Love of God - God says you are Invited

[0:00] So, this morning, I am going to tell you three different stories this morning, some of which is going to be with a little bit of help. But I also thought this morning, as we've got to the end of our summer series, we're doing things different, it's Cafe Church, I thought we'd have a little bit of a celebration this morning as well.

[0:21] So all of our stories today are going to be related to parties. There's going to be a party involved in every single one of them. So with that in mind, I actually want to hand over to you a little bit.

[0:35] If you would like to, if you feel comfortable talking with the people around you for a bit, then I'd like, then please do so. If you'd rather just think about the question, reflect on it for a few minutes, that is absolutely fine as well.

[0:48] But my question for you this morning, if you could plan any party, you are solely responsible for planning any party for anyone in the world.

[1:02] Who would you plan it for? And what kind of party would it be? Well, the first story I've got for you today is we're going to, I'm going to tell you by the medium of video.

[1:15] This is a video made by Saddleback Kids, who do tell a lot of Bible stories in very, quite fun and very accessible ways.

[1:26] So if we can turn our attention. So the story of someone who threw a party, the friends, the family, the people he knew, who he was throwing this party for, decided not to come.

[1:39] They decided they had better things to do. So instead, the man said, go out and invite everyone. And that's what we're saying for our party today, for God's party, that everyone is invited.

[1:52] It doesn't matter who you are. It doesn't matter where you're from. It doesn't matter what your background is. It doesn't matter which football team you support. Everyone is invited to God's party.

[2:04] We'll have another story in a few minutes. But before we do, I'd like to invite you to stand again and sing our song, one of our songs this week, I Am Who You Say I Am.

[2:15] So this song is talking about who God says we are. From the first story, God says you are invited to my party.

[2:26] If we move on to the story, the king and the prince. Once upon a time, in a kingdom nestled between two towering mountains and serene rivers, there was a king named Ariston.

[2:40] King Ariston was known far and wide for his wisdom, kindness, and deep love for his people. But there was one thing he cherished above all else, his only son, Prince Orion.

[2:53] Prince Orion was a bright and adventurous young man, full of life and curiosity. He was loved by all in the kingdom, just like his father. From a young age, Orion showed a deep fascination with the world beyond the palace walls.

[3:07] He would offer wonder through the villages, talking to townsfolk, exploring the forests, and learning about the lives of his future subjects. One fateful day, however, Prince Orion went on an adventure and never returned.

[3:21] The search party scoured the entire kingdom and beyond, but there was no trace of the young prince. The kingdom plunged into despair, and King Ariston's heart was shattered.

[3:33] Yet, even in his sorrow, the king held on to hope. He believed that one day his beloved son would return. Years passed, and the kingdom carried on, but a shadow of grief always hung over the place.

[3:48] Despite this, King Ariston continued to rule with wisdom and compassion, though his eyes often drifted toward the horizon, hoping to see his son returning. One day, after a particularly vivid dream where he saw his son returning home amidst great celebration, King Ariston made a decision that left the entire kingdom buzzing with surprise.

[4:10] He announced that he would throw a grand party, a celebration unlike any other. The reason? To celebrate the return of Prince Orion. The king's advisors were puzzled and concerned.

[4:24] Your majesty, one of them said gently, but the prince is still missing. How can we celebrate his return when he has not yet come back? King Ariston smiled, though his eyes were filled with deep emotion.

[4:39] I believe that if we celebrate with all our hearts, it will bring him back to us. The love, the joy, the music, perhaps it will call him home.

[4:50] And so the preparations began. The castle was adorned with the finest decorations, banners of gold and silver, flowers from every corner of the kingdom, and lights that made the night sky look like day.

[5:04] The kitchens bustled with activity, preparing feasts fit for royalty. Musicians and entertainers from distant lands were invited, and every villager was welcome to the palace grounds to join the festivities.

[5:17] On the day of the celebration, the palace and the surrounding grounds were filled with laughter, music, and joy. It was as if the kingdom had forgotten its years of sorrow, if only for a moment.

[5:32] People danced, feasted, and raised their glasses to toast the return of their beloved prince. King Ariston, dressed in his finest robe, stood on a grand balcony overlooking the festivities.

[5:44] His heart swelled with a mixture of hope and sadness. He knew his son was still missing, but he also knew that this celebration was important. It was a way to keep hope alive, not just for himself, but for the entire kingdom.

[5:59] As the night grew darker, the celebration grew more lively. The people danced and sang under the stars, their voices carrying far into the night. King Ariston watched them, a bittersweet smile on his face.

[6:16] And then, just as the king was about to retire to his chambers, a hush fell over the crowd. All eyes returned to the palace gates, where a lone figure stood. The figure was tall, with the build of a man who had seen much of the world.

[6:30] His clothes were worn and tattered, but there was a regal bearing to him, a familiarity that tugged at the heartstrings of those who beheld him. King Ariston's heart raced.

[6:41] He knew, even before the figure stepped fully into the light, who it was. Orion, he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. The crowd parted as the figure moved forward, and there, standing before the king, was Prince Orion.

[6:59] Though he was older, his face roughened by years of hardship, his eyes still held the same light of curiosity and kindness that had defined him as a boy. The king rushed forward, tears streaming down his face.

[7:12] He embraced his son tightly, as if afraid to let go. I'm sorry, father, Orion whispered. I lost my way. But you found your way back, King Ariston replied, his voice choked with emotion.

[7:28] That's all that matters. The celebration, already grand, now became legendary. The return of Prince Orion was the miracle they had all hoped for. The kingdom rejoiced, and the love that had never waned in the hearts of the people and their king brought the lost prince back to where he belonged.

[7:47] And from that day on, King Ariston and Prince Orion ruled the kingdom together, their bonds stronger than ever. The kingdom flourished, not just because of their wise leadership, but because of the unbreakable hope that had brought them back together.

[8:01] A story about a prince who had gone missing, and a king who never lost hope.

[8:11] He threw a party for his son's return, but he didn't wait for the prince to come back. He threw the party, and he knew that his son was going to return.

[8:24] So we've had two stories so far. We had the man who threw a party, but his friends, his family, the people that he invited, they just made up excuses.

[8:37] They didn't want to go. So instead, the man turned around and said, okay, so everyone is invited to my party. The second story, about a prince who loved to explore, went out on his own, but lost his way.

[8:54] Couldn't find his way home. And his father threw a party to celebrate his return before he had even made it back to the kingdom. And during that celebration, the joy, the music, the love led him home.

[9:12] And our final story for today, I've got a couple people to help me with this story. If I can invite Tim and Joseph to the stage. So for this story, we are going back to the Bible, another parable that Jesus told, but we're going to tell it in a slightly different way.

[9:31] Before I do, Charles Dickens said that this is the greatest short story ever told. Ralph Waldo Emerson, if you've heard of him, he's an American lecturer, or was an American lecturer and philosopher from the late 19th century.

[9:45] He said it's the greatest story both inside the Bible and out of it. Ralph Waldo Emerson wasn't a Christian. He said it's the greatest story both in the Bible and out of it.

[10:00] Our story begins with a father. A father had two sons. An older son. He's too busy with his uni work right now.

[10:11] And a younger son. The father and his two sons lived in a nice house with a nice garden and a very nice kitchen.

[10:23] They were a happy family together in a happy home. But one day, the younger son had an idea. He thought, why do I need to work so hard for something my father is going to give me anyway?

[10:39] Why do I need to work so hard for something my father is going to give me? So, he went to his father and he said, Dad, you know how I'm your favourite son.

[10:52] You promised me lots of money when you die. What can I have that money now? The father was hurt. And a conversation began between the father and his youngest son.

[11:06] And the conversation went on. And on. And on. And you get the picture. And then the father reluctantly agreed to hand over his share of the inheritance, which was a third.

[11:22] Is that it? And the older son got two thirds. Then the younger son got together all of his possessions.

[11:32] He said bye to his dad. He said bye to his brother.

[11:44] He said bye to his house. And off he went on a very long journey. Eventually, he arrived in a distant land.

[12:04] You'll need to use your imagination for this bit. He said bye to his father. He said bye to his father. He said bye to his father. He's a very long way away from home. And he's thinking freedom. Independence. Finally, I can do my own thing.

[12:18] He had his friends. His money. His drinks. His parties. His parties. His parties. But still, the parties go on.

[12:43] And the young man is loving life. One day, once these friends have come along, he decides. Ooh, drinks were on me. Drinks were on Joseph.

[12:56] That should be a celebration. But he goes into his pocket to pay for the drinks. And he realizes his money has all gone.

[13:07] He's got nothing left. He's wasted everything on reckless living. So these friends who had come along, they don't want anything to do with him anymore.

[13:21] So they start to boo. Boo. Boo. Boo. They shout hiss. Boo. Boo. Boo. Boo. Boo. And they all walk away. Please don't do that.

[13:33] So he's all on his own. Boo. Boo. Boo. Boo. Boo. Boo. Boo. Boo. Boo. Boo. Boo.

[13:44] Boo. Boo. Boo. Boo. Boo. Boo. Boo. Boo. Boo. Boo. Boo.

[13:55] Gob. Boo. Video. WafeMen 8.

[14:06] Eventually, he finds a kind farmer who needs some help, but it's not a nice job. It's not a nice job at all. The farmer says, you can feed my pigs.

[14:19] So he started working for the farmer, and the work was filthy and smelly and not very hygienic at all. But still, the young son didn't have enough money to pay for any food.

[14:34] But what there was available, was the food the farmer gave to his dogs. But the younger son was glad to eat the dog food because he still didn't have any money and nobody would give him anything.

[14:56] Eventually, the young son scratches his head, and he thinks to himself, and he has an idea. If I was home, I'd have friends and family and food.

[15:11] Even the pigs here eat better than I do. And yet, here I am, a long way from home, hungry, lonely, upset, scared, angry, frustrated.

[15:26] So he thinks, I know what I'll do. I'll go home, and I'll say sorry to my dad for being such a horrible son. And maybe, just maybe, I'll be forgiven, and maybe accepted as some sort of house servant.

[15:46] So the son gets together his possessions, and he begins his journey home. And he's lonely and sad and miserable and hungry.

[15:59] And he's thinking, what happens if dad doesn't welcome me back? But he's so desperate, he's prepared to give it a try. But meanwhile, his father has been outside every single day.

[16:14] He's looking for him, hoping, believing, trusting. I wonder, just wonder if my son will come home. And one day, he sees his youngest son walking in the distance.

[16:29] His son sees him waiting for him, and he prepares to put on the puppy dog eyes and begin his excuses. But while he's still walking up the street, his father runs to him.

[16:49] He hugs him. Embraces him. Welcomes him home. But then the son says sorry.

[17:04] He says, I was rude to you. I ran away from home. I wasted all your money. Dad, will you welcome me home? Will you forgive me? And the father says, of course I will.

[17:21] Of course I will. You're my son, and I love you. You're my son, and I love you. And they embrace. And they hug.

[17:34] And he says, you will always be my child. Welcome home, son. And the father throws his son a party.

[17:46] Okay. Okay.

[18:04] We'll cut there. There is more to that story, but we will leave it there. So there's our third story. Hopefully that one is familiar to most of you.

[18:20] Jesus obviously tells a story. It's often known as the lost son or the prodigal son. But we had a story before where a son went off exploring, and he just couldn't find his way home.

[18:30] This time, the son decides to walk away. He decides he doesn't want to be part of the family anymore. He decides to say to his dad, Dad, I wish you were dead so I could have your money now.

[18:44] And he goes off on his own thing. But when he has nothing left, he realizes that he had everything he needed and everything he wanted back home.

[18:56] And the moment he arrives, God throws his son a party. The father throws his son a party. And that's what God does for us.

[19:11] In John 3, 16, it says, That's what God does for us.

[19:31] That's what the love of God is. That God is prepared to give up everything. The king whose prince had gone missing.

[19:42] He was prepared to look the fool by throwing this party, expecting his son to come home. The father who ran to his son, he would have had to lift his, lifted his robe so he didn't trip over.

[19:57] He would have looked crazy running. Fathers didn't do that. Not back then. He made himself indignified. Indignified. He made himself look.

[20:08] He made everybody probably stare at him. But God does that for us. That's what the love of God means. Our first story tells us that God's party is for all of us.

[20:24] Our second story tells us that it doesn't matter where we are. It doesn't matter what we've done. It doesn't matter whether we would say we're with God at the moment or not. God's going to throw a party for us.

[20:37] God's going to throw a party for you. And the third story. It doesn't matter what you've done to God. It doesn't matter if you've decided that you want nothing to do with him.

[20:48] It doesn't matter if until now you've never even considered that God is there. God is ready to welcome you home. God is ready to throw a party to you.

[20:59] And the moment he sees you coming he's going to run down the street. He's going to look indignified. He's going to look crazy running to you. Eager to get your party started.

[21:11] If we can hand out something we're about to hand out some invitations and hopefully some pens as well.

[21:23] If when they do come we want to if you would like to we would like you to fill in this invitation and take it home because you are invited to God's party.

[21:35] will you accept the invitation? We've got one final song to sing together if the band can get ready.

[21:49] And we're going to finish with our own party. We're going to finish with our own celebration. Because what the Bible says is what Jesus did when Jesus gave his life on the cross and the Bible says that he came back to life again.

[22:05] He rose again on the Sunday on the third day that that was the greatest day in history. God invites you to his party.

[22:18] Doesn't matter who you are. Doesn't matter what you've done. Doesn't matter where you have come from. You are invited to God's party. Will you accept the invitation?