Estranged from the Father at Home
We all know the heartbreaking images of distraught parents who have children lost to them… e.g. brokenhearted parents speaking about children getting into all sorts of serious trouble to get the next drug fueled high, whether that be on ICE, Heroin, Cocaine… Burglary, armed robbery, even prostitution
- Such children often wanted independence and the ‘good life’ and ran away from good homes
- Many of them ‘couch surf’ or have joined the ranks of the homeless living on the streets
These kids could be seen as that prodigal son who left home to enjoy some ‘wild living’
In our text today there is that second son, the stay at home child, equally lost to the father
How is it possible to be at home in the Father’s household, and be as lost as the son who went away? What does that look like today? Could we be such children?
- LOST AT HOME
- THE LIVING AT HOME AT CELEBRATING THE FATHER’S LOVE
- THE LIMITLESS LOVE OF THE FATHER
Readings reproduced on this page:
The Holy Bible: New International Version. 1996, 1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan
Readings
Matthew 21:28–32 (NIV84)
28“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
29“ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
31“Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.
32For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
Text
Luke 15:25–32 (NIV84)
25“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.
27‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.
29But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31“ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”
