Centennial Park Baptist Church – Sunday, March 25th, 2007 – 10:30 a.m.

 

THE STORY OF THE HOMELESS SON

 

Luke 15: 11-32

            11 Jesus went on to say, “There was once a man who had two sons.  12 The younger one said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the property now.” So the man divided his property between his two sons.

 

 13 After a few days the younger son sold his part of the property and left home with the money.  He went to a country far away, where he wasted his money in reckless living.  14 He spent everything he had.  Then a severe famine spread over that country, and he was left without a thing.  15 So he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him out to his farm to take care of the pigs.  16 He wished he could fill himself with the bean pods the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything to eat.

 

 17 At last he came to his senses and said, “All my father’s hired workers have more than they can eat, and here I am about to starve!  18 I will get up and go to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against God and against you.  19 I am no longer fit to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired workers.”’ 20 So he got up and started back to his father. 

 

“He was still a long way from home when his father saw him; his heart was filled with pity, and he ran, threw his arms around his son, and kissed him.  21 “Father,’ the son said, ‘I have sinned against God and against you.  I am no longer fit to be called your son.”  22 But the father called to his servants.  “Hurry! He said.  “Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet.  23 then go and get the prize calf and kill it, and let us celebrate with a feast!  24 For this son of mine was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost but now he has been found.” And so the feasting began.

 

 25 “In the meantime the older son was out in the field.  On his way back, when he came close to the house, he heard music and dancing.  26 So he called one of the servants and asked him, ‘What’s going on?’  27 ‘Your brother has come back home,’ the servant answered, ‘and your father has killed the prize calf, because he got him back safe and sound.’

 

  28 The older brother was so angry that he could not go into the house; so his father came out and begged him to come in.  29 “But he spoke back to his father, ‘Look, all these years I have worked for you like a slave, and I have never disobeyed your orders.  What have you given me?  Not even a goat for me to have a feast with my friends!  30 But this son of yours wasted all your property on prostitutes, and when he comes back home, you kill the prize calf for him!

 

 31 ‘My son, the father answered, ‘you are always here with me, and everything I have is yours.  32 But we had to celebrate and be happy because your brother was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost but now he has been found.”

 

 

 

 

What 5 principles about family life do we glean from this story?

 

 

I           TIME TOGETHER

 

            Children cannot be forced to be good – not indefinitely.  In time they will begin doing what they want to do whether you like it or not. The key is to help them want to do the right thing so as to adhere to God’s standards and also to meet their own needs.  Everyone wants to be free, to be important, to experience pleasure, and to be appreciated.  Begin by helping then to feel really cared for.

 

 Encourage them.  Spend time with them.  Do what they enjoy doing.  Hold them.  Hug them.  Do things for them that will show them that they are in your heart, and that they are in your heart for their good.

 

  Don’t just give them love. Give them boundaries designed to protect their freedom.  Show them what happens to people who refuse to live under the wise and loving rule of God.  Find creative ways of showing them that the counsel of the Word of God has been given to us to meet our deepest needs and wants.

 

 

II          TRUST

 

            “ Children are a heritage from the Lord.”  - Psalm 127:3

 

 

III        TENACIOUS FAITH

 

 

            We need to remind one another continually that the secret to good parenting is like fruit that is rooted in the branches and roots of the Spirit of Christ.  When we are in agreement with Christ and His Word ( John 15: 1-14), then we will be growing in our experience of the fruit of the Spirit.

 

 

IV        TIMES OF JOY

 

 

V         TEMPERED DISCIPLINE

 

 

·        Supernatural love vs. sheer effort and fatigue

·        Good sense of humour ( joy) vs. pessimism

·        Calm spirit vs. anxiety

·        Patient attitude vs. quick anger

·        Kindness vs. meanness

·        Good motives and intentions vs. selfishness

·        Promise keeping vs. breaking your word

·        Gentleness vs. harshness

·        Self control vs. addictive behaviour