Lost | the older brother

Date: 10.05.16 Speaker: Kris Martens Texts: Luke 15:25-32 Title: Lost | the older brother I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness. - Isaiah 61:10 I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, Isaiah 61:10 Luke 15 contains three of the most famous & profoundly Gospel-centred stories Jesus tells in Luke's account: lost sheep, lost treasure & lost sons. Last week we looked at the rebellious younger son: his character, his requests - and the Fathers gracious response...throwing a party for his return. But the story of the prodigal sons doesn't end with a party. Almost half the story is about the older brothers response - revealing his profound lostness. This week well look specifically at the older brothers condition, the signs that demonstrate it (so we can recognize them in ourselves), and what we can do about them. Most importantly, well see Jesus as the necessary, true & perfect older brother. My prayer is that through the story of this father & son - well have our sin, idolatry & religious folly exposed - and be encouraged by the response of the father, and the wonder of grace. May we see ourselves as sheep, treasure & prodigals, and may we see God as the Ultimate Prodigal: recklessly extravagant - having spent everything for us.