David Macdonald - June 17, 2018

How deep the father’s love Lost son – Merciful Father (Luke 15:11-24) A lost Son 2 scenes: 1.The Far Country 2.The Father’s House The Far Country What he forgot: Sin will always take you farther than you wanted to go. Sin will always keep you longer than you wanted to stay. Sin will always cost you more than you intended to pay What he found: Sin has taken him farther than he wanted to go. Sin has kept him longer than he wanted to stay. Sin has cost him more than he intended to pay The Father’s house 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” Hopeless, helpless, hungry, humiliated Recognized his need Recognized his sin was against God and his father Saw his unworthy state – need for mercy The merciful, loving, father 20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. At his father’s house he found: A gracious and merciful father A glorious feast A great forgiveness & freedom