
Luke 15:1-2 | NIV84 Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear Him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
The way you practice your faith will be consistent with the way you picture God.
Father.
Luke 15:11 | NIV84 “There was a man who had two sons… .”
The Parable of the Prodigal Son.
Parable of the Lost Sons.
The Parable of a Father’s Relentless Love
Luke 15:12-14 | NIV84 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
Dad, I love what you can do for me, more than I love you.
“Dad, I wish you were out of the way so I could do my own thing.”
“What does God want for my life?”
John 8:31-32 | NLT Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
God’s goal for your life is real and lasting freedom.
If the truth will set us free, then lies will hold us hostage.
sin (hamartia) = “missing the mark”
Luke 15:14-16 | NIV84 There was a severe famine in that whole country, and he** began to be in need**. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
When we try to get outside of God what we can only get from Him, we end up with nothing.
Luke 15:23-24 | NIV84 Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
You have a Father who loves to celebrate His kids.
Luke 15:10 | NIV84 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
“repent” = “to turn, to come back”
“to come back home.”
Luke 15:14 | NIV84 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
It took a famine for him to find freedom.