4/2 Sermon on Prodigals, Part 3

Last Sunday at The Family Church here in Gainesville, Pastor Philip Griffin finished his three-part series titled Prodigals, based on Jesus's story in Luke Chapter 15 of the prodigal son.  But as Pastor Philip pointed out, there were two prodigal sons in this tale: the young brother rebelled and ultimately repented and was welcomed back into his father's family...but the older brother, full of his sense of righteousness and entitlement based on the work he had done while remaining behind, ultimately rejected his father and the grace shown to his returning brother.  Pastor Philip listed four aspects of the older brother's attitude that characterized him as a prodigal of self-righteousness and pride: one, he felt that his father owed him for his work and obedience, characterizing his life as slavery.  Two, not only did he insist on independence from his father, but he only wanted to be around people who were like himself.  Three, he believed he was better than others, building his own list of rules through which he could judge them...while ignoring his own pridefulness.  And four, the older brother and the younger brother both needed to repent, the younger from his wrongdoing, and the older from his self-righteousness...only one did, though...

There is a clear analogy between this story of the prodigal sons and our relationship to God.  One cannot "earn" God's rewards through work and "slaving"...they come only as gifts from the heavenly father.  The father in the story celebrated repentance over works, and that...as our pastor pointed out...should be our goal in the church.  Also, I think folks in general like to focus on putting down certain sins they see in others for which they themselves are not guilty...while ignoring their own pride and self-righteousness...

You can watch Pastor Philip's message on The Family Church YouTube video website.  The Family Church holds its Sunday morning services at 9:30 and 11.  The Easter service the Sunday after next will also feature an early service at 7...