August 15th - Two Sons, Two Stories of Struggle
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The Prodigal Son
The Prodigal Father
definition: noun
a person who spends money in a recklessly extravagant way
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Two Sons; two stories of struggle
Two sons experiencing two kinds of hell
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Pictures of prodigal son
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Why don't we use these biblical group titles?
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.
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Or these?
2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
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Three characters for a three point sermon
There was a man who had two sons.
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The irresponsible son
12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “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.
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Experiencing consequences
14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
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A logical plan
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
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The Father messes with the plan
“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.
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Starting the planned speech
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
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Not what was expected
22 “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. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
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The responsible son enters
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
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Seeing self as slave
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends
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Grace is so unfair to those who deserve what they have
30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
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The Father as equalizer
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
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Are you a younger son?
Or an older son?
Can you receive the father's gracious compassion?