Disclaimer: I do a lot of reading. Most is from my studies not sure how much.
Title: The Heart of the Father
Theme: Show that what was missed by the “other brother was the heart of the father”
Text: Luke 15
Luke 15:1-3 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. (2) And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them." (3) So He spoke this parable to them, saying:
Introduction
Jesus hung out with sinners and the Pharisees got mad.
The parables
I. Similarities
A. Something is Lost
Could be lost by walking away, caring more for the world that to be with the Lord, distracted by the “other side of the fence”
Could be lost by not understanding what they had
Could be lost as one who was saved but lost it all
Could be lost because they got hurt, some people get lost because of hurt at church
What difference does it make, the most important part is not why you were lost but the fact that you came to the Father
B. There is a search that goes out
Leaves the 99 to go out and search
Sweeps the house and brings the light
The father looks over the hill often
"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10).
Matthew 21:28-32 "But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go, work today in my vineyard.' (29) "He answered and said, 'I will not,' but afterward he regretted it and went. (30) "Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go. (31) "Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said to Him, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. (32) "For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.
C. Something is found
The Lost sheep – left the 99 to get the one
The Lost Coin – got the light out (symbol of the Word, the Word will always bring out that which is lost, swept the house ??)
The Lost Son – had no idea 1. What he had 2. How much the Father loved him, reailty he
underestimated the love of the father
D. The celebration
Demonic man "Return to thine own house, and show how great things God hath done unto thee. And he want his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him" (Luke 8:39).
II. Final Difference – The brother
Main problem was that he missed the heart of the father.
Jesus gives a parable about the brothers who went to work, one told his father that he would do it yet did not the other said no but changed his mind and went and done it.
When I read this story I am struck by many things. We hear it preached from and see the problem at that end as the son who got mad because what was not given to him. We see him as being selfish and unthankful which is so true.
It is sad to be given so much by the father and yet come out unthankful. We see it all the time as children who don’t appreciate what their parents give them because it is not enough.
We are struck by the uncompassionate for his brother who was lost and now comes home. We are challenged by the fact that this is our own heart some times. We are jealousy of the others who the father brings in.
