SYNOPSIS
To experience the Father's love as it was extended to the elder brother in Jesus' parable of the man who had two sons.
TEXT
Luke 15:1-3, 25-32
AN AUDIO FILE OF THE MESSAGE in its entirety is available for streaming or download at http://www.mediafire.com/?dyk0mg3yr21
The Audience
Let us remind ourselves of the audience for whom it is intended...from Luke 15:1-3, it is clear that this story is not for the general public, but for "the Pharisees and the scribes" --the good, upright, God-fearing, law-abiding, religious leaders of the Jewish faith.
We in the church are the modern equivalent of the Pharisees and the scribes. This story is not for our "pagan" neighbours out there, but FOR US, THE INSIDERS.
Today's lesson begins where we left off last week...the younger son, who was outside the Father's house spending his inheritance in "dissolute living" in a distant land is back in the Father's house. But the older son, who lives with the father in the same house, is still outside, even if it is just outside the door.
He is ANGRY. He is full of RESENTMENT over the treatment his brother receives and his perceived lack of special treatment by his Father. (You brought in take-out from Outback Steakhouse for him...but didn't even treat my and my friends to Kentucky Fried Chicken!)
He considers himself a SLAVE AND NOT A SON, i.e. one who has to work to earn the Father's love.
He is CRITICAL of his brother.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Monday, March 19, 2007
March 18, 2007--THE FATHER'S LOVE--Part 1
SYNOPSIS
To understand and experience the Father's love...through the eyes of the younger son in Jesus' famous parable of the man who had two sons (commonly known as the Parable of the Prodigal Son)
TEXT
An AUDIO FILE OF THE MESSAGE is available at http://www.mediafire.com/?7enmwyddwtg
for streaming or downloading.RESTORING THE BALANCE--Father/Son/Holy Spirit
The Father's love gets short shrift in the church today...we tend to focus more on Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
"Jesus loves me, Jesus is nice...but I'm not so sure about the Father."
"Jesus walks with me, the Holy Spirit is at work in me while I'm here on earth...I guess I'll see and experience the Father when I get to heaven."
The Father wants us to experience his love right now, just as we experience the presence of the Risen Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Audience
We in the church are the modern equivalent of the Pharisees and the scribes. This story is not for our "pagan" neighbours out there, but FOR US, THE INSIDERS.
The Focus
The Father grants his son's request for his share of the inheritance, even though it was a slap in the face...as though the son were saying..."Drop dead, Dad." The Father had every right to refuse the request, but he grants it without any conditions, without a lecture or warning.
The Father's Love allows us to have our own way, to make poor choices, to live in rebellion. He could stop us, but chooses not to.
The Son wastes his inheritance in a distant land, in "dissolute (reckless, wild) living." Most likely, this refers to seeking sexual pleasure (as implied by the older brother later on in the story) and drunkenness...both of which can be a drain on a fortune. He seeks to replace the intimacy he had with his Father with a counterfeit that gives the illusion of intimacy.
Highly publicized "falls from grace" of Christian leaders who were leading others to the Lord and operating in the anointing of the Holy Spirit also seeking counterfeits to the Father's love.
Then a famine hits the land, he goes from living high on the hog to looking after pigs...only a desperate Jewish young man would stoop to such a low position. He hits rock bottom.
The Father's Love does not want to interfere with the gift of free will, so He allows us to go our way, get lost, and get to the place where we can sink no lower.
The young man comes to himself and remembers his Father's house...starts heading back with a rehearsed speech...note part of the speech...
"I am no longer worthy to be called your son." Guilt says: "I did something unworthy." Shame says: "I am unworthy."The Father, in the meantime, does the only thing he can do...wait and watch for the Son's return.
When the Son is still far off, the Father runs to him, hugs him and kisses him...no speech, no reprimand, no "told you so"...just welcome. The Son goes into his rehearsed speech, but the Father does not respond to him. Instead he tells the servants to get him a robe, a ring and sandals. These actions speak more loudly than words ever could: "You are still my son."
The Father is so glad to see us "come home" again. As far as he is concerned, "You were my son, you are my son, you will always be my son."
AN INVITATION
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SMALL GROUPS
1. The sermon begins by saying that the Father's Love has received short shrift in the church. In your experience of the church, is this true or false? Why?
2. Can you identify with the younger son in the story? Why? Why not?
3. Can you relate to the (earthly) Father in the story? Why? Why not?
4. Has the Father dealt with you the way he dealt with the younger son
a. in his rebellion
b. when he returns
5. If you would like a (greater) revelation of the Father's love, lay hands on one another and ask the Holy Spirit to impart the Father's love to your friend.
Monday, March 5, 2007
Sermon, March 4, 2007--WE ARE CITIZENS OF HEAVEN
SYNOPSIS
To explore what it means to live on earth as "citizens of heaven".
SCRIPTURE
Philippians 3:17-4:1
You may listen to or download an Audio File of the sermon at
http://www.mediafire.com/?9mwxxkngyih
Canadian citizenship
Before you can become a Canadian citizen by choice you have to pass a test on Canadian history and geography that many Canadians by birth don't have a clue how to answer...so here are some more practical questions that I would recommend to Citizenship and Immigration.
1. What are Timbits? Name at least 3 varieties.
2. Or the judge could simply say: "Could you please pass me a serviette, I just spilled poutine on my toque in the foyer?" and watch the applicant's face for either an understanding nod or a puzzled look that says: "Would you repeat that in English, please?"
3. True or false: Francophones & anglophones are devices that do not communicate well with one another.
4. Do the hand actions to Sharon, Lois and Bram's ``Skin-a-marinki-dinki-do.''
5. And, finally, see if they can sing the first four lines of "O Canada" without making a mistake!
WE ARE CITIZENS OF HEAVEN
"OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN" (Philippians 3:20)
"IN THE WORLD, BUT NOT OF THE WORLD" (John 17:14-16)
"SEATED IN HEAVENLY PLACES WITH CHRIST" (Ephesians 2:6)
"YOU HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH CHRIST" (Colossians 3:1)
Ambassadors
"YOU ARE AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST"...An ambassador, by definition, represents his/her native country in another country.
Present Tense
Not we WILL be citizens of heaven, we ARE.
PHILIPPI
A Roman colony in Greece...they lived as Romans in the Greek world. They knew what it meant to live in one country as citizens of another country. Now Paul tells them to live on earth as citizens of heaven.
Early Christians
A letter written at the end of the fourth century about the early church...
"Christians are indistinguishable from other men either by nationality, language or customs. They do not inhabit separate cities of their own, or speak a strange dialect, or follow some outlandish way of life....With regard to dress, food and manner of life in general, they follow the customs of whatever city they happen to be living in, whether it is Greek or foreign.
And yet there is something extraordinary about their lives. They live in their own countries as though they were only passing through. They play their full role as citizens, but labor under all the disabilities of aliens. Any country can be their homeland, but for them their homeland, wherever it may be, is a foreign country....They pass their days upon earth, but they are citizens of heaven".
Are you a citizen of heaven?
You become one when you make the commitment to "confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead." (Romans 10:9-10)
EXERCISING OUR HEAVENLY CITIZENSHIP ON EARTH
We look at everything from a heavenly perspective
Healing...we do not beg, we're seated next to Jesus, we just ask him to heal.
Finances..."My God shall meet all your needs according to his glorious riches" (Philippians 4:13) ...HIS riches, not our bank account, our investments.
Going back to my home country, India...the difference between going back with an Indian passport and a Canadian passport...amazing!
What changed? My citizenship.
We look like everyone else...but we do not act like everyone else in every way.
Story of the British military officer in Africa...every Saturday, he served a meal in a canvas tent that was decidedly English in every way--finest linen, perfect place settings, English food and drink. To remind himself and his family that though they were living in another country, they were still citizens of Great Britain.
We set aside one day a week at least to do something we would not do every other day...get together with other Christians to remind ourselves that WE ARE CITIZENS OF HEAVEN.
CONCLUSION
“I am a citizen of heaven”
"I have been raised with Christ"
“I am seated in heavenly places with Christ”
To explore what it means to live on earth as "citizens of heaven".
SCRIPTURE
Philippians 3:17-4:1
You may listen to or download an Audio File of the sermon at
http://www.mediafire.com/?9mwxxkngyih
Canadian citizenship
Before you can become a Canadian citizen by choice you have to pass a test on Canadian history and geography that many Canadians by birth don't have a clue how to answer...so here are some more practical questions that I would recommend to Citizenship and Immigration.
1. What are Timbits? Name at least 3 varieties.
2. Or the judge could simply say: "Could you please pass me a serviette, I just spilled poutine on my toque in the foyer?" and watch the applicant's face for either an understanding nod or a puzzled look that says: "Would you repeat that in English, please?"
3. True or false: Francophones & anglophones are devices that do not communicate well with one another.
4. Do the hand actions to Sharon, Lois and Bram's ``Skin-a-marinki-dinki-do.''
5. And, finally, see if they can sing the first four lines of "O Canada" without making a mistake!
WE ARE CITIZENS OF HEAVEN
"OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN" (Philippians 3:20)
"IN THE WORLD, BUT NOT OF THE WORLD" (John 17:14-16)
"SEATED IN HEAVENLY PLACES WITH CHRIST" (Ephesians 2:6)
"YOU HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH CHRIST" (Colossians 3:1)
Ambassadors
"YOU ARE AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST"...An ambassador, by definition, represents his/her native country in another country.
Present Tense
Not we WILL be citizens of heaven, we ARE.
PHILIPPI
A Roman colony in Greece...they lived as Romans in the Greek world. They knew what it meant to live in one country as citizens of another country. Now Paul tells them to live on earth as citizens of heaven.
Early Christians
A letter written at the end of the fourth century about the early church...
"Christians are indistinguishable from other men either by nationality, language or customs. They do not inhabit separate cities of their own, or speak a strange dialect, or follow some outlandish way of life....With regard to dress, food and manner of life in general, they follow the customs of whatever city they happen to be living in, whether it is Greek or foreign.
And yet there is something extraordinary about their lives. They live in their own countries as though they were only passing through. They play their full role as citizens, but labor under all the disabilities of aliens. Any country can be their homeland, but for them their homeland, wherever it may be, is a foreign country....They pass their days upon earth, but they are citizens of heaven".
Are you a citizen of heaven?
You become one when you make the commitment to "confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead." (Romans 10:9-10)
EXERCISING OUR HEAVENLY CITIZENSHIP ON EARTH
We look at everything from a heavenly perspective
Healing...we do not beg, we're seated next to Jesus, we just ask him to heal.
Finances..."My God shall meet all your needs according to his glorious riches" (Philippians 4:13) ...HIS riches, not our bank account, our investments.
Going back to my home country, India...the difference between going back with an Indian passport and a Canadian passport...amazing!
What changed? My citizenship.
We look like everyone else...but we do not act like everyone else in every way.
Story of the British military officer in Africa...every Saturday, he served a meal in a canvas tent that was decidedly English in every way--finest linen, perfect place settings, English food and drink. To remind himself and his family that though they were living in another country, they were still citizens of Great Britain.
We set aside one day a week at least to do something we would not do every other day...get together with other Christians to remind ourselves that WE ARE CITIZENS OF HEAVEN.
CONCLUSION
“I am a citizen of heaven”
"I have been raised with Christ"
“I am seated in heavenly places with Christ”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SMALL GROUPS
1. Have you ever found yourself someplace where you were in the minority...your citizenship was not the same as everyone else's? How did it feel? What did you find most difficult to cope with?
2. What does being a citizen of heaven mean to you?
3. What are some practical ways in which you have exercised your heavenly citizenship on earth? (Times when you went against the prevailing wisdom, culture, etc. as a result of your Christian faith)
4. What are some ways in which you can strengthen your heavenly citizenship or gain more of a heavenly perspective?
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