Thanks for All You've Done for Me
Each week in the series, we'll direct our attention toward God and be encouraged to express our gratitude and appreciation to Him in four specific areas.
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The 30th Anniversary of Grace Church is being celebrated on November 26th. We invite everyone to join us for a cake & punch reception after the service.
Sunday, November 19th - Kent & Teresa MacDonald
Thursday, November 23rd - Cathy Felder, Denny & Kelly Shaver
Friday, November 24th - Eric Patrick
Thursday, November 23rd - Cathy Felder, Denny & Kelly Shaver
Friday, November 24th - Eric Patrick
Cards
This month our series is, "Thanks for the _________"
Each week we will direct our attention toward God and be encouraged to express our gratitude and appreciation to Him in four specific areas.
So far we've covered, "Thanks for Loving Me," and "Thanks for Using Me."
This week we look at "Thanks for All You've Done for Me."
Each week we will direct our attention toward God and be encouraged to express our gratitude and appreciation to Him in four specific areas.
So far we've covered, "Thanks for Loving Me," and "Thanks for Using Me."
This week we look at "Thanks for All You've Done for Me."
The first week Pastor Don defined thanks as, "to express to someone that you are pleased about or are grateful for who they are or something they have done."
Table Discussion: Has there been a time when you got something that came unexpectedly? How did you react?
Table Discussion: Has there been a time when you got something that came unexpectedly? How did you react?
Today we'll look at Luke 15:11-32, the Story/Parable of The Lost Son or The Prodigal Son.
There are 3 main characters, the father, the older son, and the younger son.
This parable is part of 3 parables that were very similar: The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, and The Lost Son. Each were aimed at teaching a similar lesson.
The first three verses of this chapter paint a picture for the reasons that Jesus shared this parable.
Luke 15:1-3
There are 3 main characters, the father, the older son, and the younger son.
This parable is part of 3 parables that were very similar: The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, and The Lost Son. Each were aimed at teaching a similar lesson.
The first three verses of this chapter paint a picture for the reasons that Jesus shared this parable.
Luke 15:1-3
Luke 15:11-32
BSB
11 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons.
12 The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 After a few days, the younger son got everything together and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living.
14 After he had spent all he had, a severe famine swept through that country, and he began to be in need.
15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.
16 He longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him a thing.
17 Finally he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have plenty of food? But here I am, starving to death!
18 I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’
20 So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
21 The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. ’
22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate.
24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
25 Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on.
27 ‘Your brother has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.
29 But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
30 But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 ‘Son, you are always with me,’ the father said, ‘and all that is mine is yours.
32 But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
12 The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 After a few days, the younger son got everything together and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living.
14 After he had spent all he had, a severe famine swept through that country, and he began to be in need.
15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.
16 He longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him a thing.
17 Finally he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have plenty of food? But here I am, starving to death!
18 I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’
20 So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
21 The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. ’
22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate.
24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
25 Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on.
27 ‘Your brother has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.
29 But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
30 But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 ‘Son, you are always with me,’ the father said, ‘and all that is mine is yours.
32 But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
BSB
Luke 15:1-3
BSB
1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus.
2 So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Then Jesus told them this parable:
2 So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Then Jesus told them this parable:
BSB
The father has two sons - the younger son comes to the father for his part of the inheritance. The father agrees and divides up to give the younger son his part.
The younger son goes off and spends it all selfishly and wastefully. He gets a job from a stranger to work with pigs. He is hungry, humbled, and hopeless.
He decides to go back home and ask if he can be his father's servant.
He decides to go back home and ask if he can be his father's servant.
The father saw him while he was still far off and ran to him! This is what the father does for the son: hugged & kissed, best robe, ring, sandals, and a party including a fattened calf.
The older brother comes back in from working. He sees the party happening and how the younger brother is restored. He gets angry! The father comes to him and explains the situation.
Much emphasis is placed on the younger brother with little focus given to the older son. The older brother was upset, frustrated, entitled, and self-centered.
The younger brother was a prodigal sinner. He was more reckless, freely spent, and more worldly.
The older brother was a proper sinner. He was more inward, more subtle, and more works based.
The younger brother was a prodigal sinner. He was more reckless, freely spent, and more worldly.
The older brother was a proper sinner. He was more inward, more subtle, and more works based.
Both were far from understanding who the father was. They were both focused on themselves. They both needed repentance and restoration.
Dirty water and rubbing alcohol analogy
Some of us have very visible rebellion and some of us have cloaked rebellion. But the solution to the rebellion is the same...returning and repentance.
Dirty water and rubbing alcohol analogy
Some of us have very visible rebellion and some of us have cloaked rebellion. But the solution to the rebellion is the same...returning and repentance.
Let's look at the process...
Our Rebellion of selfishness and sin
Romans 3:23
God's Response
Romans 5:8
Our Rebellion of selfishness and sin
Romans 3:23
God's Response
Romans 5:8
Romans 3:23
BSB
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
BSB
Romans 5:8
BSB
8 But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
BSB
Our Return and Repentance
Acts 3:19
Acts 3:19
Acts 3:19
BSB
19 Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,
BSB
God's Restoring of Us is His response to our Repentance
John 1:12
John 1:12
John 1:12
BSB
12 But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—
BSB
Our Rejoice is our expression of gratitude
1 Thessalonians 5:16
1 Thessalonians 5:16
1 Thessalonians 5:16
BSB
16 Rejoice at all times.
BSB
Which one are you?
The Prodigal Sinner (Reckless)
The Proper Sinner (Religious)
Prodigal Son by Rembrant hangs in our lobby over the coffee counter.
As you can see in the painting, there are others observing, obeying, and organizing. They have observed everything taking place but have no control over either the actions of the father or of the sons. They only had control over their actions and their reactions.
The Prodigal Sinner (Reckless)
The Proper Sinner (Religious)
Prodigal Son by Rembrant hangs in our lobby over the coffee counter.
As you can see in the painting, there are others observing, obeying, and organizing. They have observed everything taking place but have no control over either the actions of the father or of the sons. They only had control over their actions and their reactions.
Some of us here are hardworking, humble, God fearing, and rejoicing but we have to remember we're still sinners: The Penitent Sinner (Rescued)
We are but one action or reaction from being one of these sons.
We will never truly rejoice until we know what we could have had. We were dead and lost. Running, shamed, crushed, self-centered, and self-serving.
Have you returned? Have you repented?
No? This will only end with hunger, humiliation, and hopelessness.
Yes? You are restored! You are His!
We are but one action or reaction from being one of these sons.
We will never truly rejoice until we know what we could have had. We were dead and lost. Running, shamed, crushed, self-centered, and self-serving.
Have you returned? Have you repented?
No? This will only end with hunger, humiliation, and hopelessness.
Yes? You are restored! You are His!
The Prodigal Sinner (Reckless)
The Proper Sinner (Religious)
The Penitent Sinner (Rescued)
The Proper Sinner (Religious)
The Penitent Sinner (Rescued)
