Ephesians 5:1 commands us to, "Be imitators of God [the Father] as beloved children." The parable of the prodigal son gives us a wonderful view of God the Father and reveals how we should be toward others as we imitate Him.
https://youtu.be/wgTCm9CmuxA
Ephesians 5:1 commands us to, "Be imitators of God [the Father]." The father of the prodigal son reveals how we should be toward others.
Table of contentsFamily Worship GuideSermon NotesLesson One: The prodigal son represents repentant sinners passing from death to life.Lesson Two: Forgiveness doesn’t mean no consequences.Lesson Three: Be imitators of God the Father toward (Part One) repentant children.Lesson Three: Be imitators of God the Father toward (Part Two) prodigal childrenLesson Three: Be imitators of God the Father toward (Part Three) repentant sinners.
Family Worship Guide
Directions: Read the verses and then answer the questions:
Day 1: Luke 15:22-24, Ephesians 2:5, John 5:24, John 14:6 cf. Luke 15:17, 24—In what ways does the parable present the prodigal son as a repentant sinner passing from death to life? What is required to pass from death to life? Can you think of other examples in Scripture of individuals passing from death to life?Day 2: Ephesians 5:1, Luke 15:20, Proverbs 22:6—Why might the parable encourage us to think if we are forgiven it means there are no consequences? Is this true, why or why not? Can you think of examples of individuals in Scripture who were forgiven but still suffered consequences from their sins? Can you think of examples in your life of being forgiven but still suffering the consequences of your sin?Day 3: 2 Corinthians 2:5-10, Matthew 18:15-18, 2 Thessalonians 3:15—In what ways can the father in the parable serve as a good example for us toward repentant children? What about toward prodigal children? What about toward repentant sinners? Why should repentant sinners be comforted? What does it mean to warn as a brother but not regard as an enemy?
Sermon Notes
The title of this morning’s sermon is, “Be Imitators of God the Father Toward….”
On Sunday mornings we’re working our way through Luke’s gospel verse by verse and we find ourselves in the middle of the parable of the prodigal son. Please stand with me for the reading of God’s Word. We will start at verse 22…
Luke 15:22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
In our last sermon we finished verse 23, and this morning we will look at verse 24.
Let me begin by sharing something with you that I could have shared with you last week…
I was wrong about my earlier understanding of the prodigal son’s condition. I said the first two parables were about unbelievers, but the prodigal son represents a backslidden believer.
But now I’m convinced the prodigal son is as much a picture of a repentant sinner being saved as the lost sheep and lost coin that are found.
And I wanted to have a lesson that makes this clear…
Lesson One: The prodigal son represents repentant sinners passing from death to life.
Part of the reason I came to this interpretation is because of last week’s sermon and everything the father gave to the son. You might remember I said…
What the father did with the prodigal son pictures what God the Father does with repentant sinners:
He makes us sons and heirs.Everything the prodigal son receives symbolizes what we receive when we become God’s children.
The other reason I am convinced the prodigal son is a picture of conversion is verse 24…
Luke 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
The father called him my son, even though he said he was no longer worthy to be called a son...
