The Parable of the Running Father

What follows is a copy of my sermon notes. The actual sermon included several Spirit-led nuances and additions, more than I can include here. Sorry. :-)
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Read: Luke15:11-13

Prodigal: ADJ: Spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant. NOUN: A person who spends money in a recklessly extravagant way.

Clarify: 3 characters. The father is the most important. Thus, Jesus introduces him first in his parable. We normally refer to this as the Parable of the Prodigal Son, but I don't think that's the best title. 

Read: Luke15:14-16 

Consequences are not always so evident. You’ve seen it. 

Read: Luke15:17-20a

Rebellion; Disappointment; Anger; Desperation; Humility; Repentance; Remembrance; Hope; Action

Read: Luke15:20-24 

Dr. Matt Williams of Biola University on Kenneth Bailey, a Presbyterian missionary, PhD, and author of The Cross & the Prodigal, explains the situation:

 “If a Jewish son lost his inheritance among Gentiles, and then returned home, the community would perform a ceremony, called the kezazah. [The whole community would surround the boy,] break a large pot in front of him, and yell, “You are now cut off from your people!” The community would totally reject him. So, why did the father run? He probably ran in order to get to his son before he entered the village. The father runs — and shames himself — in an effort to get to his son before the community gets to him, so that his son does not experience the shame and humiliation of their taunting and rejection. The village would have followed the running father, would have witnessed what took place at the edge of the village between father and son. After this emotional reuniting of the prodigal son with his father, it was clear that there would be no kezazah ceremony; there would be no rejecting this son — despite what he has done. The son had repented and returned to the father. The father had taken the full shame that should have fallen upon his son and clearly shown to the entire community that his son was welcome back home. The amazing application for our own lives is crystal clear. Our heavenly Father has taken our shame through his Son, Jesus, who willingly endured the cross on our behalf. He took our sins’ shame so that we would not have to. As a result, we can be forgiven, restored — accepted. We do not have to fear going home to our Father and confessing our sins, no matter what we have done, or how many times we have done it." 

This should be the end of the story. But, it isn’t.

Read: Luke 15:25-32 

How many times have we played the part of the older son?

Read: Hebrews3:12-15 (cf. Psalm 95:6-9)

Proverb 13:12– “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. Does God’s heart ache?

Eve and Abel; Mt. Sinai’s Priesthood; Israel’s Continual Rebellion; Calvary; You…

What does God hope for? What is His desire?

“God has patience with us because he is so, so, so very nice” – Christian, age 7.

“If God didn’t have patience, we wouldn’t be here right now.” Peter, age 10

 Prodigals: God is waiting for you to turn His way. He wants to run to you and take your shame. He wants you as His child again.

 Older Brothers: God is calling you to rejoice as He rejoices.

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