THE
BIBLE MEETS LIFE
My
brother and I often went deer hunting with our dad. On one trip when I was a teenager,
we drove into the woods about an hour before sunrise. It was extremely foggy.
As we exited the truck, we took different paths to hunt for the day. The
problem was, I chose the wrong path. I walked confidently for twenty minutes
before I realized I was lost.
I’ve
been lost in a wholly different—and far more serious—way. And you have too. We
were born lost. Whether we realize it or not, we’re lost. Just because we think
we’re on the right trail doesn’t mean we are. We’re lost when we’re not where we’re
supposed to be.
But we
don’t have to stay lost.
“Lostness”—our
sin and rebellion against the holy God—is a key theme in Scripture, but God’s
love for us is an even greater theme. Jesus told a parable that brings these
two themes together. We are lost, but thankfully we can be found!
WHAT
DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Luke
15:11-14
11 He
also said: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father,
‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he
distributed the assets to them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son
gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered
his estate in foolish living. 14 After he had spent everything, a severe famine
struck that country, and he had nothing.”
My
father loves to tell stories of the old days when he used paper maps. The
folded pamphlet would open up to reveal an entire state, and he would have to
study the map for himself to choose the best route to his desired ending
location. Now we have GPS. Though GPS can help eliminate wrong turns and missteps,
it can’t choose the right destination for us. We have to know where we want to
go.
In
Jesus’ parable, the younger son thought he knew where he wanted to go. It was a
destination framed with lavish living and focused on money. The high life
awaited him. Or so he thought. Far too often we make the same mistake. We have
a picture in our minds of
what life should look like, the destination where we want to go. Without God’s perspective,
we don’t realize we’ve chosen the wrong route and the wrong destination.
The
destination and plan the younger son had in mind must have felt like a slap in
the face for the father. To those first hearing this parable, the son’s request
for “the share of the
estate I have coming to me” (v. 12) was a shocking request. He was not entitled
to any inheritance while his father still lived. This was like wishing his
father were dead, so that he could have now what he thought he deserved. His
father graciously filled his request and gave the younger son his share, which
would be at most one-third of the estate. According to Jewish law, the
firstborn son was given a double portion of the estate, so the remaining inheritance
was divided among the other children (Deut. 21:17).
Question
2:
Why would someone choose to live apart from God?
With
his portion in hand, the younger son liquidated his assets, “gathered together
all he had and traveled to a distant country” (v. 13). He didn’t stay close to
home; he put distance between himself and his father.
He got
what he wanted. He squandered his wealth on what he thought would satisfy, but when
famine struck, he had nothing left. It can happen to us too. Our resources
disappear; suddenly
our chosen path is gone and we find ourselves lost.
Jesus’
story is pointing to an even greater danger: spiritual lostness. We are lost
when we choose our own path. We choose to go our own way, to do our own thing
apart from God. The root of this choice is sin. Our culture wants to downplay
sin, but behind our efforts to please ourselves is self-centeredness, a choice
to do what I want rather than what God wants. And that, plain and simple, is
sin. A life apart from God the Father is sin.
Luke
15:17-19
17
“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers
have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I’ll get up, go
to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your
sight. 19 I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your
hired workers.”’
Without
intent and purpose grounded in Christ, we are lost. The younger son came to that
very realization. “He came to his senses” (v. 17). At one point, all his
“wants” had been at his
disposal, but now he realized he couldn’t even meet his “needs.” He had reached
the absolute
bottom; he landed work feeding pigs, and to the Jewish crowd hearing this story
from Jesus, feeding unclean, forbidden pigs was about as low as a person could
get. Yet as despised as the pigs were, even they ate better than this young
man.
The
younger son discovered just how lost he had become. He saw himself in his
current state,
filthy and starving, and came to his senses. Only then did he reach the point where
he could admit he needed to return to his father’s house.
Question
3:
How did you come to your senses spiritually?
Coming
to his senses was more than just realizing he was lost; it led him to change
his mind and change his direction. He was prompted to act. When we see our sin
like God sees our sin, it should cause us to come to our senses too.
Coming
to our senses and acknowledging our lost, sinful state is important, but it is
not enough. Deciding to do something is not the same as actually doing it. Too
many people know
they’re sinners, but they do nothing about it. When we see our sin as God sees
it, it should cause us to turn around and go in a new direction—toward God.
A lot
of people know what it means to be spiritually lost, but they don’t know what
it means to be found. The prodigal son knew he was lost, and he was about to
discover what it means to be found.
Luke
15:20-24
20 “So
he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off,
his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms
around his neck, and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned
against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put
it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Then bring the
fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, 24 because
this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So
they began to celebrate.”
The
young man in Jesus’ parable was truly in a humbled state. He embraced that and
decided to return to the father he had abandoned. He could not imagine being accepted
as a son again, but he knew that, even if he were nothing more than a hired worker
in his father’s employ, he would be treated decently.
The
father had other plans, however. The father saw him from a distance, as if he had
been eagerly watching for his son. He was filled with compassion. His love for his
prodigal son was so intense, he shed all fatherly dignity and ran to his son.
For the wayward son, the shock of his father’s action could only be surpassed
by his words. Because the son he thought was dead had come home, the father
made it a celebration. He called for the fanciest robe, a ring, and sandals.
His dress was to reflect he was a son of his father. The father also called for
a feast. This was to be a celebration.
When
we awaken from our sin and return to our Father, He is ready to welcome us with
open arms. His welcome has nothing to do with any wealth, abilities, or
accomplishments we
claim as assets. Any righteous acts on our part “are like a polluted garment”
(Isa. 64:6). We are as destitute as the prodigal son. At the same time, no
amount of rebellion or sin in “the far country” diminishes the loving embrace
of our heavenly Father.
But it
doesn’t stop there! Just as the father did more than just let his wayward son
back in the house, God the Father does more than just save us from death. He
saves us for life—a full, rich, abundant life (John 10:10)!
Salvation
is a one-time occurrence but it is also a daily experience. We are called to “work
out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12). We are not
working to gain salvation, but similar to a person who works out to strengthen
his muscles, we are working to grow in the salvation we have in Christ. It’s a
call to grow in Christ and move ever deeper into the abundant life in Christ.
The
“far country” will still call to us. In those moments, we would be wise to
remind ourselves just how lost we once were, and what we gained when Jesus
saved us.
The
Father is waiting for us to come to Him and live the abundant life in Christ.
He desires to put a robe on our backs, place rings on our fingers, and hold a
feast in our honor. He wants to celebrate with us that we were once lost but
now we are found.
Question
4:
What does this parable teach us about the heart of God?
Question
5:
How can our group facilitate and celebrate people turning to God?
LIVE
IT OUT
To
move from “lost” to “found” is amazing. How will you let that truth be seen in
your life? Choose one of the following applications:
- Seek
God.
Perhaps you need to “come home” to God. Confess to God any destructive
behaviors or thoughts and come to Christ.
- Forgive. When
was the last time you ran to forgive someone with reckless abandon? Maybe it’s
time to forgive even if it seems strange and shocking to everyone else around.
Remember to forgive others as God forgives.
- Reach
out.
Reach out to someone who is lost and at rock bottom. Point them to the loving,
restoring arms of God. Let them see the love of the Father in you.
“Lost”
doesn’t have to define our lives. A loving Father is waiting. Let’s continue to
work out the salvation we have in Christ, choosing to live each day for the
kingdom of God.
Hope to see everyone this Sunday!
In His Love,
David & Susan
Teacher's Notes:
Teacher's Notes:
LOST
vs SPIRITUALLY LOST
Physical
Lost: We’ve all lost something: our car keys; the TV remote; or
our way while traveling to a destination in a strange city! Losing any of these
things brings an even greater loss. Without keys, you can’t drive your car.
Without the remote, you can’t watch the big game or your favorite show. Without
having the right directions, you are prevented from reaching an event on time.
But as
inconvenient as these things are, we are confronted with an even greater sense
of being lost; that is in our relationship to God.
Spiritual
Lost: That lostness is greater than any other for it has eternal
implications. However, through Christ, God opened the way for all who will
repent and believe, so that we can make our way back to Him. In Christ, the
spiritually lost can be found!
THE
POINT: Without Christ, we are hopelessly lost.
The
Setting: The religious leaders criticized Jesus because He welcomed
the tax collectors and sinners who came to Him and even ate with them, an act
that they believed indicated acceptance. In response, Jesus told three parables
to illustrate spiritual lostness and the importance God places on recovering
the lost.
Parable
of the
Lost
Sheep, Lost Coin, and Lost Son.
“THE
LOST SON”
Read
Luke 15:11-31
Why
was the younger son considered lost?
What
do we learn from the story about why we are spiritually lost?
1.
We are lost because we choose to live
apart from God. Why would someone choose to live apart from God?
We are lost when we choose our own path. We choose to go our own
way, to do our own thing apart from God. The root of this choice is sin.
Our
culture wants to downplay sin, but behind our efforts to please ourselves is
self-centeredness, a choice to do what I want rather than what God wants. And
that, plain and simple, is sin. A life apart from God the Father is sin. Without
Christ, we are hopelessly lost.
· God
created humankind with the freedom to choose one’s course in life.
· Because
of our sin nature, we naturally live in a state of sin and separation from God.
· Selfish
desire, disguised as freedom, deceives us and leads into the bondage of sin.
What
does it mean in the story that, “he came to his senses”? (vs. 17)
· To
admit, confess, and repent of sin.
· Repentance
is a decision of the mind, an attitude of the heart, and an action that
validates the sincerity of both.
2. To
turn toward God, we must acknowledge our lost condition and unworthiness.
What
might prevent people from coming to their senses and turning to God?
Coming to his senses was more than just realizing he was lost; it
led him to change his mind and change his direction.
When
we see our sin like God sees our sin, it should cause us to come to our senses
too.
A
lot of people know what it means to be spiritually lost, but they don’t know
what it means to be found.
The
prodigal son knew he was lost, and he was about to discover what it means to be
found.
Luke
15:20 “So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long
way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his
arms around his neck, and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have
sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your
son.’ 22 “But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and
put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Then bring
the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, 24
because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is
found!’ So they began to celebrate.”
What
does the father do when the son returns?
3. The
Father restores us when we return to Him.
· Every human being is either lost or found. We
all belong to one of those two categories. The first
step in becoming found is to admit that we are lost. We agree with God
that our sin deserves punishment, and we acknowledge that the punishment Jesus
suffered was sufficient to pay for it. We humbly receive that gift through
faith (Ephesians 2:8–9). In a divine exchange, God transfers our sin to the
cross and transfers Christ’s righteousness to our account (Colossians 2:14). We
then enter into a new relationship with God as His own beloved children. We are
no longer lost. We have been found, forgiven, and given a fresh start (2
Corinthians 5:17). That’s why Christians can joyfully sing, “I once was lost
but now I’m found, was blind but now I see.”
What
does this parable teach us about the heart of God?
· God
looks for the opportunity to lavish His love on those who come to Him.
· The
God of great grace accepts the repentant and restores them to right
relationship with Him.
· The
return of a wayward one to the Father is cause for rejoicing, in heaven and
earth.
Which
son is the Prodigal Son?
In
Luke 15, Jesus tells a story about a father who has two sons. The father is
good and loving, but even still, the younger son rejects him. The younger son
goes to the father, tells him he’s leaving home forever and asks for his share
of the inheritance. The dad gives it to him, and the son goes off to see the world
and blows all the money on sinful living. Eventually, he comes back and, to his
surprise, his father welcomes him with open arms and a big welcome home party.
During the festivities, the older brother shows up. He’s offended that his
father has shown his brother grace. He yells at his dad, asserting that he’s
always been faithful and is the one who deserves a party.
People
call the story the “parable of the prodigal son” and they focus in on that
younger child. Originally the idea was probably that the younger son was
extravagantly wasteful with his father’s money. But when we call the younger
the “prodigal” son, we think it means that he rejected
his father’s love and ran from home. We think the word prodigal means
something like rebellious. And, yes, he was. But…
The
Other Prodigal Son
We
need to be clear: The older son also rejected his
father and his father’s love.
The younger son rejected his father through a journey of
self-discovery. He thought there was a pleasure to be found, and it would mean
he didn’t need his father. The older son rejected his father through
self-sufficiency, through morality. He thought he was so good he didn’t need
his father. He thought he deserved the father’s blessing. He was owed it. He
also didn’t really want his father’s love, but instead wanted his stuff. And,
really, the older brother and his rejection of the father is more the point of
Jesus’ story. We’ve come to assume the parable is about the younger son, and
think of it as good to share with people who are running from God. But Jesus
told the story to religious people who felt like they deserved God’s love and
sinful people did not.
Jesus didn’t tell this story to get rebellious people to repent; He
told it to get religious people to repent.
The
reason Jesus told this story was to address the objections of the religious
legalists. They couldn’t understand why Jesus was teaching that God was for
sinners who had rejected God. Jesus was trying to show them that they had also
rejected God, just in a different way, and in a way that gave them the
appearance of being good rather than bad.
We Are
All In The Story: I think one of the truths we discover in Jesus’
story is that we have all rejected the love of our
Father. Some of us run from home in outright rebellion.
Others of us stay home and begin to think God owes us. We don’t need His
grace because we deserve His love. We may even start wanting blessings from God
more than we want a relationship with God. The day Jesus told this parable
there were “sinners” gathered around him, and there were religious people. The
sinners easily found themselves in the story, realizing that like the younger
son they had rejected God. The religious people didn’t find themselves in the
story; they didn’t see themselves in the older brother. My guess is that still
today, religious people struggle to see the ways they’ve rejected God.
Which
Child Are You?
And my
guess is that one of the two sons in this story represents each of us.
What
is the meaning of a Prodigal?
·
a person who spends money in a recklessly
extravagant way. In the Biblical parable of the Prodigal Son, a son receives his inheritance and travels to a distant country,
wastes all his money in wild extravagance, becomes desperately poor, returns to
his father, and is received with open arms. Prodigal, here and elsewhere, means
rashly or wastefully extravagant.
I want
you to think about the word “prodigal.” You’ve probably read that word in
Jesus’ story of the “prodigal son”, maybe you’ve even said that word, but, in
the words of the famous line from The Princess Bride, “You keep using that
word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” A few times I’ve asked
people what they think the word prodigal means. The most common answers are
“rebellious” or “a runaway.” Nope. The word prodigal means “wastefully
extravagant.”
How
could you see the father as being The True Prodigal?
I said
I wanted you to think about “prodigal,” but I still haven’t gotten us to focus
on the prodigal in the parable. Because the real prodigal in the story is … the
father. Remember, prodigal means extravagantly wasteful, and the father in the
story is the most extravagantly wasteful character of all. The younger son
wished him dead, but the father gave to him anyway. The older son completely
disrespected him, but the father tells him, “Everything I have is yours.” The
father in this story is the prodigal father. He is extravagantly wasteful with
his love. The father in this story represents our Heavenly Father.
What
should Christian parents do if they have a prodigal son (or daughter)?
There is inherent in the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) several
principles that believing parents can use to react to and deal with children
who walk contrary to the way in which the parents have raised them. Parents
need to remember that once their children have reached adulthood, they are no
longer under the authority of their parents.
In the
story of the prodigal son, the younger son takes his inheritance and goes into
a far country and wastes it. In the case of a child who
is not a born-again believer, this is just doing what comes naturally. In the
case of a child who at one time made a clear profession of faith in Christ, we
call this child a “prodigal.” The meaning of this word is “a person who has
spent his resources wastefully,” a good description of a child who leaves home
and wastes the spiritual inheritance that his parents have invested in him. All
the years of nurture, teaching, love, and care are forgotten as this child
rebels against God. For all rebellion is against God first, and is manifested
in a rebellion against parents and their authority.
Notice that the father in the parable does not stop his child from
leaving.
Nor does he follow after his child to try to protect him. Rather, this parent
faithfully stays at home and prays, and when that child “comes to his senses”
and turns around and heads back, the parent is waiting and watching and runs to
greet that child even when he is a “long way off.”
When
our sons and daughters go off on their own—assuming they are of legal age to do
so—and make choices that we know will bring hard consequences, parents must let
go and allow them to leave. The parent does not follow after, and the parent
does not interfere with the consequences that will come. Rather, the parent
stays at home, keeps faithfully praying and watching for the signs of
repentance and a change of direction. Until that comes, parents keep to their
own counsel, do not support the rebellion, and do not interfere (1 Peter 4:15).
Once
children are of an age of legal adulthood, they are subject only to the
authority of God and the delegated authority of government (Romans 13:1-7). As
parents, we can support our prodigals with love and prayer and be ready to come
alongside once they have made their move toward God. God often uses
self-inflicted misery to bring us to wisdom, and it is up to each individual to
respond correctly. As parents, we cannot save our children—only God can do
that. Until that time comes, we must watch, pray, and leave the matter in the
hands of God. This may be a painful process, but when carried out biblically,
it will bring peace of mind and heart. We cannot judge our children, only God
can. In this there is a great comfort: “Will not the Judge of all the earth do
right?” (Genesis 18:25b).
Conclusion: Jesus
says, “Forgive one another as I have forgiven you.”
Ernest
Hemingway wrote a short story called “The Capital of the World.” In this story, Hemingway told the story of a
father and his teenage son. The son had
sinned against his father and in his shame he ran away from home. The father searched all over Spain for him,
but still he could not find the boy.
Finally, in the city of Madrid, in a last desperate attempt to find his
son, the father placed an ad in the daily newspaper. The ad read:
“PACO
MEET AT HOTEL MONTANA NOON TUESDAY ALL IS FORGIVEN. – PAPA.”
The
father prayed that maybe the boy would see the ad and maybe, just maybe, he
would come to the Hotel Montana.
On
Tuesday, the father in Ernest Hemingway’s story arrived at the Hotel Montana
and he could not believe his eyes. A
squadron of police officers had been called out to keep order among the eight
hundred young boys named “Paco” who had come to meet their father in front of
the Hotel Montana. Eight hundred boys
named Paco read the ad in the newspaper and hoped it was for them. Eight hundred “Pacos” came to receive the
forgiveness they so desperately needed.
Who do
you need to forgive? Seek out that
person while there is time.
