The Prodigal Sons

Notes: The Prodigal Sons
Pastor Greg -  
Luke 15
February 27 2014

Greg is asking for prayer for the new building they have purchased for Harvest OC.

There are two Prodigal Sons in the story not just one.

Greg was telling stories about loosing things and how it upsets us all.
Luke 15:1-2 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.” 

The religious people did not like Jesus and the sinners seemed to flock to him. 

Tax collectors were so looked down upon that their testimony was not even allowed in a court of law.

“This man receives sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:2) 

Gregs objective is to build a bridge from non-Christians to Christians so that non-Christians would like to be a Christian.

In this parable, God is portrayed as:
1. A shepherd seeking lost sheep.
2. A woman looking for a lost coin.
3. A father waiting for a lost son.
(build)

The common theme for Jesus is that he is seeking “lost” people.

Luke 15: 1-10

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: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins,[a] if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Luke 15:4 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?”

We are like that sheep that go astray, God does not rest till he finds us.

God loves to see lost people found.
(Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”)

Because heaven breaks out in rejoicing when someone repents, we should too!

Read: Luke 15:11-16 11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

Luke 15:12  And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.

“The younger son gathered all together.” It means he liquidated his inheritance.
(Luke 15:13)

1. This boy came from a stable home. 

The son was being very selfish.

2. He had a loving, nurturing, caring, and affectionate father.

3. It was also an affluent home.

4. It would appear that there was faith in this home as well.

Jeremiah 2:19 Your own wickedness will correct you, And your backslidings will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing That you have forsaken the Lord your God, And the fear of Me is not in you,” Says the Lord God of hosts.

Jeremiah 3:22 “Return, you backsliding children, And I will heal your backslidings.”

If we are not moving forward in Christ, we are naturally going backward. There is no standing still; we are either progressing or regressing.

Drug addicts don’t start out saying they want to be drug addicts.Every back slide begins with a first step.

5. In time, he discovered the emptiness of life without his father.
(Luke 15:14  But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.)

Luke 15:15 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 

Luke 15:17-19 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’

Sin makes you stupid! Sin makes you stupid! As Forrest Gump said “Stupid is as stupid does"

Luke 15:17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 

Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 

Luke 15:20  “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 

Read: Luke 15:22-24 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring[b] out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

Read: Luke 15:25-32 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ 28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ 31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’”

1. The prodigal represents the sinners.

2. The older brother represents the religious people.

Luke 15:30  But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’