Lost and Found (Part Two)

Luke 16:11-32

• Today we get to discuss one of the most popular parables ever told.
• Throughout Scripture God refers to himself often as Father.
• When we pray the Bible says pray, “Our Father who art in Heaven…
• Some of us have had good Dad’s which make this easy -Others make this hard.

Main Idea: Here God will reveal himself to be the merciful Father who delights in the repentance of his kids.

Kids Key Word: Father

1. The Wandering Son (11-19).
2. He wants his inheritance early (vs 12)
3. This would be a breaking of social order-
4. The Father could have said several things.
5. He wants to go far away (13).
6. Often this type of language refers to a land beyond the Sea.
7. Anonymity- distance- Freedom
8. He loved the pleasures of this World more than anything His father could offer.

Jesus said in Mark 7:20 - ​​“What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

1. This is why the Proverb compels us -  Keep your heart with all diligence - Anything we love more than God can consume us.
2. His passions consumed Him- he lost everything- then the famine hits (15-16)
3. He ultimately found himself destitute and despairing.
4. Trials expose our heart- they expose what we love.
5. He found himself in the pig pen.
6. He had an idea (17-19).
7. Being a servant in my Fathers house is better than having the freedom I so desperately wanted.
8. This is repentance- He was wandering far from his Dad now he’s changing his mind.
9. He’s changing direction- He’s changing behavior as a result
10. 2 Voices
11. Some of us have a voice of conviction in our heads.
12. The conviction that tells us we did something wrong.
13. We violated our conscience.
14. Some of us have a voice of condemnation in our heads.
15. How do you tell the difference between a voice of condemnation or conviction?
16. A voice of condemnation is there to beat you down- cause you to despair- and imprison you.
17. The Goal of the Spirit’s conviction is to drive you back to the Savior  - Brad Bigney
18. You can picture the son rehearsing this plea on his many days of journeying home.
19. How the Merciful Father responds (20-23)-
20. He was ready (20)- The eagerness - The prepared posture to forgive
21. He rejoiced (22-23)-
22. This is the posture of our God each time we turn from sin and see him as our savior.
23. So when we were distant from God.
24. Feeling unworthy of repentance.
25. Feeling unworthy of his grace
26. It’s true we aren’t worthy, nevertheless, God rejoices when you return.

There was a lot of joy that day- Do you think everyone was happy and celebrating at the return of the son?

1. The Angry Son (25-32).
2. He was Pouting (28).
3. He was prideful (29a)
4. He was protesting (29b-30) - 
5. How the Gracious Father responds- Kindness and Grace.

All who repent can find grace in the eyes of our savior.