Sunday Highlights

I’m back from vacation and was excited to catch the last week of our People of the Second Chance series.  Today Pete wrapped up the story from Luke 15 and talked about the role that the father played in this story.  You hear a lot about the sons, namely the prodigal son, but the role of the father is such a beautiful reminder of how our Heavenly Father responds to us.  I pray you know the joy of a Father who runs to meet you.

Surprised by God by Pete Wilson

The two sons represent different ways that we are alienated from God as well as the different ways we try to find forgiveness.

“We have to be gracious to the grace-killers” Matt Chandler

You have to give grace to the grace-killers, because if you don’t you are them.

We struggle with sin and yet we struggle with being self-righteous.

Luke 15:11-24

With every distortion you have about God there is a corresponding consequence.  This story clarifies so many distortions that we have about who God really is.

3 Observations about the Father:

1)  No ordinary (middle eastern) dad would give his inheritance away.

God created us like Him, capable of making choices that are only limited by character and knowledge.

James 1:2-4

2)  No ordinary (middle eastern) dad would ever run in public.

He takes on the form of a servant and he runs to reconcile with his son.

Philippians 2:5-8

Ephesians 1:4

He chose to love us.  God runs to us.

3)  No ordinary (middle eastern) dad would wipe the slate clean.

Instead of a ceremony of rejection, the father threw a party of reconciliation.

Sin does not make you second-class.

We teach forgiveness but we still treat people like sin makes them second-class.

When God looks at you, He doesn’t see a prodigal, a second-class citizen.  He sees his son or daughter whom he loves.

Do you understand the level of grace and forgiveness God extends to you?  Do you know and believe He loves you and wants to run to you if you’ll only just turn towards home?