Well, this morning, well, really this week, because this morning is Father's Day, as I started working on a Father's Day sermon.
The first passage that came to mind was the passage of Eli and his two sons.
And assuming you're a little familiar with it, I think there's a lot of very important lessons that we as fathers can learn from that passage.
And I'd encourage you to be familiar with it.
The problem was I had a hard time figuring out how I was going to end it positively.
Okay, and so just as a reminder, look at these couple verses from 1 Samuel chapter 2, starting in verse 22.
It says,
Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel,
and how they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
And he said to them,
Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people.
No, my sons, it's not a good report that I hear the people of the Lord spreading abroad.
If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him.
But if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?
But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death.
And if you remember, in the next chapter, that's exactly what happens.
Both of Eli's sons are put to death, and the Ark of the Covenant is actually captured.
And if you remember, when Eli hears it, he falls backwards in his chair and breaks his neck.
And I thought, ending with, Happy Father's Day, don't lean back in any chairs.
This didn't seem like it was a good option.
But the truth is, this last phrase in this verse,
that they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death,
really captured my attention.
And if you think about it, it's a very terrifying verse.
And I've come to decide this week, after thinking about it,
it probably embodies my greatest fear.
Which is that, at some point in the future,
my children would turn their backs on God,
and jettison their faith,
and be enemies of God, apart from his grace.
And honestly,
I would like to, at this point in life,
with my children grown,
adults, walking with the Lord,
be able to say, wow, I dodged that bullet.
But we all know,
that's not necessarily the truth, is it?
How many people have you known in your life,
that have seemed to be walking with the Lord,
for years,
or for decades,
or for a lifetime,
only to then,
suddenly one day wake up and say,
I've never really believed,
and walk away from their faith.
And so,
pondering these things,
and thinking about it,
led me to a very familiar passage,
which will be our passage this morning.
And it's the story of the prodigal son.
It's found in Luke 15,
verses 11 through 32.
Luke 15,
verses 11 through 32.
And just as a reminder,
the story of the prodigal son,
is a parable that Jesus told.
And just a simple definition,
that's easy to remember,
of what a parable is,
is it's an earthly story,
with a heavenly meaning.
And Jesus told many parables,
most of them,
he has one main point,
that he's trying to make,
and you really have to be careful,
to not overanalyze them,
or you can end up,
in some interesting places.
But the parable,
of the prodigal son,
is such a rich and deep parable.
Many commentators call it,
the crown of all parables.
That there's depths,
that we could mine for weeks,
or months,
and never exhaust the limits,
of this one parable.
And every time I read it,
I can honestly say,
I am challenged.
I'm encouraged.
In some way,
it impacts me in a new way.
And so this morning,
as we look at this,
as fathers,
or mothers,
grandparents,
or even just as children,
of our Heavenly Father,
I hope,
we will be transformed by it.
Before we get a little further,
would you just join me in prayer?
Father,
we come to you this morning,
and we ask that your spirit,
would be upon us.
That you would open our hearts,
and minds to hear your word.
That you would lead,
and that you would speak.
That we would listen,
and that we would receive,
the truth of your word.
And that it would use,
you would use it to transform us,
into a greater,
more clear reflection of your son.
Father,
we thank you for the privilege of your word.
Help us not to take it for granted.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
So let's begin,
and we'll just look at this section by section,
and talk about seven things that we see,
as we look at the father's heart,
the father's heart,
in the parable of the prodigal son.
So starting in Luke 15,
with verses 11 and 12.
Luke 15, 11 and 12.
It says,
And he said,
there was a man,
and that's Jesus.
Jesus said,
there was a man who had two sons.
And 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.
Now, it's a very simple opening,
and if we were to just read it and keep going,
we wouldn't stop to consider
the impact this had on the original audience.
In the culture where Jesus was speaking,
this would not just so easily flow by, okay?
And so it would be a riveting,
almost abhorrent thing for them to hear
the younger son deal this way.
So let me give you just a brief translation
to help you hear it more accurately.
It's basically like the younger son
came to his father and said,
I am so sick and tired of being around you.
I can't wait another day for you to die.
I have to get out of here.
Would you just give me
what you're going to give me
whenever you die and let me leave?
You see, it's a lot more weighty.
And the original audience
would have been struck by that.
They would have been shocked
at hearing the younger son's audacity
in how he approached his father.
And what I think is interesting for us to see
as we look at the father's heart in this
is that the father just very simply says,
and he divided it and gave it to him, right?
The father doesn't take any efforts
to try and force external obedience on the son.
He could have used guilt or shame.
He could have just said,
no, I'm not going to do it, right?
But he doesn't.
Notice that the father lets the son
have what he so wickedly asked for,
that he deals gently and graciously with his sin.
And I think it's important
because I believe what it shows us here
is that the father is most concerned
about his son's heart.
The father is most concerned
about his son's heart.
He's not content to push
for merely external obedience.
He's not willing to just get some comfort right now
and avoid the awkwardness of the moment
by saying no.
He wants his son's heart.
And so in pursuing that,
he's willing to deal gently and graciously
with the sinful request of his son.
Now, honestly, in parenting,
isn't this one of the greatest challenges?
Trying to discern in each situation
how we can pursue our child's heart.
I know if any of you are like me,
it's just so much easier
to parent out of response
to the inconvenience
or to the frustration
or to the embarrassment
of whatever's happening
and try to address that
and just need to get this fixed now.
But that's not what we see
in the father in this parable.
We see him focused in
on pursuing his son's heart.
Let's look at verses 13 through 19.
It says,
Not many days later,
the younger son gathered all he had
and took a journey to a far country.
And there he squandered his property
in reckless living.
And when he'd spent everything,
a severe famine arose in that country
and he began to be in need.
So he went and hired himself out
to one of the citizens of that country
who sent him into his fields
to feed pigs.
And he was longing to be fed
with the pods that the pigs ate
and no one gave him anything.
So stop for a second
and just think, okay?
Almost immediately,
the son gathers his stuff,
goes off to a faraway country.
We don't know where.
It doesn't matter.
It's a parable.
The point is,
he wants to get as far away
from his father as he can.
And then we see
that God lets him continue
in this sinful living, right?
He wastes everything
that he's gotten.
It's just all immediately thrown away.
And then God sends a famine.
So he has nothing
and then everyone else is struggling.
And all his new friends are gone.
Suddenly he's not sure what to do.
He's in this far off place.
So he hires himself out to feed pigs.
And if you don't know,
pigs are like one of the lowest options
in the biblical world, right?
The audience, when they hear pigs,
they're like, ooh, pigs.
Okay?
And if it's not bad enough
to be a pig feeder,
which that's just nasty
because pigs are nasty,
he wants to eat pig food.
I mean, that's like,
Jesus takes it another rung down.
This guy is low.
I mean, it's bad.
It's bad news.
Okay?
But notice in verse 17
as it continues what happens.
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.
I will arise and go to my father.
I will say to him,
Father, I have sinned against heaven
and before you.
I'm no longer worthy
to be called your son.
Treat me as one of your hired servants.
Isn't it interesting?
All of these things happen.
And then suddenly,
the Holy Spirit brings to mind
the fact that his father
had modeled godly character.
He comes to the awareness
of the fact that his father
had dealt graciously
with his servants.
He'd cared for them.
He'd given them an abundance.
He was suddenly,
the son is suddenly aware
of the kind of character
his father had.
And from wanting to be
as far away as possible,
he suddenly realizes
there's no place else
he would rather be.
He's even willing to be a servant
in his father's house
because of the kind of man
his father is.
Isn't it interesting
the change that happens?
And it made me think
as I was studying this,
am I doing that?
Am I being faithful
to model the kind
of godly character
that we see
was modeled
by the father here?
Am I laying a foundation
in my children's life
that whatever happens
in the future,
it would be something
the Holy Spirit could use
to bring to remembrance,
to stir in their hearts,
make them aware
of their sin against God,
call them to consider
coming back.
Is that the kind
of character I've modeled?
I think even just considering
laying a foundation
in their lives
so that they know
no matter how far
they've gone,
that they can always
come home.
Are we being
that kind of father?
Let's look at Luke 15,
starting with the beginning
of verse 20.
It says,
And he arose
and came to his father,
but while he was still
a long way off,
his father saw him.
The third thing we see
is that the father
never gives up hope.
In this parable,
we get the feeling,
as Jesus tells this,
that the father's
constantly looking.
There's an expectation.
He's expecting
his son's return.
It doesn't catch him
off guard.
He has this anticipation,
this hope,
this faith
that he's clung to.
And the truth is,
sometimes holding on
to faith when things
are hard over any length
of time is terribly
challenging.
Whether it's an ongoing
physical illness
or whether it's
relational problems
with our family,
our spouse,
it's hard to hold on
to hope as days
and months go by.
And we see here
that kind of character
in this father,
he never gives up hope.
And the most powerful
example of that
in my own life
wasn't actually
from a father.
It was from a grandmother.
Not my grandmother.
But a woman named
Vera Griffin.
Miss Vera
was a godly woman.
She loved Jesus.
And she had five children
that were unbelievers.
And she prayed
for more than 40 years
for them to know Christ.
And whenever you were
with her,
you always could get
that sense that
it wasn't something
she hoped would happen
in the sense of
wishful thinking.
There was an assurance there.
And she prayed
and she was committed to it.
And what's interesting
is she prayed
for her children
and then she eventually
prayed for her
unbelieving grandchildren.
And it was for more
than 40 years
until one day
her grandson,
who would eventually
become a good friend of mine,
was invited
to a Young Life meeting.
Young Life's kind of
like a Christian club
if you're not familiar
with it,
like Campus Crusade
or InterVarsity.
Anyway,
he was invited
to go to a meeting
and he didn't really
want to go
but they kept inviting him
so he decided
to go to this one meeting.
And at this one meeting
they were doing a drawing
for one person
to get a free week
at Young Life camp
that summer.
And everybody else
wanted it.
He didn't want it
but they made him
turn his name in
and guess what?
He was the one
that got it.
And everyone else
was so depressed
and he was like,
I don't know
if I really want to go
but he thought,
you know,
it'll be fun.
There'll probably be girls there.
They might as well go.
And he went
and at that camp
Jesus radically
changed his life.
And then from that
it began to work
throughout his family.
His parents came to Christ.
The other siblings
came to Christ.
The other grandchildren
came to Christ.
And after more than
40 years of prayer
this Vera saw her family
come to know Christ.
And as far as I know
all of their great
grandchildren that I know
are walking with Christ.
Are we committed
to that kind of hope
in the lives
of those around us?
Whether it's our children
whether it's our family members
a spouse
the people that we work with
are we prayerfully committed
to pursue them
trusting that God
will be faithful?
Let's look at the next part
of verse 20.
He arose and came to his father
but while he was still
a long way off
his father saw him
and felt compassion.
Notice the father's heart
is full of compassion.
It's the immediate response.
He's not only been hoping
but then when he finally
sees his son
a long way off
the immediate response
is compassion
flows out of him.
Now if it was me
it would be so easy
to be bitter
to be hurt
to be spending
all the time
while he was gone
thinking about
how could you do this to me?
I'd be tempted
to be critical
or ridicule
or find some way
to be negative
but this father's heart
is full of compassion
and that compassion
compels him
to do the unthinkable.
Look at the next part
of verse 20.
But while he was still
a long way off
his father saw him
and felt compassion
and ran
and embraced him
and kissed him.
Now I said in the beginning
that the audience
was shocked
at how the younger son
had acted
but that probably
pales in comparison
to what happens here
as Jesus is telling
the parable
because it was not
dignified
for men like this father
to go running
passionately
with reckless abandon
around town.
Okay?
But have in mind
the picture
of what's happened.
The father's been hopeful
he's been waiting
he's been looking
he's been longing
and finally he sees it.
Finally
he sees his son
on the horizon
whether that's
the edge of town
or the edge
of their street
coming up past
the nosy neighbors
we don't know
it's a parable
but he sees him
and he knows
the kind of ridicule
that son is going
to face
from his shameful
actions
from what's happened
the townsfolk
have been gossiping
about him
this whole time
he knows
the kind of attention
that he's going
to receive
as he's walking
that distance
to the house.
And so
the father
does the unthinkable.
He hikes up his robes
and goes running
full speed
whether it's down
the street
or through the town
all of his
reckless abandon
pursuing his son.
And now
imagine
if this was at your house
okay
and you're sitting
out on your porch
and you look down
the street
you see kind of
homeless guy
walking there
he's coming
you're kind of
intrigued
hey what's up
with that guy
who's he
why is he in our town
and all of a sudden
a businessman
goes running by you
in his boxers
right
your attention
immediately is like
I don't care about
that guy anymore
what is with this man
right
and we see that
and it's intentional
that the father
is taking
the shame
he's willingly
taking the shame
his son deserves
all of the attention
is immediately
torn from his son
and placed on him
they see him running
just like a madman
and now
you know
they would be almost
as aghast
at this father's action
now
as they were
at the sons
in the beginning
now maybe
there's this moment
of comprehension
where the audience
puts two and two
together
oh
okay
he's realized
that's his son
and he's gonna
go give it to him
he's gonna let him know
he's gonna draw him back
snap the whip
and get him back in line
but then what happens
he runs up
and sweeps him up
in his arms
embraces him
kisses him
now the audience
is enraged
what
what is happening
this is unreasonable
this is not appropriate
for you to treat
this shameful
wicked son
in such a way
but isn't that
the heart of our father
willingly taking
the shame
that we deserve
taking the attention
that we deserve
taking the guilt
that is ours
and we see that
happen here as well
it makes me ask
the question
am I like that
with my children
how do I deal
with this sin
in their lives
am I
inclined
to put more guilt
and shame
on them
is that how I respond
to the people
in my life
when they wrong me
am I piling it on
or am I seeking
to take their shame
and to lead them
to Christ
how do I respond
am I doing
all that I can
to help
alleviate
their guilt
and shame
at the foot
of the cross
or am I
making much
of them
starting
in verse 21
and the son
said to him
father I have
sinned against
heaven
and before you
I am no longer
worthy to be
called your son
but the father
said to his
servants
bring quickly
the best robe
and put it on him
put a ring
on his hand
and shoes
on his feet
and bring the
fattened calf
and kill it
let us eat
and celebrate
for this my son
was dead
and is alive
again
he was lost
and is found
and they began
to celebrate
the sixth thing
we see
the father
forgives freely
and fully
how glorious
how beautiful
the embrace
the kiss
the confession
but nothing more
need be said
the father
just lets
the forgiveness
flow out of him
over his son
there is no question
about reconciliation
as he calls
for the best robe
as he calls
for a ring
he is making
very clear
to his son
our relationship
is restored
we are reconciled
everything is forgiven
and not just
to his son
but to everyone
that is watching
it becomes evident
to what
the father's
forgiveness
has done
dads are you
that way
are you lavish
in your forgiveness
are you stingy
in your forgiveness
when you deal
with your children's
sin
are we inclined
to make such
a big deal
of their sin
that they walk
away feeling like
no one else
has ever been
as terrible
as I am
or do they walk
away knowing
that it is
this sin
that we all
struggle with
that we labor
under
and it's this
very sin
that causes us
to need
Christ
do you go
above and beyond
to communicate
to your children
that your relationship
is restored
assure them
of your love
your devotion
your delight
verses 25
through 32
now his older son
was in the field
and as he came
and drew near
to the house
he heard music
and dancing
and he called
one of the servants
and asked
what these things
mean
and he said
your brother
has come
and your father
has killed
the fattened calf
because he's received
him back
safe and sound
but he was angry
and refused
to go in
his father
came out
and entreated him
but he answered
his father
look
these many years
I have served you
I've never
disobeyed your command
yet you never
gave me a young goat
that I might celebrate
with my friends
but when this son
of yours
came
who has devoured
your property
with prostitutes
you killed
the fattened calf
for him
and the father
said to him
son
you are always
with me
and all that
is mine
is yours
it was fitting
to celebrate
and be glad
for this your brother
was dead
and is alive
he was lost
and is found
we see the parable
end where it began
the father's
constantly pursuing
the hearts
of his children
this time
the older son
but still pursuing
him
going after his heart
I'd like to think
that there gets
to be a stage
in life
when we as parents
or grandparents
can stop pursuing
the hearts
of our children
but that day
just never comes
it's a never ending
job
and it's a challenging
job
it's frustrating
at times
it's hurtful
at times
it's discouraging
but even as we see
in the father
here
we're called
to be continually
pursuing
the hearts
of our children
and aren't we
thankful
that that's exactly
what God
does with us
right
how often
in your life
has God
pursued your heart
how often
has he showed
you his love
has he taken
your shame
he's constantly
loving us
calling us
chasing us
inviting us
into deeper
intimacy
even with all
of our constant
silliness
our fickleness
our laziness
our rebellion
we turn from him
and he calls us back
he pursues us
constantly seeking
our hearts
do you notice
how this parable
ends
the parable
ends
so abruptly
right
if it was
a Disney film
it would have
ended after
the first son
coming home
and the party
starting
right
everything was
good
everything was
great
Jesus could have
just stopped
there
and we would
have felt
good
but Jesus
the master
storyteller
leans in
further
and challenges
us
with the response
of this older
son
so that we're
all left
somewhere in the
parable
with the same
question
what will you
do
what will
you allow
to keep
you
from greater
intimacy
with the
father
what will it
be
will it be
some sin
in your life
will it be
pursuing worldly
things
and letting
that take
you further
and further
from him
or maybe
maybe it's
just a contentment
with a shallow
empty acquaintance
with him
you're content
with just enough
religion
to know
about him
but not really
know his heart
the final question
that we're left
with this morning
as the audience
was at that point
is what will
you do
will you
stay
where you
are
or
will you
let him
sweep you
up
in his
embrace
as we
come to
the end
of the
service
let me
just
encourage
you
to take
time
today
and reflect
on this
to consider
how
God
is working
in your
life
whether it's
as a father
a mother
whether it's
with your
children
your
grandchildren
with a
spouse
with the
people
that you're
working
with
how are
these
things
impacted
by these
seven
truths
that we
see
in the
father
I would
pray
that
we
would
be
encouraged
by
recognizing
how we've
been the
recipient
of this
kind of
love
but
if by chance
this morning
you have
not
experienced
that time
in your
life
where
you have
been aware
of your
separation
from God
where
you have
recognized
how distant
you are
from him
how you
have
treated
him
if you've
recognized
your sin
and your
guilt
if that
hasn't
happened
in your
life
let me
encourage
you
that today
can be
the day
today
can be
the day
where you
decide
that you're
going to
head
towards the
father
and you'll
find
that he
will run
and embrace
you
sweep
you up
in his
arms
and you'll
find
forgiveness
freely
flowing
into your
life
if you'd
like to
know more
about starting
a relationship
with Jesus
I would
love to
talk with
you after
the service
if by chance
you're watching
on our live
stream
and you
have not
had a
relationship
with Christ
I would
love to
talk with
you
please
feel free
to send
us an
email
you can
find our
contact
information
on our
website
it's
nbccolumbus.org
we'd love
to talk
to you
we'd love
to introduce
you to
the love
of Christ
and let
you experience
this same
kind of
relationship
with our
father
I hope
that you
will consider
that
would you
pray with
me
father
we thank
you as
we come
today
encouraged
by the
love that
we see
in this
father
encouraged
because we
know
that it
is a
reflection
of you
Lord
thank you
for pursuing
our
hearts
thank you
for not
being content
with external
obedience
but desiring
for us
to know
you
intimately
father
we thank
you for
your word
that we
might know
your character
that we
might know
who you
are
that we
would know
your heart
Lord
we ask
that you
would use
that
your spirit
would use
your word
in our
lives
to continually
convict
us of
sin
and
continually
call us
back
to you
father
we pray
that you
would
continue
the work
that you
are doing
in us
that we
might be
a reflection
of Christ
and how
we love
you
and how
we love
others
that we
would seek
to be
quick to
forgive
that we
would seek
to find
ways
to lead
everyone
that you
place
in our
lives
at least
one step
closer to
Christ
that they
would find
the forgiveness
that we
found
that they
would know
the joy
and delight
of having
their shame
covered
with the
righteousness
of Christ
father help
us to be
your hands
and feet
to be a
light in
the darkness
help us
to be
fathers
like
you
help us
to be
people
like you
and help
us to
delight
in being
your
children
in Jesus
name we
pray
amen
god bless
you guys
and have
a happy
father's
day
miracle
Thank you.