DATE: Sunday, June 1st, 2008
SPEAKER: Pastor Kevin Snyder
TITLE: Prodigal Son
THEME: Children's Day
SERIES: Developing a God Shaped Family in a Simpson Filled World
TEXT: Luke 15:11-32
Introduction
When you hear this sound I want you to say the key point: “God’s way is the best way”
In our little drama of the Bible story we heard about a father & 2 sons….We learned the name of 1 son…What was the youngest son’s name?
- Oldest Son
The story Jesus told tells us something about him…
- He gets bent out of shape.
- How come?
- Reason: Feels like there is no benefit to being good. No benefit to being a Christ-follower. He did what Father wanted, but doesn’t get no party.
Have you ever felt that way?
- Ever felt like it’s “uncool” to be good?
- The bad behaving kids get the attention. They become popular.
- And sometimes we get jealous of their popularity..
What does Father say to this son?
“You and I have always been close and you have access to everything.”
“You need focus on what you do have, not on what you don’t.”
- you avoid trouble
- you don’t have people mad at you
- you don’t get grounded
- you don’t feel guilty
- you don’t feel angry
“And so, instead of being sad you should have this attitude….you should feel like a king
Ephesians 6:1 – 3
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother – which is the first commandment with a promise – “that it may go well with you and you may enjoy a long life on the earth.”
Remember: “God’s way is the best way”
2. Younger brother
- What was his name?
- What did he do?
- How did that work for him?
How many of you have heard of Bart Simpson?
Many parents don’t let their kids watch the Simpson’s because Bart is a bad example.
He is like Pro. He is selfish, mischievious, rebellious, and disrespectful. Like Pro he wants to do what he wants to do, and when he wants to do it. He only turns to God when he gets in trouble.
And like Bart, and Pro that path always leads to trouble, sadness, and a mess.
Story:
Missing 3 fingers
- what happened – playing where I shouldn’t have been , told not to
- I thought I was smarter….stronger than a machine…
- Learned hard way I wasn’t
- in hospital for 5 weeks, 3 operations
On that day I chose to be like Pro….made a decision that affected my whole life.
And so what is the ______________
Saying: “God’s way is the best way”
Application
Umbrella – following Jesus, seeking to live in rel. with him, obeying, doing right are like living under an umbrella. If you think of the rain like troubles, problems, punishment, guilt, and anger, etc. Then choosing to live under the umbrella you avoid a lot of that other stuff.
‘God’s way is the best way.’
Song: Wonderful Lord
Part 2: Father
There is one more person in our story that I want us to think about: The Father
In the story the Father represents God and how he feels about us his children.
- He loves both his sons
- He desires that we would trust that “God’s way is best”
- And he will forgive us and bring us back into his team when we ask his forgiveness and decide that “God’s way is the best way.”
Story:
One Saturday Jimmy decided to go to his friend’s house on his bike right after lunch ( show me how you ride a bike….and he rode really fast) But Jimmy wasn’t supposed to go to his friend’s house. He was supposed to stay home and collect the garbage and take it out to the trash. He chose instead to go to his friends. His friend and him decided then to go to the store. While there Jimmy and his friend put some candy in their pockets that they didn’t pay for.
When it was time to come home , how do you think Jimmy felt?
How do you think he rode his bike? Really fast or really slow? Show me really fast? Really slow?
He was scared because he knew he did wrong, and he knew his parents would punish him.
Well, when Jimmy got home they told him to go and stay in his room until supper time and he couldn’t watch TV for a week. When Jimmy was in his room he started to feel bad for what he had done. Finally his Dad came in and before his Dad could say anything , Jimmy apologized for everything He said, “Dad, I’m sorry I didn’t do the garbage and went to my friend’s without telling you. And I’m sorry I stole these candies from the store.”
Jimmy’s Dad thanked him for telling the truth and apologizing and said we need to go back and pay for these candies.
They set off walking to the store (let’s walk).
When they got there Jimmy reached into his pockets and put the candy he owed on the counter. He asked the shop owner “How much do I owe you for this candy?’
Shop owner said “$2.50”
Jimmy reached again into his pocket to pull out his allowance money he had been saving for a new bike to pay for the candy. Just as he was about to put it on the counter his Dad touched his hand and just took out $1.00. He took out his wallet and paid the rest of the debt. Jimmy was shocked because he knew he should have to pay. And he was even more shocked when his Dad said “That’ll be 2 ice creams cones as well.”
As they sat licking their ice cream Jimmy asked his Dad:
“Dad I don’t get it. I did wrong. You told me I would have to stay in my room till supper . you told me I would have to pay back all and I only had to pay a $1.00. And even though I was bad you bought me ice cream.
His Dad said: “When I sent you to your room and told you , you would have to pay the debt that was justice. Justice is getting what you deserve.
When I made you pay only $1.00 instead of the full amount , that was mercy. Mercy is getting less than we deserve.
And when I bought you ice cream as well – that is grace. Grace is getting what you don’t deserve.
And God is a God of justice, mercy and grace. He has mercy and grace when we confess and repent.
He gives us what we don’t deserve just like he did Pro.
Point:
All of us are going to be like Pro at times….I was.
The wonderful thing about God is that he will forgive and welcome us back on the team and even throw a party because he is happy we returned.
And so what we need to learn is to say “I’m sorry” to God and others because that is God’s way, and “God’s way is the best way”. And we receive mercy and grace and forgiveness
Good news:
After service: in the kitchen - freezies for you. Reminder of God’s love, forgiveness and that “God’s way is the best way.”
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