Series: “Summer Stories”  Sermon: “It’s Safe To Come Home.”

Series: “Summer Stories”  Sermon: “It’s Safe To Come Home.”

I had a moment like this. A life changing moment. Things shifted in my life immediately because of expressed unconditional love.

Luke 15:1-3 “Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, ‘This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He spoke this  parable to them, saying:’”

Hebrews 1:2-3 “…spoken to us by His Son, who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person…”

The religious leaders and guides of the day had a poor concept of God. They were great rule keepers

Jesus came to represent God.

He tried to correct their understanding of the Father

Mathew 23:27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.”

Luke 15:4-7 “… and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.”

Leave the 99 for 1

Luke 15:8-10 “… light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? …she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me,…”

Trashes the place for coin.

Luke 15:11-24 “And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.”

Lets say you are dead to me

“…journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.”

Prodigal:—Waster

“…joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. …and no one gave him anything.”

An unnamed character who will take everything you have.

“But when he came to himself,” (NKJV)

“When he finally came to his senses,…”  (NLT)

“That brought him to his senses.”  (The Message)

This is the A.H.A. moment.

1. Awakened – What am i doing?  2. Honesty- I’ve screwed up!  3. Action – Time for a change.        Tell the devil; “I changed my mind.”

“Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”

The three part speech.

“But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.”

The Father covered him with his love. Bore his shame.

“And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’  “But the father said…”

Enough of your nonsense!

“‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;…”

Righteousness — Worth — Sonship

“…for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.”

Please don’t misunderstand your Heavenly Father. He’s never not loved you.

Just how long did it take for that son to get out of his pig stink and get on the dance floor?

1. One Hour

2. Two Hours

3. Three Hours

Jesus loves a wild party!