Prodigal God: The Older Son

Prodigal God: The Older Son

 

Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, and he asked one of the servants what was going on. “Your brother is back,” he was told, “and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.” The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, “All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!” His father said to him, “Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!”

Luke 15:25-32 NLT

The older son shows…

1) We don’t have to be ______________________ from the Father to be lost.

“How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You are like tombs that are painted white. They look beautiful on the outside. But on the inside they are full of the bones of the dead. They are also full of other things that are not pure and clean. It is the same with you. On the outside you seem to be doing what is right. But on the inside you are full of what is wrong. You pretend to be what you are not.”

Matthew 23:27-28 NIRV

2) Every one of us can become a __________________________________.

3) We may be keeping _________________________________ from the Lord.

Isaiah was right. He prophesied about you people who pretend to be good. He said, “These people honor me by what they say. But their hearts are far away from me.”

Mark 7:6-7 NIRV