WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.259 Well, good morning. Lovely to be with you. Thanks, Sir Graham, for inviting me along. 00:00:04.780 --> 00:00:11.339 ! Obviously, you've been going through a few services in particular that have been trying to, 00:00:11.339 --> 00:00:16.800 ! I guess, encourage you, if you are not a Christian, to explore the Christian faith, hearing people's 00:00:16.800 --> 00:00:23.420 stories, hearing from the Bible. And I hope if you've come back to hear more, today would 00:00:23.420 --> 00:00:27.679 be an encouraging morning for you. I don't want to assume everyone in the room actually 00:00:27.679 --> 00:00:32.179 right now is a Christian or has been to church before. As Graham said at the beginning, if you're 00:00:32.179 --> 00:00:38.500 unfamiliar with church, hopefully this is already starting to get you to ask questions. Over the 00:00:38.500 --> 00:00:44.359 next 20 minutes, 25 minutes, I'm going to start my timer now to hold me to that. If I go over 25, 00:00:44.560 --> 00:00:48.659 you can do a big clang of noise and say you've over-promised and under-delivered. Okay, I'm going 00:00:48.659 --> 00:00:53.980 to start it now. For the next 20 or so minutes, I'm just going to try and help us understand this a 00:00:53.979 --> 00:00:59.519 little bit more. For Christians, the Bible, which we've just read, is what we would be kind of God's 00:00:59.519 --> 00:01:04.620 main text, his main primary text that he has ordained for Christians to be able to read and 00:01:04.620 --> 00:01:10.819 understand who he is, what he's done, how we relate to him, and the way in which the world functions 00:01:10.819 --> 00:01:16.079 both now and what is to come. That's a bit of what the Bible does. What is not is an A to Z. It doesn't 00:01:16.079 --> 00:01:20.199 give you every answer to life. I like to think of it a bit like my kid's Guinness Book of Records, 00:01:20.200 --> 00:01:24.640 yeah. It tells us the important stuff, the significant stuff, the stuff that we need to 00:01:24.640 --> 00:01:29.740 recognize and understand. So that's what I'm going to do for the next few minutes. And if you are 00:01:29.740 --> 00:01:34.280 obviously familiar with church, I hope this again encourages you and strengthens your convictions 00:01:34.280 --> 00:01:41.879 and your belief. Let me ask you quickly first though, are you a shoes person? Are you a shoes person? 00:01:42.439 --> 00:01:48.760 I can see some looks. I can see some looks. Hands up if you're kind of into your shoes, you like your 00:01:48.760 --> 00:01:54.240 shoes. Yeah, it's okay. You can put them up with a bit of pride. Hands up if you don't really care 00:01:54.240 --> 00:02:01.040 about shoes. Okay, you're all liars because you're all wearing some. We all wear shoes, eh? We all wear 00:02:01.040 --> 00:02:05.020 shoes. You've all come out the house with shoes on. The reason I say that, I'm going to put you in the 00:02:05.020 --> 00:02:10.659 shoes of a few people in this story. So please get it back open. I'm scurrying through here just to 00:02:10.659 --> 00:02:15.680 make sure I get to the right pair. Get that back open for me, please, the story we've got here. And 00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:21.319 it was said a couple of times, this is the story of the prodigal son, which again, if you've never 00:02:21.319 --> 00:02:27.360 heard anything about that, that sounds bizarre. This is a story that Jesus tells about a father 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:33.300 who has two sons and they go on different journeys, obviously, and they have a different relationship 00:02:33.300 --> 00:02:39.060 with the father. We heard earlier on, didn't we, through the kids' talk that a parable is, I love 00:02:39.060 --> 00:02:45.060 that little definition, an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. And all I'm going to do is walk us through 00:02:45.060 --> 00:02:51.080 it and put us in the shoes of different people as we go. Does that sound all right? Wonderful. Now, 00:02:51.140 --> 00:02:55.180 for us to really understand this first, you've got to actually go to the big number 15 and a little 00:02:55.180 --> 00:03:00.080 number one. So quickly, if you can, in your Bible, look back to that or scroll back up to that, 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:05.300 because this helps us understand why is Jesus telling this story at this point? 00:03:06.740 --> 00:03:13.080 Chapter 15, verse 1 tells us this. Now, the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to 00:03:13.080 --> 00:03:20.600 hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, this man welcomes sinners and eats 00:03:20.600 --> 00:03:27.260 with them. Right, here's what's going on. Jesus, who is the central figure to the Christian faith, 00:03:27.360 --> 00:03:34.220 the person in which Christians believe is God's own son come from heaven to earth, is walking amongst 00:03:34.220 --> 00:03:40.400 the streets, going to the towns and the villages and teaching people about who God is, who he is, 00:03:40.400 --> 00:03:46.400 and why he's come to planet earth. Now, amongst the people that he's walking around and seeing and 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:51.060 talking and interacting with, there's often two responses. There's people who want to find out 00:03:51.060 --> 00:03:54.780 more. They're hungry. They're eager. They're saying, tell me more. I want to follow you. 00:03:55.140 --> 00:04:01.219 And there's people who are pretty concerned, arms crossed, pushing him away, rejecting him. And more 00:04:01.219 --> 00:04:05.620 often than not, you find them in these two categories that we get introduced to in here, chapter one. 00:04:05.620 --> 00:04:11.439 We've got the tax collectors and sinners. They very much are what you might call the outcasts of 00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:16.540 society at the time. Tax collectors really were the enemy. They didn't like them as the tax man, 00:04:16.620 --> 00:04:21.199 essentially. And the people at the time often believed those tax collectors were not only getting 00:04:21.199 --> 00:04:25.500 money in for the state, they were getting money in for their pockets. And sinners really is the 00:04:25.500 --> 00:04:30.879 catchphrase all for people who were rascals, people who'd made bad choices, people who had done bad 00:04:30.879 --> 00:04:36.480 things to other people. Sinners is a word we don't have much familiarity with, I guess, these days, 00:04:36.540 --> 00:04:41.719 but was a common word used back then to describe people who were really ultimately not very nice 00:04:41.719 --> 00:04:45.500 to be around. So you've got these groups of people. Then you've got these other groups. Look at verse 00:04:45.500 --> 00:04:50.420 two, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. Now the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were 00:04:50.420 --> 00:04:57.199 religious people at the time who had a degree of authority and responsibility to try and represent 00:04:57.199 --> 00:05:04.199 God to the people of the town, of the city, of the place. And they often taught the Bible. They would 00:05:04.199 --> 00:05:10.300 hold gatherings like this. They would lead religious ceremonies and they would try and help people 00:05:10.300 --> 00:05:17.360 come to understand who God was. Now some of the stuff they did in its rightful time and place was 00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:23.800 very, very important. It really was. But unfortunately a lot of them at the time thought and believed 00:05:23.800 --> 00:05:30.199 that you had to follow a set of rules. The only way to God was meeting his standard, following the rules, 00:05:30.439 --> 00:05:39.080 abiding by the law. And then Jesus shows up. And Jesus starts to do things that no one had ever 00:05:39.080 --> 00:05:45.080 really seen a religious person do. Jesus started to say things that no one had ever really heard a 00:05:45.080 --> 00:05:51.920 religious person say. And then Jesus started to claim things about himself that no one had ever claimed 00:05:51.920 --> 00:06:00.640 on planet earth. Mainly saying he was God's son. Come to earth to bring people back to God. 00:06:01.439 --> 00:06:10.460 So they're raging. They are raging. Who is this guy? What's he doing? Why is he hanging out with him? 00:06:11.060 --> 00:06:19.780 Why is he spoken to her? How dare he? Does he not know what he's up to? And so Jesus tries to help 00:06:19.779 --> 00:06:26.459 him understand. No, no. Why I've come is really important. And let me tell you a few stories. So 00:06:26.459 --> 00:06:31.139 then he gets into it. So it's quite helpful to you to know. Otherwise jumping straight in, I think, 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:35.259 at verse 11, sometimes there's a bit confusion if you've never read it. So that's what's going on. 00:06:35.839 --> 00:06:40.379 And we've got ourselves a few stories. Firstly, it's the lost sheep. Then we get the lost coin. 00:06:40.739 --> 00:06:46.539 And then as we're getting to number 11, we're getting the lost son. Or in the Bible, in the church 00:06:46.540 --> 00:06:52.040 here, it says the parable of the lost son. However, I'm calling it the father's compassion towards his 00:06:52.040 --> 00:06:57.620 sons. Look at it again with me. Number 11, Jesus continued. There was a man who had two sons. The 00:06:57.620 --> 00:07:02.540 younger one said to his father, give me my share of the estate. So he divided his property between them. 00:07:03.020 --> 00:07:08.360 Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country, and there 00:07:08.360 --> 00:07:13.420 squandered his wealth in wild living. And after he'd spent everything, there was a severe famine in the 00:07:13.420 --> 00:07:18.800 whole country. And he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of the country 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:25.300 who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were 00:07:25.300 --> 00:07:33.379 eating, but no one gave him anything. Okay, you get the situation, yeah? Father, two sons, younger son, 00:07:33.939 --> 00:07:39.879 goes up to the dad and says, listen, dad, I want my share of the inheritance. 00:07:39.879 --> 00:07:45.620 I want my money. And we don't know too much about the father, but clearly he's got an estate. 00:07:46.060 --> 00:07:51.360 He's maybe got some money. He's either been a very wise father and saved a lot, or he's a very wealthy 00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:55.920 father and he's got the degree of inheritance. Inheritance was very significant back then and 00:07:55.920 --> 00:08:04.240 still can be to a lot of people today. And effectively, the younger son says, well, I want my portion now. 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:09.800 Which if you start to put two and two together is another way of him saying, do you know what, dad? 00:08:10.920 --> 00:08:18.960 I found you a dead already because I want my money. Can I have it now? And I don't really want 00:08:18.960 --> 00:08:25.980 anything to do with you. The dad, as we read here, effectively just says yes and gives him his money. 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:30.960 And therefore, where does he go next? Well, he takes his money. He rejects his relationship with the 00:08:30.959 --> 00:08:38.199 dad. He gathers all his stuff and he heads out where? To a distant land. What does he do? Spends 00:08:38.199 --> 00:08:44.039 the lot. Now we don't get much detail to it. Jesus decides not to give us that, but essentially it's 00:08:44.039 --> 00:08:49.779 summarizing the word wild living. I'll let you decide what wild living is because I'm sure we've all got 00:08:49.779 --> 00:08:57.720 different versions of wild living, but ultimately what's he done? He blows all the cash. He pursues some 00:08:57.720 --> 00:09:05.519 sort of fulfillment, satisfaction, life, buzz, thrill. He spends the lot in pursuit of something 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:12.320 that he felt like he wasn't getting at home. Yeah? Where does he find himself? Well, look at it again. 00:09:13.779 --> 00:09:22.000 Famine comes, money runs out, can't pay for anywhere to stay, clearly not got any mates, decides he needs 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:26.920 to get a job to try and have some money, goes to a man of the country. And what does he give him? A job 00:09:26.919 --> 00:09:33.620 feeding the pigs. So he hits a bit of a low, doesn't he? Goes in from having a lot of money to 00:09:33.620 --> 00:09:40.000 living what he felt like his best life was, to now feeding pigs in a pigsty. And things get even worse 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:45.039 because look at it, he becomes very, very hungry to the point where he starts to consider actually 00:09:45.039 --> 00:09:51.599 eating the food of the pigs. Now that's quite a bit of detail there as well that Jesus chooses the 00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:55.980 share, see, because amongst the Jewish people, you're eating your pork was not what you did. 00:09:56.759 --> 00:10:04.100 Pigs were not seen as clean in any way. So this guy really has hit rock bottom. 00:10:06.300 --> 00:10:12.840 That's his circumstance. He's had a shocker, isn't he? I want you now the first pair of shoes to put on. 00:10:12.940 --> 00:10:18.600 Put yourself in the father's shoes for a second. How do you think the father's feeling at this point? 00:10:18.600 --> 00:10:25.519 Well, I've got two sons and a girl sandwiched in the middle. I love my boys and my girl very much so. 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:30.480 But if one of my boys was to come up to me and say, Dad, can you give me my share of the inheritance? 00:10:30.560 --> 00:10:35.540 I'd be pretty concerned right now, partly because I've got nothing to give him. But also because 00:10:35.540 --> 00:10:43.200 I don't really want us to depart. Like if a son came to me and said, do you know what, Dad? 00:10:43.200 --> 00:10:49.600 I kind of don't really fancy this setup anymore. I want some money because I'm taking off. 00:10:50.320 --> 00:10:56.740 I think you'd be pretty upset, wouldn't you? More so you'd be concerned. You would be distressed. 00:10:57.200 --> 00:11:03.700 Your heart would be a mix of emotions because you, most fathers, I presume, would bring their child up 00:11:03.700 --> 00:11:08.060 in such a way at the home that it's a stable, loving environment where you care for their needs. 00:11:08.059 --> 00:11:15.139 You provide and you bring them up in a way that at the right time they can set off and they can live a life. 00:11:16.299 --> 00:11:21.699 But to have to send your son off in these circumstances, put yourself in the shoes of the father. 00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:24.459 It's tough, eh? 00:11:24.460 --> 00:11:33.240 No doubt his heart was breaking as he watched the back of his son's head just walk off into the distant land. 00:11:33.960 --> 00:11:37.080 So that's our first pair of shoes for us to consider. 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:40.160 Right, let's see what happens next. Pick it up with me. 00:11:40.220 --> 00:11:42.639 Remember, he's in the pig farm. He's looking at the pig food. 00:11:42.940 --> 00:11:44.800 He's about to stick it in his mouth. 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:46.800 And then number 17, you there? 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:52.779 When he came to his senses, he said, how many of my father's hired servants have food to spare? 00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:55.259 And here I am starving to death. 00:11:56.500 --> 00:11:57.500 I will set out. 00:11:57.939 --> 00:12:01.879 Go back to my father and say to him, father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 00:12:02.120 --> 00:12:04.139 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. 00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:06.439 Make me like one of your hired servants. 00:12:07.500 --> 00:12:09.159 So he got up and he went to his father. 00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:15.319 But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him. 00:12:15.320 --> 00:12:18.760 He ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 00:12:19.520 --> 00:12:22.280 The son said to him, father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 00:12:22.340 --> 00:12:24.620 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. 00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:31.820 But the father said to him, quick, bring the best robe, put on him, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 00:12:31.920 --> 00:12:33.520 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. 00:12:33.980 --> 00:12:38.480 Let's have a feast and celebrate for this son of mine was dead and is alive again. 00:12:38.560 --> 00:12:39.880 He was lost and is found. 00:12:40.460 --> 00:12:42.220 So they began to celebrate. 00:12:43.160 --> 00:12:44.260 See what happens next? 00:12:44.259 --> 00:12:45.939 What does Jesus say? 00:12:46.039 --> 00:12:47.759 He comes to his senses. 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:49.779 I love that phrase. 00:12:50.659 --> 00:12:51.819 He comes to his senses. 00:12:52.799 --> 00:12:55.639 A moment of perspective, maybe a moment of conviction. 00:12:56.759 --> 00:12:59.360 See, because he stops and he remembers, wait a minute. 00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:01.399 What was home like? 00:13:01.399 --> 00:13:06.399 Even my father's servants will live in a better life than I am. 00:13:07.179 --> 00:13:12.039 He maybe started to remember the love and the care of his father, the circumstances he lived in. 00:13:13.399 --> 00:13:15.019 And so what does he decide to do? 00:13:16.019 --> 00:13:16.840 Sets out home. 00:13:16.980 --> 00:13:17.299 See it? 00:13:17.299 --> 00:13:18.959 He decides to head home. 00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:29.300 And in this moment of conviction, he actually starts to realize he needs to say, sorry, he needs to say something to try and reconcile his relationship with his father, doesn't he? 00:13:29.560 --> 00:13:31.100 So he prepares a little speech. 00:13:31.300 --> 00:13:32.740 Goes a bit like this, doesn't it? 00:13:32.740 --> 00:13:35.240 He says, sorry, dad, I've screwed it up. 00:13:35.299 --> 00:13:37.200 I've sinned against you and against God. 00:13:37.240 --> 00:13:38.659 I don't deserve your love. 00:13:39.159 --> 00:13:40.600 Please make me like one of your servants. 00:13:40.820 --> 00:13:41.740 I'll work for you. 00:13:42.620 --> 00:13:43.700 I'll pay it back. 00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:45.200 Now, was this genuine? 00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:46.940 I don't know. 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:49.180 But I think we're encouraged to think it is. 00:13:50.060 --> 00:13:56.980 I think this is a genuine moment for him that he believes he got it wrong and he needs to go back home. 00:13:57.860 --> 00:13:58.680 So what does he do? 00:13:59.140 --> 00:14:00.100 Well, he sets off. 00:14:00.760 --> 00:14:03.940 He sets off home, probably rehearsing the speech. 00:14:04.020 --> 00:14:04.880 Yeah, I've screwed it up. 00:14:04.940 --> 00:14:05.340 I'm sorry. 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:06.500 I've sinned against you and God. 00:14:06.640 --> 00:14:07.820 Please forgive me. 00:14:07.940 --> 00:14:08.880 I'll work it back for you. 00:14:08.900 --> 00:14:09.720 You can imagine him, can't you? 00:14:09.780 --> 00:14:14.480 Walking the streets saying this over and over and over again, thinking, how is he going to respond? 00:14:15.020 --> 00:14:16.040 What's he going to do? 00:14:16.940 --> 00:14:18.780 And what happens next? 00:14:19.260 --> 00:14:19.900 Look at it. 00:14:20.880 --> 00:14:23.340 Verse 19 finishes his speech. 00:14:24.180 --> 00:14:25.520 So he got up and went to his father. 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:30.480 But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him. 00:14:31.700 --> 00:14:32.880 Isn't that an amazing picture? 00:14:33.960 --> 00:14:36.420 That his father saw him. 00:14:37.880 --> 00:14:39.760 See, put yourself in the father's shoes. 00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:45.640 Did many of you think about that longing to look out and see your son come back? 00:14:45.639 --> 00:14:47.840 You can imagine it, can't you? 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:54.379 Every morning, opening the curtains, standing at the door with the coffee, just kind of looking, hoping. 00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:59.419 Every night, shutting the curtains and just having a little look out just before he shuts it. 00:14:59.740 --> 00:15:01.580 What's his father been doing the whole time? 00:15:01.580 --> 00:15:03.639 Longing. 00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:11.360 Desperately waiting, hoping that his son might just walk back around the corner. 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:16.419 And for months and months and months, he never did. 00:15:16.419 --> 00:15:21.679 What a moment we find ourselves in here. 00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:30.539 That as the father, in his desperation, in his despair, and in his hope to see his son, suddenly sees him. 00:15:30.539 --> 00:15:33.019 Oh, could you imagine that moment? 00:15:33.579 --> 00:15:36.980 He kind of like looks out and he just sees, wait, wait a minute. 00:15:37.959 --> 00:15:38.839 Wait a minute. 00:15:39.980 --> 00:15:41.439 It's not him, is it? 00:15:42.179 --> 00:15:43.059 It's him. 00:15:43.599 --> 00:15:45.159 It's actually him. 00:15:46.179 --> 00:15:47.199 Did you see what he does? 00:15:47.659 --> 00:15:51.000 He picks off his robes, which he would have been wearing at the time. 00:15:51.199 --> 00:15:52.519 And he walks. 00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:53.399 He strides. 00:15:53.539 --> 00:15:54.379 No, he stands still. 00:15:54.539 --> 00:15:55.159 No, what does he do? 00:15:55.339 --> 00:15:57.179 He runs after him. 00:15:57.839 --> 00:16:00.059 He sprints down the road. 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:04.839 And as he sees his son in front of him, he gives him a huge hug. 00:16:05.339 --> 00:16:06.500 And he kisses him. 00:16:07.099 --> 00:16:08.259 This is joy. 00:16:08.259 --> 00:16:13.959 This is unfiltered love to see his son once again. 00:16:14.779 --> 00:16:17.079 Oh, for the son in this moment. 00:16:18.219 --> 00:16:19.819 Could you imagine what he would have been thinking? 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:23.099 See, he's rehearsed the speech, hasn't he? 00:16:23.219 --> 00:16:24.779 Over and over and over and over and over. 00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:26.659 My dad's going to be raging. 00:16:27.179 --> 00:16:30.620 As he sees him running towards him, he's probably thinking he's going to come and knock his head off. 00:16:32.339 --> 00:16:34.339 He's rehearsed the speech and he gets into it. 00:16:34.379 --> 00:16:34.759 Do you see it? 00:16:34.779 --> 00:16:35.359 Look at it again. 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:37.099 He gets into his speech, doesn't he? 00:16:37.239 --> 00:16:39.179 Father, I've sinned against heaven and against you. 00:16:39.479 --> 00:16:41.279 I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:44.959 He didn't finish it though, did he? 00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:46.299 Do you see that? 00:16:48.059 --> 00:16:50.019 I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. 00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:51.819 And what part was he meant to say next? 00:16:52.939 --> 00:16:55.079 Make me one of your servants. 00:16:55.080 --> 00:16:57.520 But what does the father do? 00:16:58.940 --> 00:17:01.780 But the father said to his servants, 00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:07.180 Quick, bring the best robe and put it on him. 00:17:07.180 --> 00:17:20.000 See, this is a moment of amazing grace, of sheer mercy and love and compassion from a father who doesn't want his son to make it up to him and work it back and owe him. 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:26.799 But simply welcomes him in with forgiveness and love and compassion. 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:34.859 See, what the father does in this moment by getting the robe and getting the ring and getting the sandals and getting the calf. 00:17:35.740 --> 00:17:41.279 He's not just simply accepting him back and much less making him a servant like the son wanted to. 00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:44.180 No, what the father is doing, he's actually picking symbols here. 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:45.559 Symbols of like honor. 00:17:46.019 --> 00:17:47.000 Symbols of authority. 00:17:47.700 --> 00:17:48.700 Symbols of freedom. 00:17:48.700 --> 00:17:54.500 He's given his son a status back in the home. 00:17:54.940 --> 00:17:59.220 He's restoring him back to sonship with him. 00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:01.340 And how does he want to celebrate? 00:18:01.660 --> 00:18:04.400 By throwing an absolute rocking party. 00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:06.559 He is thrilled. 00:18:07.140 --> 00:18:07.519 Why? 00:18:07.640 --> 00:18:10.279 Because he thought his son was lost and dead. 00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:13.200 But in fact, he's found him. 00:18:13.640 --> 00:18:15.380 And he's alive. 00:18:15.380 --> 00:18:25.700 It's an incredible moment as the father of compassion runs towards a son who screwed it up and forgives him of the lot. 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:29.580 Now, I got you to put yourself in the shoes of the father, didn't I? 00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:33.540 Now I want to put you in the shoes of the son, the youngest son. 00:18:34.600 --> 00:18:37.600 See, what do you think is going on in his heart at this point? 00:18:39.760 --> 00:18:41.720 He's thought he's in trouble. 00:18:43.360 --> 00:18:44.980 He thought he screwed it up. 00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:51.840 No way in his wildest dreams he probably imagined that his dad was going to put a party on when he came home. 00:18:52.800 --> 00:18:55.440 He expected to work as a servant the whole time. 00:18:57.540 --> 00:18:58.280 So I don't know about you. 00:18:58.420 --> 00:19:02.640 I wonder if you've had a story similar to this or something like Derek's. 00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:07.840 I don't know any of you in the room really, but we've all on different journeys at different points. 00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:12.579 And some of us have had big highs and I'm sure some of us have had some big lows, haven't we? 00:19:14.699 --> 00:19:20.619 But there's something that happens, isn't there, when that deep conviction comes on our heart. 00:19:20.619 --> 00:19:25.500 When you know you really, really have screwed it up. 00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:27.319 It could be something big. 00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:29.699 It could be something like an affair. 00:19:30.679 --> 00:19:33.219 It could be a gross misconduct at work. 00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:34.839 It could be a criminal offense. 00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:38.539 You know that moment when you've done something seriously wrong. 00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:40.419 It could be smaller. 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:42.119 Deceitful words. 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:44.039 Harmful decisions. 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:47.559 Things done in the background that no one sees. 00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:59.899 But when your conscience eventually catches up with you and the conviction of the way that you have lived and treated other people gets a hold of your soul. 00:20:00.940 --> 00:20:02.799 It's a tough thing to carry, isn't it? 00:20:03.940 --> 00:20:06.980 It's a really hard thing to carry. 00:20:08.279 --> 00:20:15.960 And I think most of us, when we get to that point, really all what we can do is put our hands up, isn't it? 00:20:15.960 --> 00:20:19.660 Like the spotlight of a police helicopter. 00:20:19.900 --> 00:20:22.819 Eventually, you've got to go, no, you got me. 00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:24.680 I've got it wrong. 00:20:26.059 --> 00:20:27.660 See, what did the son deserve? 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:31.480 The son deserved punishment, didn't he? 00:20:32.660 --> 00:20:35.100 At least a consequence of some sort. 00:20:35.579 --> 00:20:37.440 Like, that's the right thing, isn't it? 00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:39.680 That the father must teach him a lesson. 00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:41.059 Give him a consequence. 00:20:41.860 --> 00:20:45.079 He essentially stuck his fingers up to him and said, I wish you were dead. 00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:49.640 It's the right thing to do when people screw it up. 00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:52.380 Yeah, what does he get? 00:20:52.819 --> 00:20:53.860 What does he get? 00:20:54.100 --> 00:20:55.519 Not what his sins deserve. 00:20:56.759 --> 00:20:58.059 He finds forgiveness. 00:20:58.900 --> 00:20:59.960 He finds love. 00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:06.600 It's a remarkable act of grace displayed to us from the father. 00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:10.200 I wonder right now if you could relate to that son in some way. 00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:18.799 Whether you are a follower of Christ or not, what does it look like for you today to be in the shoes of the younger son? 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:22.559 Well, there's one more son to talk about, isn't there? 00:21:22.819 --> 00:21:26.059 Let's just look at this briefly before we then come into close. 00:21:26.299 --> 00:21:27.519 Look at number 25. 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:32.779 Meanwhile, whilst this is all going on, the older son was in the field. 00:21:33.339 --> 00:21:35.599 When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:38.539 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:45.000 Your brother has come, he replied, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound. 00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:48.759 The older brother became angry and refused to go in. 00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:51.720 So his father went out and pleaded with him. 00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:57.539 But he answered his father, look, all these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. 00:21:58.099 --> 00:22:01.859 Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 00:22:01.859 --> 00:22:10.799 But when this son of yours has squandered your property with prostitutes, comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him. 00:22:12.139 --> 00:22:17.659 My son, the father said, you're always with me and everything I have is yours. 00:22:18.099 --> 00:22:24.179 But we had to celebrate and be glad because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again. 00:22:24.699 --> 00:22:27.240 He was lost and is found. 00:22:28.439 --> 00:22:31.059 So obviously in the background of all this is an older brother. 00:22:31.859 --> 00:22:36.859 Now he's not left home, but his relationship with his father doesn't seem particularly positive, does it? 00:22:37.179 --> 00:22:39.099 He's working hard in the estate. 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:46.659 And when he finds out that his younger brother comes back and dad's throwing a massive party with the big fat calf, he is raging. 00:22:47.919 --> 00:22:48.399 Why? 00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:52.919 Because he feels like he deserves something the same. 00:22:54.259 --> 00:22:56.759 Now again, we don't know the full story. 00:22:56.879 --> 00:23:00.039 We don't know what their relationship has been like and why it's been this way. 00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:04.460 But he's refusing to go in because he feels like he deserves it. 00:23:04.839 --> 00:23:06.139 Yet what does the father do? 00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:06.779 Do you see it? 00:23:07.460 --> 00:23:09.079 Moves towards him. 00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:14.460 He comes out from the party and he engages in a conversation with his son. 00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:15.940 And what does he try to help him see? 00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:20.519 Well, whilst you've lived with me, son, I have given you these things. 00:23:20.980 --> 00:23:23.460 I've given you the privileges of our home. 00:23:23.460 --> 00:23:27.700 Now, again, the older son believes he's not maybe had the big fat calf. 00:23:27.960 --> 00:23:33.900 But what he's choosing to do is obviously not see the things that he already has had in a relationship with his father. 00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:37.019 And it kind of is left on a bit of a cliffhanger, isn't it? 00:23:37.059 --> 00:23:40.140 Jesus doesn't tell us exactly what happens with the older brother. 00:23:40.140 --> 00:23:45.960 But what the son wants to remind this older brother is, your brother's back, mate. 00:23:47.160 --> 00:23:49.100 There's reason for us to be thankful. 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:50.960 And he leaves it there. 00:23:52.060 --> 00:23:53.360 So that's our story. 00:23:53.500 --> 00:23:56.440 And if you've never heard it before, it's a bit of a roller coaster, isn't it? 00:23:56.920 --> 00:23:59.920 And as some have said, there's a familiarity to this story. 00:24:00.020 --> 00:24:04.080 So one of the dangers when you've heard a story lots of times is we start to slightly switch off. 00:24:04.280 --> 00:24:06.759 And we don't really understand what it means for us today. 00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:13.920 So for the last few minutes, let me quickly help us think, what does this actually mean for us now today? 00:24:14.759 --> 00:24:15.759 We've got the story. 00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:17.799 Let me summarize it one last time. 00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:19.460 A story about a father who's got two sons. 00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:22.059 The younger son is sick of being at home, so he decides to leave. 00:24:22.420 --> 00:24:24.440 Whilst he loses all his money, he gets homesick. 00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:25.900 He ends up coming back home. 00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:28.079 His father's thrilled and his older brother's sick about it. 00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:29.200 That's the story, yeah? 00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:31.579 What does it actually mean? 00:24:31.579 --> 00:24:38.699 Well, as I said to you, chapter 15, verse 1 helps us understand what is going on whilst Jesus is saying these. 00:24:38.779 --> 00:24:44.179 And ultimately, Jesus is doing two things as he tells this story to the listening ears of those around him. 00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:50.019 Firstly, he's extending a welcome to anyone who wants to come back into a relationship with God. 00:24:50.279 --> 00:24:58.919 And secondly, he's issuing a warning to anyone who thinks they can earn their way back to God in some kind of way. 00:24:58.920 --> 00:25:04.400 See, the welcome comes to the person who puts themselves in the shoes of the younger son, yeah? 00:25:05.340 --> 00:25:08.800 I've talked briefly about that moment of conviction that we've got on our hearts. 00:25:09.140 --> 00:25:15.759 Well, God, in this moment, through Jesus, is trying to show everyone no one is outside of reach. 00:25:17.640 --> 00:25:20.560 See, the father is God. 00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:26.200 Jesus, as he tells the story, is telling everyone the story of the big story of God. 00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:33.920 A God who made us, who loves us, who has designed us to live in relationship with him in the boundaries of his loving grace and mercy, 00:25:34.220 --> 00:25:36.120 so that we might flourish in life. 00:25:37.799 --> 00:25:40.279 And yet, what have people done at various times and in various ways? 00:25:40.380 --> 00:25:41.559 Well, they've put their fingers up. 00:25:41.640 --> 00:25:42.400 They've pushed God out. 00:25:42.600 --> 00:25:49.559 They've wished he is dead, taken his possessions, and lived the life they thought was the one they needed to live. 00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:52.700 And yet, what does God do in this moment? 00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:56.919 Well, like the father does, he runs towards us. 00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:59.779 The story of the gospel, the good news of Jesus. 00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:08.379 God himself sends his son to earth to bring us back into relationship with God. 00:26:08.539 --> 00:26:11.559 This is a welcome invitation to you this morning. 00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:16.960 If you do not know God, that you are nowhere that he cannot find you. 00:26:18.399 --> 00:26:20.619 You are not too far out of reach. 00:26:20.899 --> 00:26:22.480 You've not screwed it up enough. 00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:25.220 He will welcome you in. 00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:27.079 How does he do it? 00:26:27.619 --> 00:26:29.319 This is the most important bit. 00:26:30.339 --> 00:26:36.679 See, the father's love and compassion represents the father's love and compassion towards us. 00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:44.420 Alongside a familiar parable, you might be familiar potentially with the verse John 3.16. 00:26:45.120 --> 00:26:47.279 How does John 3.16 start? 00:26:47.340 --> 00:26:49.580 If you've never heard it before, I'd encourage you to read it. 00:26:49.860 --> 00:26:50.960 But it starts by saying, 00:26:50.960 --> 00:27:12.720 The story of Jesus' life concludes with him dying on a Roman cross. 00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:21.019 And in that moment, he willingly takes upon himself all the rotten and the rebellious stuff that we and me and you and I have all done. 00:27:21.539 --> 00:27:24.819 In order to take a punishment and a consequence for that moment. 00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:26.640 And forgive us of the law. 00:27:27.940 --> 00:27:31.559 And two, three days later, he rises again and shows his life beyond the grave. 00:27:31.640 --> 00:27:34.880 That he is the perfect God who came to bring people back to God. 00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:41.680 And in this moment, he gives us the status, the honor, the freedom that he had. 00:27:42.020 --> 00:27:47.920 And he clothes it upon ourselves so that we can become sons with God the Father. 00:27:48.460 --> 00:27:49.880 This is the big welcome. 00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:53.060 This is the big invitation of the Christian faith. 00:27:53.300 --> 00:28:01.820 And the story of the younger son just represents something of the love and the compassion of God the Father towards you and towards me. 00:28:01.819 --> 00:28:05.559 But there's also a warning wrapped up in this. 00:28:06.359 --> 00:28:09.879 And it comes obviously in the shoes of the older son here. 00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:18.519 See, the risk for this older son is that he feels like he's got to earn his father's love. 00:28:19.779 --> 00:28:25.139 There's something of a self-righteousness here wrapped up in the way the older son speaks. 00:28:26.159 --> 00:28:28.839 Something of an entitlement, I think you might say. 00:28:28.839 --> 00:28:33.740 See, he doesn't recognize all the things he has got with his father. 00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:36.559 He just simply sees the things that he hasn't got. 00:28:36.699 --> 00:28:39.799 And when someone else gets something that he wishes he had, 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:45.799 suddenly his relationship with his dad turns into one of entitlement and one of duty and one of hostility. 00:28:46.879 --> 00:28:49.740 See, one of the great risks, I think, for all of us in the room, 00:28:49.839 --> 00:28:51.879 whether you've been to church or not before, 00:28:51.880 --> 00:28:57.380 is that we so often think Christianity is about what you must do for God. 00:28:58.420 --> 00:29:02.320 Rules, regulations, attending church, reading your Bible, saying your prayers, 00:29:02.520 --> 00:29:05.420 all things that are helpful in their rightful place, 00:29:05.800 --> 00:29:10.560 but not enough to bring us back into a perfect relationship with God. 00:29:10.620 --> 00:29:11.940 Can I say to you this morning, 00:29:11.940 --> 00:29:14.500 you do not need to, 00:29:15.019 --> 00:29:18.740 and you cannot earn your way back to God. 00:29:20.680 --> 00:29:22.200 You do not need to, 00:29:22.700 --> 00:29:24.480 because he's done it for you. 00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:26.200 And you cannot, 00:29:26.860 --> 00:29:29.240 because the gap is too big. 00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:33.420 If we see God as a tyrant, 00:29:33.660 --> 00:29:36.420 as a God who just demands and demands and demands, 00:29:36.819 --> 00:29:38.859 you've got a wrong picture of God the Father. 00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:42.180 I hope you see something of the right picture in this story here. 00:29:43.380 --> 00:29:45.099 And if you sit there this morning, 00:29:45.160 --> 00:29:46.180 and there's a part of you who thinks, 00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:47.019 it's okay, mate, 00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:48.779 I'm none of those things. 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:50.299 I'm actually pretty decent. 00:29:51.099 --> 00:29:52.620 I follow a lot of the rules. 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:54.380 I know what to say at the right time. 00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:57.039 I reckon when the scales are balanced up, 00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:59.720 I'll just about tip the scales in my favor. 00:30:00.299 --> 00:30:01.319 Can I warn you, 00:30:01.379 --> 00:30:03.139 that's not how it works. 00:30:03.779 --> 00:30:06.500 It's not the way God has designed things to be lived. 00:30:07.099 --> 00:30:10.119 He designed us to be in relationship with him. 00:30:10.200 --> 00:30:11.759 It's not about rules or regulations. 00:30:12.359 --> 00:30:14.139 It's about relationship with him. 00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:17.200 And so can I encourage you this morning 00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:19.740 to put yourselves in the shoes 00:30:19.740 --> 00:30:22.180 of the older son for a moment, 00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:25.259 and think if that is the way in which you view God, 00:30:25.259 --> 00:30:29.299 well, see how that conversation ends. 00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:32.559 It's not one of reconciliation. 00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:36.000 And if you continue to push God out, 00:30:36.359 --> 00:30:38.400 a day will come where you have to stand before him 00:30:38.400 --> 00:30:39.980 and engage in a conversation with him 00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:41.420 as to the way you treated him, 00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:42.220 his world, 00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:43.779 and the people within it. 00:30:45.160 --> 00:30:46.539 So that's our story. 00:30:47.220 --> 00:30:48.259 The older son, 00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:49.279 the younger son, 00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:51.440 but I ultimately want you to finish 00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:53.240 by putting yourself back in your shoes. 00:30:53.240 --> 00:30:56.779 And I want you to see God for who he is. 00:30:57.120 --> 00:30:58.480 See, this is a story, 00:30:58.660 --> 00:31:01.180 not really of one son in particular. 00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:04.440 This ultimately is a story of a compassionate father 00:31:04.440 --> 00:31:07.279 who moves towards people. 00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:12.559 He has demonstrated his love for us 00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:14.039 in the person of Jesus. 00:31:15.180 --> 00:31:16.859 And this morning he sits there 00:31:16.859 --> 00:31:18.500 with joy upon his heart 00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:22.000 when he sees people turn back to him. 00:31:23.319 --> 00:31:24.700 Go with me just lastly 00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:25.980 to, 00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:27.599 let me get it here. 00:31:28.819 --> 00:31:29.700 Oh, where's it gone? 00:31:34.660 --> 00:31:35.579 Oh, I've lost it. 00:31:35.640 --> 00:31:36.140 My fault. 00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:40.299 I was going to give you the verse to read with me. 00:31:40.440 --> 00:31:41.500 That's always the best thing to do 00:31:41.500 --> 00:31:42.720 is get people reading the verse. 00:31:43.339 --> 00:31:44.640 But there's a verse just earlier on. 00:31:44.740 --> 00:31:46.279 I think it's in Luke chapter 10. 00:31:46.279 --> 00:31:48.759 Jesus turns to people and says, 00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:51.099 when a sinner repents 00:31:51.099 --> 00:31:52.680 and turns back to God, 00:31:53.299 --> 00:31:55.759 there is joy and celebration 00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:57.639 in the kingdom of heaven. 00:31:59.160 --> 00:32:01.720 Every single time someone turns back to God, 00:32:02.779 --> 00:32:04.519 heaven is rocking. 00:32:05.660 --> 00:32:06.980 And a day will come 00:32:06.980 --> 00:32:09.480 where this time on earth will finish. 00:32:10.119 --> 00:32:11.839 And the invitation to the party 00:32:11.839 --> 00:32:12.759 is there for us. 00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:16.220 Can I encourage you this morning, 00:32:16.460 --> 00:32:18.779 if you have not turned to the Father, 00:32:19.140 --> 00:32:20.720 and you've not come to your senses, 00:32:21.079 --> 00:32:22.200 if you've not turned back 00:32:22.200 --> 00:32:23.879 to receive the grace and mercy of him, 00:32:24.420 --> 00:32:26.099 today, please do not leave 00:32:26.099 --> 00:32:27.460 without doing that. 00:32:28.180 --> 00:32:29.879 And if you are following Christ, 00:32:30.440 --> 00:32:30.859 would this 00:32:30.859 --> 00:32:31.579 overflow 00:32:32.619 --> 00:32:34.279 in gratitude 00:32:34.279 --> 00:32:35.720 and thankfulness 00:32:35.720 --> 00:32:37.579 for all that he has done for you. 00:32:38.160 --> 00:32:39.599 God has watched you from afar. 00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:42.219 He has ran towards you. 00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:44.419 He has thrown his arms around you 00:32:44.419 --> 00:32:45.619 and forgiven you of the law. 00:32:46.039 --> 00:32:47.619 And he celebrates today 00:32:47.619 --> 00:32:49.699 because you have life 00:32:49.699 --> 00:32:51.079 with him. 00:32:51.679 --> 00:32:52.500 Let me pray. 00:32:56.079 --> 00:32:56.939 Father God, 00:32:57.019 --> 00:32:57.980 thank you so much 00:32:57.980 --> 00:33:00.719 that you are a compassionate Father 00:33:00.719 --> 00:33:03.019 who moves towards us. 00:33:03.019 --> 00:33:04.579 I pray, 00:33:04.759 --> 00:33:05.139 Father God, 00:33:05.240 --> 00:33:05.559 today, 00:33:05.700 --> 00:33:06.740 that you would give us 00:33:06.740 --> 00:33:07.819 a sense 00:33:07.819 --> 00:33:10.119 of our sin, 00:33:10.400 --> 00:33:11.839 a conviction for it. 00:33:12.799 --> 00:33:13.960 I pray that you would 00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:15.579 bring us to our senses 00:33:15.579 --> 00:33:16.240 at times 00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:17.119 when we need to be. 00:33:17.920 --> 00:33:19.220 I pray you help us 00:33:19.220 --> 00:33:19.779 see you 00:33:19.779 --> 00:33:21.279 for who you really are. 00:33:22.279 --> 00:33:23.619 We thank you this morning, 00:33:23.799 --> 00:33:23.980 Father, 00:33:24.059 --> 00:33:25.440 that in your grace and mercy, 00:33:25.779 --> 00:33:27.039 you sent your Son 00:33:27.039 --> 00:33:29.519 to die in our place, 00:33:30.019 --> 00:33:31.920 to bring us to new life, 00:33:31.920 --> 00:33:33.779 and to secure us back 00:33:33.779 --> 00:33:35.200 into a loving relationship 00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:35.640 with you 00:33:35.640 --> 00:33:36.920 that starts today 00:33:36.920 --> 00:33:39.240 and lasts forever. 00:33:40.600 --> 00:33:42.300 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:33:42.620 --> 00:33:42.920 Amen. 00:33:42.920 --> 00:33:43.019 Amen.