“Prodigal God – Part 1”

“Prodigal God: Part 1″

1. Explaining Our Theme: Prodigal God
2. Prodigal, A Definition
3. Recklessly extravagant
4. Having spent everything

1. God is All About Acting Extravagantly

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” (Ephesians 1:7–8)

“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31–32)

“But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,” (Romans 5:20)

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:6–8)

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38–39)

1. A Word About Parables

“Parable means a putting alongside for purposes of comparison and new understanding. Parables utilize pictures such as metaphors or similes and frequently extend them into a brief story to make a point or disclosure.”  (Holman Bible Dictionary)

III. Setting For The Parables

1. Sinners Acting Bad

“Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him.” (Luke 15:1)

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” (Matthew 9:12)

1. Sinners Acting Good

“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.”” (Luke 15:1–2)

1. Muttered Objection: Jesus Befriends Sinners Acting Bad

“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.” Then Jesus told them this parable:” (Luke 15:1–3)

1. The Prodigal Son Parable Begins
2. The Shameless Demand

“Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’” (Luke 15:11–12)

“In Middle Eastern culture, to ask for the inheritance while the father is still alive, is to wish him dead.”    (Kenneth Bailey)

1. Father’s Response – A Prodigal Response

“The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.” (Luke 15:12)