Lovesick Father
“LOVESICK FATHER”
Brian Kenning
31 January 2010
READING: Luke 15: 11-32 (page 964)
- If we had to chose one story from the parables of Jesus on which to base our understanding of God, then lets chose the story of the Lost Son and the Lovesick Father
- The third in a trilogy about “lostness”
- Told in response to mutterings of religious leaders who accused Jesus of welcoming sinners and eating with them
Key Theme: Lost people matter to God:
- Nothing matters more to God than relationship with the children he loves
- -Home is a relationship
- Home is where Father is waiting
- As the son journeyed home, Father
§ Saw him
§ Was filled with compassion
§ Ran to the son
§ Threw his arms around him and kissed him
§ Brought the robe, ring, sandals and threw a feast
1. Saw Him:
The Bible often uses spatial terms to describe our relationship with God
§ Long way off
§ Far away
§ Not far
§ Very near
§ In Christ
No matter whether you are near or far off the Fathers face is turned towards you
2. Was filled with compassion:
Compassion is the motivation in the Fathers heart
Psalm 103: 8, 13 “As a Father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him”
3. Ran to him:
Michelangelo: “The Creation of Adam”
§ God reaching out, longing to connect, have relationship
§ God lifts His skirt and runs towards relationships
4. Threw his arms around him and kissed him:
Came right into his “bubble”
Read: 15: 22-24
Rembrandts Painting: “The Return of the Prodigal”
Two other brothers, Jacob and Esau
Genesis 33:4 “Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him.
He threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept”
To Ponder:
1. What about our own children, siblings who are away from the Father’s house, away from God?
§ Keep the doors open
§ Keep watching, waiting, praying
§ Keep the calf in prime condition
2. Lost people matter to God: - Do they matter to us?
They wont matter unless we believe in the reality of lostness.
“Prayer Card” …. Once a day during 2010
God rejoices not because the problems of the world are solved, not because pain and suffering have ended, not because earthquakes and wars have ceased, but because:
ONE OF HIS LOST CHILDREN HAS BEEN FOUND
Questions for personal reflection and group discussion:
1. What for you, is the main point of the story?
2. “Jesus told stories not to teach us how to live, but to correct our notions about God.” If this is so, what “notions about God” might this story correct?
3. Talk about the spatial terms, (near, far away, etc), used to describe a persons relationship with God. If 1 is far away and 10 is very near, where would you be on the scale today? What would help you move closer?
4. Think about your own family members, who are away from the Father’s house. How do you feel about this situation? What is your response?
5. Lost people matter to God: Do they matter to us? How can you tell if you care? Who among the lost will you pray for?
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