A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

OUR FATHER LONGS TO WELCOME US HOME

Luke 15:11-32

I. Freedom to choose includes freedom to lose (v 11-13)

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.”

Romans 5:12

A. A desire to reject God (v 12a)

B. The opportunity to reject God (v 12b)

C. The outcome of rejecting God (v 13)

II. The world drags you down (v 14-16)

"The loneliest moment in life is when you have just experienced that which you thought would deliver the ultimate, and it has let you down."

A. A downward spiral (v 14)

B. How low can you go? (v 15-16)

III. Every journey starts with the first step (v 17-20a)

A. Appreciate the provision (v 17)

B. Prepare for repentance (v 18-19)

• He appreciated the situation• He understood the solution•He was ready for repentance

C. Start the journey home (v 20a)

IV. Our Father longs to welcome us home

(v 20b-24)

A. A longing for our return(v 20b)

“I caught him with an unseen hook and an invisible line which is long enough to let him wander to the ends of the world, and still to bring him back with a twitch upon the thread.”

G K Chesterton

B. A heart of compassion (v 20c)C. A sense of urgency (v 20d)D. A warm embrace (v 20e)E. A desire for intimacy (v 20f-21)F. A sign of protection (v 22a)G. A sign of authority (v 22b)H. A gift of freedom (v 22c)I. A celebration (v 23a)J. A new life (v 23b-24)

V. When you get bumped what’s inside spills out

(v 25-32)

A. How do you feel when someone gets your reward

(v 25-27)

B. The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart (v 28-30)

i. angry attitude (v 28a)ii. stubborn resistance (v 28b)iii. wrong motivation (v 29a)iv. skewed perspective (v 29b)v. selfish outlook (v 29c)vi. missing the point (v 30)

C. Seeing the big picture (v 31-32)

OUR FATHER LONGS TO WELCOME US HOME

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship