#356 - Jay Risner // Rejoicing When The Lost Come Home

A son looks his father in the eye and basically says, “I want your stuff, not you.” That’s the gut-punch at the center of Luke 15’s third parable, and it’s why this story cuts deeper than a lost sheep or a misplaced coin. I’m Jay Reisner, filling in this week, and I walk through the parable of the man with two sons to show what Scripture reveals about willful lostness, rebellion, and the long road back home. We talk about the scale of the loss in this parable and why it’s not just a sad family story but a clear picture of how sinners treat their Creator. The son’s demand for an early inheritance exposes greed and selfishness, and his “journey away” mirrors what happens when we insist on life on our terms. Yet the turning point is just as clear: repentance means returning. This is the human side of salvation, and it belongs right alongside the truth that God loves lost sinners and goes after them. Then we get practical and personal. When someone who was lost is found, what should the community do? Rejoice. I share a vivid memory from my school years that captured what celebration looks like when someone trusts Christ, and I challenge you to ask yourself when you last felt that kind of joy. I also explain why I’m avoiding the usual label “the prodigal son” and how that shift helps you see the point of the parable more clearly. If you want a sharper grasp of Luke 15, biblical repentance, divine sovereignty and human responsibility, and what gospel-shaped joy looks like, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a five-star rating and review so more men can get equipped for the fight.Support the showWant to connect? Email [email protected]