The Loving Father

Luke 15:1

1Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.

Luke 15:2

2And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

Luke 15:11

11And he said, “There was a man who had two sons.

Luke 15:12

12And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.

Luke 15:13

13Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.

Luke 15:14

14And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.

Luke 15:15

15So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

Luke 15:16

16And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

c.s. Lewis

“Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

Luke 15:17

17“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!

Luke 15:18

18I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.

Luke 15:19

19I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’

Luke 15:20

20And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

Luke 15:21

21And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

Luke 15:22

22But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.

Luke 15:23

23And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.

Luke 15:24

24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Dane Ortland

“…when Jesus Christ sees the fallenness of the world around him, his deepest impulse, his most natural instinct, is to move toward that sin and suffering, not away from it.”

Luke 15:25

25“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

Luke 15:26

26And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

Luke 15:27

27And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’

Luke 15:28

28But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,

Luke 15:29

29but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave

Luke 15:29

me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.

Luke 15:30

30But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’

Luke 15:31

31And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.

Luke 15:32

32It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

Am I An Older Brother?

1. You get upset when good things happen to people who have done bad things.

2. You think God owes you something because of what you have done for him.

3. You define others by their sins. “son…who has devoured your property with prostitutes”

4. You see your “acceptable sins” as less significant than the obvious sins of others.

5. You feel superior to others and are often judgmental of them.