Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. "When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. "The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ "But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate."
Questions:
- As you read this what are the first things that come to your mind?
- What in this text strikes you as remarkable?
- What is the main point of this story?
- Can you imagine the son at the beginning of the story? What does he look like?
- Can you imagine the son’s "progression" into misery?
- Focus on the word "worthy" in the story.
- How is the father in the story portrayed?
- Who is the father?
- How does he treat the "unworthy" son?
- How does passage fit with this statement? We are baptized believers participating in the life of God for the sake of others.
What else is on your minds this week?
23 comments:
This week we begin a series of sermons around the word “worthy.” I was led to this from the passage I will speak about this morning, Ephesians 4:1, where Paul urges his readers to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”
The truth is that we are not worthy, which is what this week’s conversation is about, but God is worthy. The effort we make to live a worthy life is based on the worthiness of God. This is what we’ll work on for the next weeks.
Hey, Happy Columbus Day!
This day has to be one of the least celebrated “holidays” in our culture.
You are not seeing it yet, but it won’t be long until you do. Our new community of Elders is simply amazing! I have always appreciated the service of every elder and the different groups that have formed from the individuals, but this group is something special. The group dynamic and personality is nothing like I have seen in the last 10 years. They have spent a lot of time together intentionally getting to know one another, developing a shared vision that comes from shared values.
I am very excited about the potential that exists in our new community of deacons as well. I think the elders, having now “gelled” somewhat, are going to turn their attention toward bonding with the deacons. The synergy that will come from the diversity excites me!
Please pray that we can all be faithful in it. Satan wants to divide and destroy. I know he really hates what is going on right now, so he’ll be working overtime.
My upcoming sabbatical probably could not come at a better time, in regard to what I just wrote above. My absence will allow many others step up and lead in ways that might not have happened otherwise. [This was actually a key part of my Lilly proposal – the development of “lay” leadership.] It seems that most people want to know who is going to preach in my absence. The answer is that most of it will be done by Gary and Anthony, with a couple of others joining in at various times. I think it will be a really good situation.
I like this passage for many reasons.... 1 because it shows God's deep love for us and 2 it shows us the power of forgiveness and love via our earthly parents. I also like the assurance it gives in that though we dont live worthy lives, God still loves us and still thinks we are worthy of his love. How blessed we are to know such a loving God.
Did you hear about The Chicago Marathon “disaster”? The heat wreaked havoc on the runners. One man died, though they think it is now a heart problem rather than a heat problem.
I remember my first marathon, way back in 1984. It was in Huntsville on the 2nd Saturday of December. The weather should be around 50 or so, but the south experienced a heat wave a few days before the marathon. I was inexperienced and went out way too fast, didn’t take enough water along the way, and became dehydrated by mile 10. I was determined to finish, and I did. Right as I crossed the finish line I collapsed into the arms of two workers. They took me to the medical tent and used smelling salts to get my attention. I was ok, but it was a really bad experience; heat and running are not good companions for me and most.
I guess having such a bad experience and then return to do it again and again says something about my intelligence. [Beat you to it!]
Very good thoughts, Erin.
Do you guys think the young man is really sincere, or is he manipulating his father? Some scholars question the boys sincerity.
If the boy is insincere, does this then make the parable even more powerful?
Taffy is a good man! He came to the house that we are remodeling and fixed some wiring issues. I really enjoy him, and his family is exemplary.
Man Accidently Shoots Self in Back. Now I don’t feel so dumb
Today is Kedra’s birthday!
She is an indescribable blessing to me. I do not know what I would do without her.
I think the part of me that thinks everyone is good and wouldn't intentionally do bad things hopes that the boy was sincere in his quest for forgiveness. BUT the other half of me that thinks/knows we are all bad people in need of forgiveness thinks that the boy was insincere. If the later is the case, then yes this was a much bigger problem then I/we are originally aware of... but it also makes the fathers forgiveness all that more remarkable. Because certainly he could have known that his son was faking only to get food and the father forgave him anyway. That act surely spoke volumes to the son who probably became sincere in the end because of the fathers unconditional forgiveness.
Are we like this son? Do we come to the Father insincerly seeking forgiveness? I think I've done this in the past...and I think I still do it sometimes. Yet, I think God still grants forgiveness even though I'm not sincerely seeking it. Which makes me wonder why He would do such a thing... Maybe because he loves me so much and will do anything to have me? Which then makes me question why I can reciprocate and do anything for God to show him my love for him.
On a side note... Beth Moore mentioned something interesting in our bible study last night that makes me think the son was sincerely seeking forgiveness. Our study was mainly about the 400+ years that God did not speak to the people and how they begin to long for/ and seek the ends of the earth for their fathers words. I think the son in the passage hadn't heard his fathers words in so long that he had an inherant need to hear his fathers voice and was so sincere in that need, that he didn't care if his father never forgave him, he was going home and if he begame a servert so be it. He now could hear his fathers words. Probably to the son's surprise the father too longed for his son's voice and quickly forgave him.
We had a record album while I was still at home by Tennessee Ernie Ford and in it was a favorite song of mine, The Ninety and Nine. I love the song because it tells about the Father who left the safe ones to find the lost one. It was dangerous out there. The Father in the parable stood and watched for his son to return longing to see him, he didn't run after him. He allowed him to return on his own. When he did return, he put the best clothing in the house on him (the robe)and gave him the ring which would have been a signet ring with the family stamp on it used to do business. He didn't just welcome him back and allow him to live at home again, he gave him full family rights. The older brother was of course angry at this since he had been a faithful family member, stayed and worked, did his duty. The older brother represented the Pharisees, I think. They had been faithful in everything to God, and then some, but He welcomes in this wayward son who had been irresponsible, the Gentile gone wild. Jesus said that unless our rightousness is greater than the Pharisees we have no hope. Are we the wayward son by being Pharisees and looking down upon those who struggle in this life without God or needing to grow more. This should keep us humble, knowing we have all been and are wayward sons. The encouraging part of this is that the Father waits, watches, searches for us and welcomes us in.
Safe again in the fold, we have great blessings and have all rights and blessings of being in His family. We need to welcome Him into our lives daily, minute by minute in all things until He brings us Home. Erin, I appreciated your wise words, and yours too Allen, as always. I think being a parent and grandparent gives full meaning to forgivness, waiting and watching, praying and hoping for all our little sheep. After all, we are all sheep of His pasture. We all fall, we all need His forgivness and we have each other to lean on while here on earth which is a dangerous place. Sherron
Wow! Great thoughts.
Don’t we seek salvation for selfish reasons, at least initially? We want to be saved.
How do we turn salvation away from a selfish act to an act of worship?
IF this boy returns for selfish reasons (and we don’t know this), what could possibly turn him away his selfish desires to true worship?
How can his words, “I am not worthy” lead to this change?
* * *
Oh, you should know:
I am not worthy.
Allen, yes I think (speaking for myself) I long for the Kingdom for my selfish reasons. I don't think many if any at all can say they don't. I mean step back and look around us (this world sucks). Then look at the painted picture from the Word as to what the Kingdom is like (YEAH). And then tell me folks don't want that.
But along with that also comes another selfish reason. I heard it said once that dieing and going to hell isn't so bad (i'd argue someday's we are living in hell), it's the dieing going to hell "WithOut God" in your life anymore is what is the Bad part. So in my opinion I don't want to go to hell simply because it means living/dieing or being WithOut God. And because of that it fully turns into honest sincere Worship to God and respecting Him for all that He does for us whom "Are Not Worthy". The worship He gets is because of us wanting Him, and needing Him, and of course because He deserves the worship and glory.
Also as for the scripture this week, I don't think the son was anything but sincere and humble in seeking his pop's love and acceptance, as well as he was hungry and willing to work as a servant to get food. I think if this story had this underlieing message for us, God/Jesus would have pointed it out more specifically in the parable, because he would want us to pick up on the importance of that twist. I think God/Jesus wants us to gather from this parable that just like the son to the pops we can re-submit ourselves to God the Father and he will again dress us in our pure white robes and forgive us of our Stupidity.. And oh boy how stupid we are.
duely signed
Jon Goller King of Stupidity.
Wow, King of Stupidity, you sure came up with some good thoughts and insights! I’m in a hurry, so I can’t say much more right now. I do want to say this:
I have been listening to the new Casting Crowns CD. Wow! It is full of thought-provoking lyrics.
Try these:
Somewhere between the hot and the cold
Somewhere between the new and the oldSomewhere between who I am and who I used to be
Somewhere in the middle you'll find me
Somewhere between the wrong and the right
Somewhere between the darkness and the light
Somewhere between who I was and who you're making me
Somewhere in the middle you'll find me
Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender
Cause I'm losing all control
Fearless Warriors in a picket fence
Reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep-water faith in the shallow end
We are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences
The God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for his
Or are we caught in the middle
Are we caught in the middle
Somewhere between my heart and my hands
Somewhere between my faith and my plans
Somewhere between the safety of the boat and the crashing waves
Somewhere between a whisper and the Lord
Somewhere between the altar and the door
Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more
Somewhere in the middle you'll find me
Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender
Cause I'm losing all control
Fearless Warriors in a picket fence
Reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep-water faith in the shallow end
We are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences
The God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His
Or are we caught in the middle
Fearless Warriors in a picket fence
Reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep-water faith in the shallow end
We are caught in the middleWith eyes wide open to the differences
The God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His
Or are we caught in the middle
Are we caught in the middle
Lord I feel you in this place
And I know your by my side
Loving me even on these nights
When I am caught in the middle
Caught in the middle
You really need to watch THIS.
zI think This Story is related to our text this week. Actually, it is related to the “rest of the story” in our text: the part with the older brother.
It’s back! The story about the leg in the smoker keeps getting a leg up on other weird stories.
TV Judge to Decide Who Gets Amputated Leg
On Tuesday morning I ran my 1000th mile of the year. I hope to end up in the 1300+ range this year, which will be the most in a while. Tony hit the 1000 mark a while back.
Here’s an interesting thought about grace and sin.
You’re worried about permissiveness--about the way the preaching of grace seems to say it’s okay to do all kinds of terrible things as long as you just walk in afterward and take the free gift of God’s forgiveness.
While you and I may be worried about seeming to give permission, Jesus apparently wasn’t. He wasn’t afraid of giving the prodigal son a kiss instead of a lecture, a party instead of probation; and he proved that by bringing in the elder brother at the end of the story and having him raise pretty much the same objections you do. He’s angry about the party. He complains that his father is lowering standards and ignoring virtue--that music, dancing, and a fattened calf are, in effect, just so many permissions to break the law. And to that, Jesus has the father say only one thing: “Cut that out! We’re not playing good boys and bad boys any more. Your brother was dead and he’s alive again. The name of the game from now on is resurrection, not bookkeeping.”
-- Robert Farrar Capon, “Between Noon and Three.” Christianity Today , Vol. 30, no. 7.
I read the article about the Barna study indicating the vast majority of non-Christians see us as varying degrees of mean and nasty. These kinds of things always stir up a lot of irritation on my part, since I think we're getting a bad rap that, in large part, we don't deserve. We may be guilty of not being "out there" enough with our faith, so that the unchurched get to know real Christians. But, I don't think we deserve the rest of that nonsense. Non-Christians are judging us by the likes of Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, who claim every tragedy is God pouring out vengeance on a sinful world. One of our biggest problems is not shutting up the wingnuts who get up in front of the cameras and rant. How can 81% of non-Christians say the church "isn't like Jesus" when they don't even know Him!!! We cannot let the secular world define what the church ought to be. Historically, we have never won a popularity prize with "the world", and we never will. We should do what we can to dispel the myths about us, but we can't waste a lot of time wringing our hands over public perceptions. We've always been misunderstood and we probably always will be.
Donna
Donna, appreciated your post. I think Satan uses every opportunity to portray Christians in a light the world does not understand. I can remember as a young person struggling with my faith how discouraging the least (or imagined) offense drove me away. There were those in my life who probably in a negative way, not meaning to be, did drive me farther away by loading my shoulders with more guilt than I deserved. Still, I appreciate the person's effort because I knew she cared for me. When I did return to the Lord a few years later, I could see it was out of concern and not self-righteousness that the effort was made. When I worked with young people I remembered what discouraged me from following God and tried my best to encourage each child. Being young and without experience in areas that they wandered through in life made me remember myself when I was young and struggling and helped me be more understanding about my approach toward many areas. I failed in many areas but I hope that none of them felt threatened by me or afraid to come to me with problems. I hope they knew that I loved them. Sherron
One thing I thought about too is the willingness of the father to forgive the son with the contrite heart. I think that is the way our Father is toward us. When we are truly sorry for our sins he is willing and anxious to welcome us back in and the angels rejoice. I think the son learned his lesson after wallowing around in the mire of sin and falling as far as he could go. That happens with those who still have a conscience that has not been seered by the world. The brother was keeping score, the father was looking at the soul of his son. Have a wonderful weekend. Sherron
Post a Comment