've got togive up grumbling.
But what do I give it up to?
Just stop it.
(17:13):
Like you said, sometimes habitsare so strong that, as willful
my intention is to give it up,it still comes back.
So there really has to bereplacement theology.
Heather, and I call it, youfind that thing that you're
going to do instead, and so Ihopefully that in these
illustrations, you'll findthings that could be practical.
Oh, I hear you, lord, I'm goingto write that down.
(17:35):
That's the thing I'm going todo For me and Heather.
We have made gratitudesomething.
That is our intention, and itwill absolutely swallow up
grumbling and be the replacementthat, if you're doing it, you
can't do the other.
If I'm so busy being grateful,it changes and shifts my spirit,
(18:00):
and so I don't stay in thatmulligrub, I don't stay negative
.
I don't stay focused becauseI've just changed my focus to
what I do have and that lightensup and brings joy, and so, if
we can make that shift, I hadsomething happen recently.
There's somebody that is a partof this church, but they they
live far away and so they justkind of watched online.
But they had contacted mebecause they were having a legal
(18:22):
issue that has been droning onfor months and months without
any kind of response or any kindof change or whatever.
It's just hanging over them.
And they called us and saidwould we pray?
And about a week later thisindividual called me back and
(18:42):
said you know, I asked you topray and we got a response.
In fact, the very next day wegot a response.
It wasn't the response I waslooking for.
I wanted the green light goahead.
It wasn't the opposite though.
The stop it's over, you're sunk.
It was just we need a littlemore information and a little
more time.
We need a little moreinformation and a little more
(19:05):
time.
And he said to me he goes, youknow, for a day or two.
I was so disappointed that Ididn't get my answer and that
wasn't exactly what I wanted.
But he didn't say this.
But what happened is he shiftedinto gratitude Because he said
to me he goes.
I realized I didn't get ananswer, a single response, in 10
(19:27):
, ten months, but after I hadcalled my friends for prayer is
it a coincidence the very nextday?
If it is, it's a really awesomecoincidence, and prayer
provides a lot of awesomecoincidences a lot of the time.
And so go with these awesomecoincidences.
(19:48):
If you consider the benefit, andwhat happened was he started to
meditate on man.
I had nothing and I was sostirred and though it wasn't the
answer I wanted, now I know atleast what next, because for 10
months I had no idea and now Iknow the next step.
So, in rehearsing thisgratitude he goes.
(20:12):
Then it dawned on me I need tocall and encourage the folks
that had prayed for me.
And so I got that call of anencouragement and it was a place
of genuine gratitude and givingGod glory.
And we tend to, if we don't getthe perfect answer, we're still
mad.
But can you find, on the pathto glory, some things to be
(20:36):
grateful for?
If you learn that habit, it'stransformative.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
In the first testament it talks a lot about
gratitude.
In the second testament it alsoreminds us of this In
everything, give thanks, forthis is the will of God in
Christ Jesus concerning you.
Let that be an effort that youdo for the rest of your life.
Find a way in everything togive thanks, not necessarily for
everything it doesn't ask us todo that but in everything While
(21:02):
you're suffering, for however,it ended up that you're there.
In everything, give thanks,because this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus concerning you.
But in response to thisgrumbling, this accusation
against Jesus, jesus gives themthis illustration.
And then we go to verse 11.
(21:23):
And I want to tell you whathappened between 3 and 11.
Jesus said God is like ashepherd who leaves the 99 and
goes after the one.
God is like this beautiful,tender shepherd.
In fact, in the prophet Isaiahhe said the one that you should
(21:44):
follow, the Messiah, will leadhis flock like a shepherd and he
will draw them tenderly tohimself and he'll be gentle with
those that are with young.
And so Jesus is telling thepeople, they're reminding them.
God is like the shepherd.
And then Jesus says God is likea woman who has lost a coin and
(22:04):
tears up the house until shefinds that coin.
And when she finds it, shecalls her neighbors and they
have a party, because what waslost is now found.
And then Jesus gives thisillustration, and I think it's
essential for us, as followersor people who are paying
(22:25):
attention to the witness, to notexclude this.
It's not an either, or God isas a shepherd, god is as a woman
who looks for a coin, god is asa father who has two sons, and
this is where we go.
I invite you this morning topay attention to a few things.
Perhaps you've heard this.
In fact, sometimes in ourBibles, over the top of it it'll
(22:48):
say this is the story of theprodigal son.
That is not true, beloved.
This is the story of a fatherwho has two sons.
And there are two sons and theyare a beautiful invitation for
us.
And in this metaphor, there issomething so powerful about the
metaphor and what it offers tous.
(23:09):
We listen, for the goodness.
I hope that you'll hear anall-loving father tell this part
of the story.
The younger son came to hisfather and said Father, don't
you think it's time to give meyour share of the estate that
belongs to me?
So the father went ahead anddistributed among the two sons
their inheritance, and shortlyafterward the younger son packed
(23:32):
up his belongings and traveledoff to see the world, and he
journeyed to a faraway landwhere he soon wasted all that he
was given in a binge ofextravagant and reckless living,
with everything spent andnothing left.
He grew hungry, for there was asevere famine in the land, and
so he begged a farmer in thatcountry to hire him, and the
(23:54):
farmer hired him and sent himout to feed the pigs.
At this particular point in thestory we've heard it so much,
it becomes callous to us.
But to the story, to the peoplesitting there, jesus would have
lost them.
At this point they would havebeen like no, no, that didn't
happen.
I mean, we got with metaphor.
We're good with sheep, we'regood with women finding coins,
(24:14):
we're not going with a son whoeats with pigs.
In fact, many people at thatparticular time, because of
their religion, wouldn't evensay the word that they used as
pig.
And so Jesus began to talkabout how far this son had gone
and how loving the fatheractually is.
But again, people's the neck,the hairs on their neck would
(24:36):
have been up.
They would have been in a huffand you know, if there were
children around, maybe they werecovering their ears like we're
not going to talk of this.
The son was so famished he waswilling to eat the slop given to
the pigs because no one wouldfeed him a thing.
This is a horror like this is ahorror story to the people who
(25:03):
are sitting there.
There's an indictment here onthe neighbors and on his
brothers and on his countrymenwho would not feed him.
He was forced to go to thetable of the pigs.
People would have been againtuning out no, this is not for
me.
This has nothing to do with God.
Because again, here's the verybeginning, one of the beginning
(25:24):
questions where is your brother?
This person is doing without somuch and it says because no one
would feed him a thing.
We could all look at that and gowell, he should have been
getting food for himself.
He's an adult, he had theopportunity and he wasted it.
I mean we could make up lots ofreasons why no one would feed
(25:45):
him and again, jesus is clearlyindicting the people in this
story and saying the reason hehad to sit at the table of the
pigs was because no one elsewould feed him a thing.
Humiliated, the son finallyrealized what he was doing and
thought and I love in anothertranslation it says when the son
came to himself, that is one ofthe prayers that I pray over
(26:07):
myself may I come to myself.
May I come to, for whateverillusion I have remembered,
whatever kind of amnesia I havesuffered, may I come to myself.
And he thought there are manyworkers at my father's house who
have all the food they want,with plenty to spare, and they
lack for nothing.
Why am I here dying of hunger,feeding the pigs and eating
(26:29):
their slop?
Speaker 1 (26:30):
We pause here for a moment to thank you for joining
us today.
If you're finding this episodemeaningful, would you take a
moment to share it with a friend?
This podcast is made possiblethanks to the generosity of
people just like you.
If you would like to supportthe ongoing work of First Love
Church and the continued work ofour podcast, visit us online at
(26:53):
firstlovechurchorg, remindingyou to like, follow and
subscribe.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
I think one of the greatest things that God does in
our lives, if we'll allow himto, is, through awareness, bring
change.
And that's kind of thepractical thing that I would
like for you to consider as atakeaway, because there are
things you're struggling withand until you really become
aware of how painful they are toothers and how they're hurting
(27:21):
you, you'll just continue tostay in that place.
The problem with awareness isrealizing you're naked and you
have no way to clothe yourself.
You know what I mean.
There's such an embarrassmentthere that humility, you know
it's just humiliating.
But awareness is, I think, arequirement for transformation.
(27:44):
I know that there were issues inmy life of anger and how it was
damaging my children and mywife was profound, but I would
swear to you I had no angerproblem.
Look, I have never, ever struckmy wife.
I cussed out the family, but Idon't get drunk and beat anyone,
(28:13):
so I don't have the anger,there's other people.
And then when I really becameaware that even just to someone
who grew up in an abusive home,like my wife did, just raising
your voice brings back thatrecall and it's and it's
(28:34):
tormenting and and for mychildren being so little, they
don't know what their dad'sgonna do if one minute I'm quiet
, the next minute I'm yelling,turning over tables, that that
creates an atmosphere ofuncertainty.
So I didn't realize, you know,because I could say, well, you
know, look, I provide for themthere.
You know about what do they gotto complain about?
I take him to Disney, yeah, butif I terrify them in the car,
(28:56):
ride over because I'm gettingout of the car to fight somebody
in on the turnpike, you know,but all those I could justify,
because I've seen people doworse and I've seen people do a
lot worse.
So if you can justify, as longas you hang around some super,
super bad people, then you'refine.
And the thing about it is whenyou actually come to yourself
(29:18):
and you say, and you allowyourself to become aware how
painful that is and how much youneed God.
That's when change starts tohappen.
But it takes awareness andsometimes we would rather just
departmentalize and not evenconsider, and so many people
(29:42):
they close doors off in theirown minds and in their life.
I'm just not even going to dealwith that.
Yeah, that stuff happened.
That's something I'm ashamed of.
But you know what?
In the grace of God, I'mforgiven and so I'm just moving
on and I'm telling you we haveto open that door and become
aware of how much we need God'sintervention in that space and
(30:03):
that thing.
I'm telling you from personallyexperiencing it, and we see it
over and over this is whatscripture is reminding us here,
this person, I've become awareof how much I have fallen and
where I could be if I wouldallow God to bring
transformation, if I wouldreturn home.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
I want to go back home to my father's house and
I'll say to him Father, I waswrong, I have sinned against you
.
Now he begins this particularlittle idea or thought pattern.
He says I have sinned againstyou.
And then he uses an ancientrabbinical prayer and he begins
rehearsing what his teacherstaught him Father, I have sinned
(30:43):
against you and against heavenand I am no longer worthy to be
called your son.
He begins to say this type ofprayer.
He said this is what he has.
He's practicing how he'llapproach his loving father and
perhaps win some mercy back.
I will never be worthy to becalled your son.
Please, father, just treat melike one of your employees.
(31:04):
So the young son set off fromhome, from a long distance away.
His father saw him coming,dressed like a beggar.
I love that part.
His father saw him coming.
I'm telling you, beloved, thisis a story of a loving father
who is watching for the son tocome home.
Who is out there waiting,watching for the son to come
(31:27):
home.
Who is out there waiting forthat son to come back, not so
that he can repent, not so thathe can say he was wrong, but so
that he would be back in thefather's house.
Speaker 2 (31:32):
His father saw him coming.
I just want to interject that Ibelieve that's that place where
you know, for much of our liveswe feel like we've got to beg
God and nothing seems to behappening.
And I really believe, with thathumility of awareness, it's not
a beg at all.
I have seen over and over whensomeone truly repents and truly
(31:57):
brings one of those areas ofbrokenness to God in humility,
God is waiting from afar off tocome and resolve that thing.
It's not going to be.
I'm telling you because maybesome of you tuned me out, but if
there's anybody here that'sreally listening and going, yeah
, there's an area in my lifewhich I'm scared to, but I know
(32:21):
I need to bring awareness to.
I'm telling you the path, knowI need to bring awareness to.
I'm telling you that the pathis not long like you feel like
it might be, or you're going tobeg and beg and get no
transformation.
It's a thing where, once you'rereally aware of how much you
need God, it's that space ismade and God will come, fill it
(32:42):
and really drive out thosethings that hinder us from
returning home.
Speaker 3 (32:49):
From a long distance away.
His father saw him comingdressed as a beggar.
I love this about God.
No matter how we come, herecognizes us as sons and
daughters.
It doesn't matter what disguisewe have on, what we've decided
to wear, we are recognized asbeloved children and a great
compassion swelled up in hisheart.
(33:09):
Over and over again, we seethis with Jesus, who tells us
that our God is merciful, ourGod is full of compassion, our
God is full of empathy toward us.
In fact, it is one of thethings that Jonah, when Jonah
was having a tussle with God,was most upset about.
In fact, jonah says to Godafter God relents and does not
judge the people.
(33:30):
He said I knew you were likethis.
I should have stayed homebecause I knew that once these
people turned that you wouldrelent.
He said I knew you were full ofmercy.
I love this about God and youshould too, and this is for us
an invitation.
But Jesus is telling us again inthis story, in this metaphor,
(33:50):
he's reminding us of this fatherwho is so loving that great
compassion swelled in his heartfor his son who was returning
home.
So the father raced out to meethim.
He swept him up in his arms.
He hugged him dearly and hekissed him over and over with
tender love.
And the son said Father, I waswrong.
(34:10):
I have sinned against you.
I would never deserve to becalled your son.
Just let me be.
And the father interrupted him.
I love that we can have allthese words planned for God.
We can have all these plans onhow we will come back.
And the father interrupted andsaid son, you're home now.
(34:31):
This is the good news, this isthe gospel.
I remind you.
This is so reminiscent of Peter, who is going to tell these
Gentile believers about God andabout how they need to turn from
their way of living, and theHoly Spirit falls on them.
Before Peter can start talking,the Holy Spirit interrupts the
(34:51):
plan.
And here is this man who isalso I've got a plan for
repentance.
And God is like you're home now.
Turning to his servants, thefather said quick, bring me the
best robe, my very own robe, andplace it on his shoulders.
Bring the ring, the seal ofsonship, and I will put it on
his finger, and bring out thebest shoes that you can find for
(35:12):
my son.
Let's prepare a great feast andcelebrate, for this beloved son
of mine was once dead and isnow alive again.
Once he was lost, but now hewas found and everyone
celebrated with overflowing joy.
And now the older son was outworking in the field when his
brother returned and as heapproached the house he heard
(35:36):
the music of celebration anddancing.
And he called to one of theservants and asked what's going
on and the servant replied it'syour younger brother, he's
returned home and your father isthrowing a party to celebrate
his homecoming.
And the older son became angryand refused to go in and
celebrate.
(35:57):
I just let that sit there withyou.
Sometimes we have a bad case ofolder brother-ishness.
We do.
When somebody returns and Godis just the blessing of their
(36:21):
sonship, it angers us.
Instead of causing us to joinwith the Father and welcome and
party and celebrate with joy,the older son becomes angry and
refuses to go in and celebrate.
And I want to ask in your life,where are you refusing to go
into God and celebrate?
Where are you holding back joybecause you just don't think
(36:45):
it's right?
We should not be celebrating.
We should be getting this rightwith this son.
He should not have done that.
We should all have been outworking in the fields.
The older brother became angryand refused to go in and
celebrate.
So his father came out.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
I want you to kind of see that the beauty of what the
father did for the youngerbrother, because he had that
robe of the beggar.
And so he gives him this newrobe, this new identity.
And he does that for us,doesn't he?
And then all is forgiven whenyour debt is paid, you're back
in the family.
In fact, we're going to throw aparty, kill the fatted calf.
The best is given to us, and soa lot of us want to identify as
(37:34):
the younger brother, and I betthere's a portion in your life
where you have experienced thiskind of grace, and it was
probably the time that you cameto the Lord, and so you have an
understanding of that story.
And so the story becomes reallyone-dimensional in the fact
(37:55):
that I see the Father, I see howhe forced grace, because we see
ourselves as that youngerbrother all the time.
But time goes on in yourChristian walk and I think that
you didn't realize that youswitched All of a sudden.
Some of you are now olderbrothers, older sisters, because
(38:17):
you were that young one, butthat was a few years back now,
as I recall.
Young one, but that was a fewyears back now.
As I recall I was back inChicago when I was you know, 20,
and I walked in that church andthey gave me that Bible and
they told me that I was lovedand I just cried on everyone's
shoulder and was just sograteful that I was forgiven.
And then I went off to Bibleschool and I learned some stuff.
(38:40):
I realized there were some do'sand don'ts, and so I started
doing the do's and not doing thedon'ts.
Then I started noticing therewas other people doing the
don'ts and not doing the do's.
I'm like, hey, you're notpaying your do's and you're
stepping all over me with yourdon'ts and I'm doing such a
better job.
I think I ought to berecognized here as a doer and I
(39:05):
I think I ought to be recognizedhere as a doer and I think
nobody ought to recognize thedonors.
And and all of a sudden we makea shift where, whether we
realize it or not, and then webecome, as I looked around, a
whole room filled with olderbrothers and room filled with
older brothers, and then we gooh, this part of the story
(39:26):
doesn't apply to us.
I just remember fondly when Iwas taken back, and so I
celebrate my testimony and Imiss the meat of this story,
because we become so judgmentalof those people that did it
wrong.
Because we've done some things.
Right now We've got a littlebit of right under our belt,
(39:54):
just enough right to seeourselves as so much better than
those wrong doers.
Now Heather might have to runout and get the car started and
get us out of here, becausethere's about to be a mutiny.
It looks like on your facesBecause I am talking to each one
of you and I'm talking tomyself.
Don't miss the lesson that theopen-ended story here because we
(40:17):
don't really ever see whetherthe older brother goes into the
party or not, because that iswaiting to be answered in your
life and in mine.
How are we going to handle this?
Speaker 3 (40:31):
so the father comes out and pleads with him come and
enjoy the feast with us.
I think everybody there wouldhave remembered the wedding that
, at least we heard about, wasfull of really good wine.
There was a lot of celebrating,there was a lot of joy in that
(40:52):
particular time, and Jesus isagain giving this beautiful
metaphor of the father who iscoming out and is pleading with
his son come into the joy, comein.
And the son come into the joy,come in.
And the son said Father, listen, how many years have I been
working like a slave for you,performing every duty that you
have asked as a faithful son,and I've never once disobeyed
(41:15):
you.
And I remind you, it is thereligious leaders to whom Jesus
is talking.
These are people who obeyed therules and beloved.
There were a lot of them.
At least they obeyed the rulesthat they agreed with or the
rules that they felt like theycould do, and I've never once
disobeyed you.
But you've never thrown a partyfor me because of my
(41:38):
faithfulness.
Never once have you given me agoat that I could feast on and
celebrate with my friend, likehe's doing now.
But look at this son of yours.
It's important that we seewhere he puts the relationship.
He does not say look at thisbrother of mine, look at this
(41:59):
son of yours, and he showsseparation in that word it's not
my brother, it's your son.
Speaker 2 (42:07):
And it's so easy to choke on that grace that other
people get.
This is for us to wrestle with.
Speaker 3 (42:16):
And he comes back after wasting your wealth on
prostitutes and reckless living.
It's a little bit of a stretch.
Speaker 1 (42:26):
I mean, we don't.
Speaker 3 (42:28):
This is the way the older brother's telling the
story about his own brother.
How does he know?
Does he have spies?
Did he know that's what he did?
I mean, the guy wasn't there,I'm just hearing.
This word is like we assume alot about other people and what
they've done with what God hasgiven them.
And here you are throwing agreat feast to celebrate for him
(42:50):
.
And the father said my son, youare always welcomed with me by
my side.
Everything I have is yours toenjoy.
I have is yours to enjoy, butit is only right to celebrate
like this and be overjoyed.
Beloved.
(43:14):
When is the last time someonetalked to you about the fact
that God loves celebration, thatGod is a God of joy, that God
is a God of all love, that Godis a God of mercy?
This is the God we are callingpeople to saying.
Come home to God, come home tojoy, not come home to a bunch of
rules that you are going tofeel overwhelmed by.
Come home to joy because thisbrother of yours see here's
(43:36):
where the story corrects him hesaid this is your son and he
said this is your brother.
Again, here we have thisrestoring of right relationship,
of right report of priorities.
This brother of yours was oncedead and gone, but now he's
alive and back with us again.
He was lost but now is foundand we don't get to hear if the
(44:01):
older brother goes into theparty, because the choice is
ours.
Will we go into the feast, willwe go back to the father's
house, will we allow thefather's love to be what centers
us?
This is the hope of the worldthat we would take our place in
(44:24):
the joy, in the celebration, inthe hope that those that were
once gone will now come home.
To the father that we who wereonce suffering with older
brother Ishnus would say thankyou for reminding me of who I am
.
Let's go into the feast.
I hope they both ran back intothe house where there was music
(44:45):
and dancing.
I hope he no longer refused topart.
Speaker 1 (44:51):
We hope you've enjoyed this week's sermon.
If you would like moreinformation about us, visit us
online at firstlovechurchorg.
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