The sermon series at The Family Church here in Gainesville about prodigals, based on Luke 15:11-32 in the Bible's New Testament (click on this Bible Gateway link to access it), continued this past Sunday as Pastor Philip Griffin discussed the role of the father in this story from Jesus. The father felt great love for his rebellious son, who took his share of the inheritance, abandoned his family, and squandered everything while living in sin abroad. And how did the father express his love?
As Pastor Philip explained, the father expressed his love for his son in a number of ways. First, he did not try to restrain or rescue him. And when the son repented and returned, he accepted, not rejected, him and fully welcomed him back into the family. As for "rescuing", our pastor listed seven ways that we sometimes enable...as codependents...the prodigals in our lives for their behavior: protecting them from the consequences of that behavior, keeping their behavior secret, making excuses for them, bailing them out of trouble, blaming others for their behavior, making threats without following through, and doing for others what they should be doing for themselves. He also pointed out that the person we love but whose behavior we hate has a greater need than a relationship with us: their wholeness and maturity...which is God's goal for them. And that maturity may well necessitate them going through hardships. As for not rejecting them when they return, a good dose of grace and forgiveness can set all of us free...
So the returning son received his father's love in the end, but there was another son, too. Pastor Philip mentioned the other, dutiful son who didn't abandon his father but rather stayed behind and toiled for him. He did not have that God-given grace to forgive his brother and harshly judged his father for his celebration instead of joining him. It is this prodigal of a different kind...prideful and self-righteous...who will be the topic for next week's message...
If you're interested in viewing Pastor Philip Griffin's message I've just summarized...or maybe others from weeks earlier...you can do so through the following link to the church's YouTube video website: [link]. The Family Church, located at 2022 SW 122nd Street, holds its Sunday morning services at 9:30 and 11. Besides the thought-provoking messages, there is uplifting praise music as well as an opportunity join discipleship groups. I've particularly enjoyed this current series on prodigals and think that next week's talk on the "other" prodigal son is certain to speak to my heart as well as...hopefully...many others...
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