THE PRODIGAL GOD
The True Older Brother
Luke 15:17-32
Week 7 May 31, 2020
Pastor Mike Popovich
This is a parable about two sons, not just one.
I. WHAT IS SPIRITUAL LOSTNESS?
Two sons, one bad and one good.
Bad son broke the rules.
Good son works hard.
Both are alienated from the Father.
The Father goes out to the bad son and invites him into the feast.
He accepts.
The Father goes out to the good son and invites him into the feast.
He declines.
There are two ways to be lost.
Be very bad and/or be very good.
This was startling to the people and the religious leaders.
II. SIGNS OF SPIRITUAL LOSTNESS
The younger brother knows he was lost.
The older brother does not know he is lost. Very dangerous.
The Elder Brother Has An Undercurrent of Anger Throughout His Life.
Duty Without Beauty
Religious and Cultural and Class Superiority
III. WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THE SPIRITUALLY LOST?
If you lift up this message the person will one day say to themselves I see the gospel of grace. I have worked so hard for so long and grace is a gift. They reflect on their own heart after trying so hard, they figure it out.
Jesus says, God sent me to seek and save the lost.
IV. IMPLICATIONS FOR US AS A CHURCH
Only people who know they are lost have any hope of being found.
The love of Jesus let in, will blast you out of your elder brother-ness. Let Jesus affirm you, you do not need to affirm yourself.
You may start by sharing your life with a few others. Ask someone over to your house for dinner. Or go out to lunch after church. You only find grace and yourself when you share your life with others.