7 Do not eat the pig, for although it has hoofs with splits in the hoofs, it does not rechew its food. It is unclean to you. 8 You shall not eat any of their meat or touch their carcasses. They are unclean for you. (Le 11:7–8)
24b I, the Lord, am your God, who has distinguished you from the other peoples. 25 You shall therefore distinguish the clean animal from the unclean, and the unclean bird from the clean. (Le 20:24b–25a)
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, and I am dying from hunger! 18 I will get up, go to my father, and tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’ (Lk 15:17–19)
Which one of you, if you had one hundred sheep and lost one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that was lost until he finds it? (Lk 15:4)
and goes home. Then he calls together his friends and his neighbors, telling them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ (Lk 15:6)
Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, would not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? (Lk 15:8)
And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the lost coin.’ (Lk 15:9)
because this son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate. (Lk 15:24)
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. (Lk 15:32)
The prodigal son is not saying, “Father, make me like the _____________ ___________ in your house.”
The prodigal son is saying to the father, “I want to _________ my way back into the family.”
All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a filthy cloth. (Is 64:6a)
No, it is your guilt that has separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden God’s face from you, so that he does not hear. (Is 59:2)
“He got up and went to his father. While he was still far away, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, hugged his son, and kissed him. (Lk 15:20)
21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick, bring out 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 eat and celebrate, 24 because this son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate. (Lk 15:20–24)
What Kind of Father Was at Home:
A father who was _________________ and _______________ for his son.
A father who would not let him _____________ his _______________ confession.
A father who had _________________ his son _____________ he came home.
A father whose _________ effected ______________________.
A father who did not _________________ his son or ___________________ him.
A father who _______________ and _____________________ his son.
In fact, it is God who is working in you, both to will and to work, for the sake of his good pleasure. (Php 2:13)
As distant as the east is from the west, so far [have I] removed [your] rebellious acts from [you]. (Ps 103:12)
What was the _________________ relationship to the ____________ son?
25 “His older son was in the field. As he approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the servants and asked what was going on. 27 The servant told him, ‘Your brother is here! Your father killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 The older brother was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. (Lk 15:25–28)
29 “He answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I’ve been serving you, and I never disobeyed your command, but you never gave me even a young goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours arrived after wasting your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ (Lk 15:29–30)
31 “The father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have 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.’” (Lk 15:31–32)
I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to repent” (Lk 15:7)
But to Jonah all this seemed very bad, and he became very angry. (Jon 4:1)
10 So the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant. You did not work for it or make it grow. It grew up in one night and perished after one night. 11 So should I not be concerned for Nineveh, the great city, in which there are more than one hundred twenty thousand people who do not know the difference between their right hand and their left—and also many animals?” (Jon 4:10–11)
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. (Lk 15:32)
Points to Ponder
What is one thing that stood out to you from this week's message?
How can one become a prodigal in their spiritual lives?
How can one keep from becoming a prodigal in their spiritual lives?
What can we do to become aware of our prodigal status?
