SPB Sermons || Lent 1 || Luke 15:11-30 || Two Brothers & the Beauty of the Father

In this special Mothering Sunday message, Rev. Andrew Irwin reflects on the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11–32), inviting us to consider what it truly means to come home. Beginning with the image of home as more than just a place—a space of belonging, formation, and love—he draws attention to how Mothering Sunday historically called people back to their “mother church.” The parable then becomes a lens through which we see the heart of God as a loving Father who runs to meet the broken and repentant, restoring them not as servants but as sons and daughters.The teaching highlights that both sons in the story are lost: the younger in rebellion, the older in self-righteousness. Yet the Father pursues them both. Jesus uses this to challenge His listeners—especially the religious leaders—to grasp the radical nature of God’s grace. The call is simple yet profound: we are all invited home. Whether we’ve wandered far or stayed close but cold in heart, the Father’s arms are open. The question is: how will we respond to His grace?Teaching Summary:God’s grace welcomes the repentant home, restores the broken fully, and invites even the self-righteous to celebrate. Both the rebellious and the religious need the Father’s compassion.