The Prodigal Son’s Father (Luke 15:20)

The prodigal son’s father reveals what it is like for God the Father when one of His wayward children who has been living in rebellion and immorality repents and returns home. https://youtu.be/DMJ6pkYaCXc The prodigal son’s father reveals what it is like for God the Father when one of His wayward children repents after living in rebellion. Table of contentsFamily Worship GuideSermon NotesLesson One: The first century thought God the Father was impersonal and stoic.Lesson Two: The Prodigal Son’s Father (Part One) feels deeply.Lesson Two: The Prodigal Son’s Father (Part Two) longs for his son’s return.Lesson Two: The Prodigal Son’s Father (Part Three) is affectionate.Lesson Two: The Prodigal Son’s Father (Part Four) doesn’t force. Family Worship Guide Directions: Read the verses and then answer the questions: Day 1: Acts 17:16-18—Why is wisdom compared with treasures, such as gold and silver? What provokes your spirit within you at times? What can you do in response to this provocation from the Lord? Why do you think the first century thought the Lord was impersonal and stoic? Day 2: Isaiah 62:5, Zephaniah 3:17 1 Timothy 2:4, Luke 15:20—In what ways does it encourage you to know that the Lord feels deeply? What are some places in Scripture that demonstrate this truth? What is anthropomorphism and what are some examples of it in Scripture? Day 3: 2 Corinthians 13:12, Luke 15:20—Describe how the father responded when he saw his son. What application does this have for you in your relationship with the Lord? What application does this have for you in your parenting? In other words, in what ways do you think as a parent you can strive to be like God the Father? Sermon Notes The title of this morning’s sermon is, “The Prodigal Son’s Father.” On Sunday mornings we’re working our way through Luke’s gospel verse by verse and we find ourselves in the middle of the parable of the prodigal son. But for Scripture reading open to Acts 17. Please stand with me for the reading of God’s Word. We will start at verse 16… Acts 17:16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities "because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. You may be seated. Let’s pray. During one of our recent family Bible studies we talked about wisdom being compared with treasure in Scripture: Proverbs 2:4 Seek [wisdom] like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures. Proverbs 3:15 [Wisdom] is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. I asked my children why wisdom would be compared with treasure, such as gold and silver, and they came up with the correct two answers: First, wisdom is valuable like gold and silver Second, wisdom must be diligently sought, like gold and silver The more sermons I prepare, the more convinced I become that there are real treasures available if we will dig into God’s Word and search for them. One of the treasures I discovered recently is associated with the background of Jesus preaching the parable of the prodigal son. You can read this parable on its own and be greatly blessed by it, but if you dig deeper and understand WHY Jesus preached this parable, there is even more blessing. When Jesus preached this parable He shattered some of the most common misconceptions about God the Father in His day. You could almost think of this parable as a strongly apologetic passage defending a right view of God the Father. We have already seen two misconceptions dismantled, and this morning we will see a third. Let me briefly remind you of the two previous misconceptions… Luke 15:1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” The religious leaders were upset with Jesus, because sadly they, and many people in Jesus’s day, believed God wanted nothing more than to punish sinners. They thought He found the most joy in casting them into hell. So for Jesus to receive sinners and eat with them was greatly upsetting. Jesus taught these parables to show the Lord wants nothing more than to see sinners repent and come to salvation. He finds the most joy in seeing them repent of their sins and be saved. Here’s the second misconception Jesus destroyed with this parable… Luke 15:18 When the prodigal son came to himself he said, "I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” The son’s thinking captured the common thinking of the day about God the Father: You better approach Him very cautiously and know exactly what you’re going to say. If you sin badly enough, you are no longer worthy to be God’s son or daughter. If you repent and turn back to God, you will spend the rest of your life as nothing more than a servant or slave. Jesus preached this parable and showed this thinking is wrong. We know from Hebrews 4:16 that we can come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. This morning, I want to show you one more misconception dispelled by this parable, but it requires doing some digging into Scripture. Look at Acts 17:16… Acts 17:16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. Paul saw all this idolatry and it greatly distressed him, and it should distress us for the same reasons: He was distressed for God, and if we love God, it should distress us when we see people worship idols. He was distressed for the people, and if we love people, it should distress us when they engage in idolatry. Look at verse 17… Acts 17:17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. You get the impression Paul preached constantly, regardless of the location or time. He preached in the synagogue to the Jews and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. Basically, if people would listen – and probably even if they wouldn’t listen – Paul preached to them. This verse begins with the word So, or in the NKJV it says Therefore. This connects verse 17 to verse 16. Paul preached the Gospel in the synagogue and in the marketplace every day because his spirit was provoked within him. His burden moved him to evangelize. It wouldn’t be very significant if Paul had a burden, but didn’t do anything about it. The application for us is if we’re burdened for others, it should lead to action on our part too: We should be praying for people’s salvation We should be looking for opportunities to share the Gospel and lead people through the Exchange So, let me ask… Is your spirit provoked within you when you look at your neighborhood, or workplace, or city and see people engaged in idolatry? We should be what 1 Peter 3:15 describes… In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. This was Paul and it should be us too. While he was going about this daily – and probably nightly – preaching, something truly amazing took place. He was noticed by the leading Athenian philosophers of the day. Look at verse 18… Acts 17:18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities” because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? This is what you call an open door! Paul planned to preach in the synagogues and marketplaces, but he got invited to preach in the Areopagus, where he’d get to address the leading experts of philosophy and religion. I doubt he expected this, but I’m sure he must’ve been thrilled. Notice for this morning’s sermon the mention of the two dominant religious groups of the day: the Epicureans and Stoics. In John 4:24 Jesus said, “God is Spirit.” John 1:18 and 1 John 4:12 say, “No one has ever seen God.” Because nobody has ever seen God physically, without Scripture we are left to wonder what He is like, how He feels, and what pleases or displeases Him. The views of these two groups largely captured the view of God the Father in Jesus and Paul’s day. And this brings us to Lesson One… Lesson One: The first century thought God the Father was impersonal and stoic. Let me briefly tell you about each group, so you can see how the parable of the prodigal son, in particular the teaching about the father largely dispelled the commons view of God in that day. The Epicureans believed in multiple gods who were uninvolved in man’s affairs. They thought the gods wouldn’t want interaction with people because it would disturb their existence. Theologically, Epicureans were pantheists. They thought God is everyone and everything. A tree is God, a rock is God, an animal is God, the sky is God, the sun is God, people are God. They didn’t think God was personal or relational. Stoic means not showing feelings or emotions. Synonyms would be apathetic, uncaring, or indifferent. Stoics taught that logic controlled the universe.