“Parenting the Prodigal”
Pastor Ed Carlson
September 18th, 2022
There is nothing more heart-wrenching and stressful for a family and for couples than having a prodigal child.
Israels history record a long, recurring narrative of God’s children walking away from Him.
Read Hosea 11:1-4 (ESV)
Read Hosea 1:2-4 (ESV)
GOD UNDERSTANDS PARENTAL
Luke 15:11-13 (ESV)
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.
Read Luke 15:14-16 (ESV)
Read Luke 15:25-32 (ESV)
LET THEM
Part of God’s love and restorative measures include discipline and consequence.
KEEP YOUR
You are not responsible before God for your child’s walk with Him.
LET THEM
The greatest gift the father gave his son was to let him become desperate.
Sometimes people need to be
Theres a difference between remorse and repentance
Allow your prodigal to work through their issues. (allow God to do His complete work)
BE
OFFER
What do I do in the waiting?
BE UNWAVERING IN YOUR
Pray
Read Colossians 1:9-10 (ESV)
HAVE UNENDING
Galatians 6:9 (ESV)
9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
HAVE UNCONDTIONAL
Luke 15:20 (ESV)
20 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.
When something valuable has been lost, it deserves to be found.
Read 2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)
The Kingdom of God is about reminding us that EVERYONE deserves to be found.
Isaiah 30:18a (ESV)
18 Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.