U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris, Jr.
West Fort Hood Chapel
First Worship Service since Iraq
”Men Program”
Killeen, TX
14 March 2010
Big Idea: The Heart of the Father Watches, Loves, and Rejoices at the return of his carefree and wasteful child.
Scriptural References: EAI (Expository; Application; Illustration); Forgiveness is the act of FORGIVING or the STATE of BEING FORGIVEN; Transgressions means acts of rebellion - defying God by crossing over the line God has drawn; Iniquity means inward crookedness, perversity; Sin means missing the mark, failing to meet God’s standard. Prodigal means addicted to wasteful expenditure; Pharisee means “separate one”. Psalm 32:1-6 (MSG) Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be— you get a fresh start, your slate's wiped clean. Count yourself lucky— GOD holds nothing against you and you're holding nothing back from him. When I kept it all inside, my bones turned to powder, my words became daylong groans. The pressure never let up;
all the juices of my life dried up. Then I let it all out; I said, "I'll make a clean breast of my failures to GOD." Suddenly the pressure was gone—my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared. These things add up. Every one of us needs to pray; when all hell breaks loose and the dam bursts we'll be on high ground, untouched; Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 (ESV); 2 Samuel 11-12 (ESV) –The Story of David and Bathsheba ; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 (NIV) So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them….
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Luke 15:15-22 (ESV)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: Luke 15:15-22 (ESV)
III. READ THE TEXT: Luke 15:20 ESV (And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him).
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that God LOOKS for opportunities to lovingly forgive and rejoice at the return of his happy-go-lucky and wasteful child.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “The Father’s Heart”
VI. INTRODUCTION:
Welcome to West Fort Hood Contemporary Worship Service! I am indeed grateful that you have decided to join us this morning in worship. We hope that you enjoy our Contemporary Style of worshipping.
God bless you! It’s my prayer that you will hear God’s compassionate voice of forgiveness; and see with your own – spiritual - eyes how God rejoices at the return of His happy-go-lucky (nonchalant, easygoing) and wasteful children today. Our message today is titled “The Father’s Heart”. The Father’s Heart is about FORGIVENESS.
It has been said that the definition of “TRANSGRESSION” means acts of rebellion. In other words - defying God by crossing over the line God has drawn. I can’t even count how many times that I have crossed-over lines that God has drawn. Yet, His grace and mercy allowed me to return to his loving embrace.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 1: Dictionary.com says “Forgiveness” is the act of FORGIVING or the STATE of BEING FORGIVEN.
a. Now, who can ever forget the Story of David and Bathsheba (in 2 Samuel 11-12)?
b. For don’t you remember, David – the Commander of God’s Army …
c. … - lusted after his Soldier’s wife, committed adultery, made the Soldier drunk,
d. … Had the Soldier killed, and then covered the entire affair for about a year?
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 2: As you may recall, David WAS NOT A YOUTH when he fell …
a. … into these sins; but, on the contrary, he was a mature man, …
b. … Ruling over a great kingdom which belonged to God.
c. For it has been said that Psalm 51 was David’s prayer of confession;
d. … But Psalm 32 is his Song of Forgiveness.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 3: Therefore, allow me to call your attention (once again) to our Old Testament Reading –
a. Psalm 32, as I re-read six of the verses. Listen to the Words of God …
b. … From the Message Bible as God’s Commander addresses FORGIVENESS:
c. … “Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be— you get a fresh start, your slate's wiped clean. Count yourself lucky— GOD holds nothing against you and you're holding nothing back from him. When I kept it all inside, my bones turned to powder, my words became daylong groans. The pressure never let up;
all the juices of my life dried up. Then I let it all out; I said, "I'll make a clean breast of my failures to GOD." Suddenly the pressure was gone—my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared. These things add up. Every one of us needs to pray; when all hell breaks loose and the dam bursts we'll be on high ground, untouched”
d. For don’t you remember that falling into the lust and adultery …
e. … wasn’t a short-lived act for David?
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 4: David paid a tremendous price as a Commander and leader of Soldiers.
a. He also suffered nationally.
b. Physically, David became ill;
c. … and we all know that he paid a tremendous cost spiritually.
d. His SINS drove him far away from the Heart of God.
e. As a result, David lost the purity of his own heart …
f. … And he needed to be washed, cleansed, and forgiven by God the Father.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 5: Likewise, in our text today – Luke 15 - we find another …
a. … Who … needed Forgiveness.
b. Here, in the form of a parable, Jesus shares with all of us…
c. That while a man is still … a great way off from God …
d. … Doing his own thing … God sees him.
e. And, not ONLY does God see him …
f. … But God … recognizes him as his own Naughty, Strong-willed, and Happy-go-lucky child …
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 6: Then … when the laid-back child decides to come home … God runs down the road …
a. … of life … to LOVILY meet and GREET him.
b. Someone else has said that this Parable of the Prodigal …
c. … Tells ONLY of the waiting LOVE OF GOD.
d. In other words, God patiently waits on us!
e. But, I submit to you today that the Father waited ONLY …
f. … Because the son must Choose to Return, just as David chose to repent before God and man (Nathan).
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
CELEBRATION:
And … as soon as … that choice is made … BY THE SON …
the Father will break both traditions and customs … And He – Himself -
Will Run to meet His Child on the way home.
God will request the Angels in heaven to bring forth the ROBE, RING, and SHOES …
because the child that was LOST …
and presumed DEAD has come HOME ….So it’s time to REJOICE and CELEBRATE
… break-out the party-ware …
