PRODIGAL SON
1. If we look around this room, we see some empty
seats.
2. Some of the places are not filled because Christians
have moved to other communities.
3. Others are worshipping at a different congregation.
4. There are also places in this building that are not
filled because of apostasy.
5. Like the son in the story that was read, there are
Christians who have left the faith.
6. When we deal with apostasy, it is almost always like
Jesus described.
7. A member of the church leaves the fold, but the
person still wants what God has.
8. In the story the son said, “Dad give me my
inheritance.”
9. The son wanted the money, but did he want to
continue the relationship with his father?
10. He didn’t ask for an apartment across town; he went
far away from home.
11. What happens when a Christian leaves God?
12. In most cases this means, “God I am not going to
continue to serve and honor you.”
13. “When it comes to doing what Christians do, forget
it. This part of my life is over”
14. “But, I
still want what you have: Hear my
prayers. Help me in difficult times.”
15. “Save me from my sins at the end of time. Watch out for me.”
16. Perhaps we can have some sympathy for the young man
in Lk. 15.
17. There were some things that he didn’t know; he had
some growing up to do.
18. How can a Christian—no matter how new to the faith—be
excused for apostasy?
19. Being an apostate member of the church is
indefensible.
WHAT CAUSES PEOPLE WHO ARE CHILDREN OF GOD TO LEAVE THE FAITH AND GO BACK INTO THE WORLD?
A. There are many answers.
B. For some, the world becomes attractive.
C. If God can be gotten rid of, some think they can
direct their own life.
D. Jeremiah (
E. There are cases where people—especially young
people—want to control their own destiny.
F. This may have been part of the reason why the young
man in Lk. 15 wanted to leave home.
G. Others reach a time in life when they want to be
free of rules and regulations.
2. Since Christianity has some rules, this way of life
is sometimes abandoned.
3. Others are leave because they are searching for
something.
4. The thing being sought varies, but “something else”
is desired.
5. It is not uncommon to find that those who leave God
have some type of fantasy.
6. An apostate Christian envisions how life will be so
much better without God and the gospel.
7. The story told by Jesus shows that this theory has
been tested.
8. Based upon the young man’s experiences, we may say
that:
A. Life in the world and away from God promises freedom
but it brings slavery.
B. Sin promises success but it results in failure.
C. Apostasy promises a full and good life, but Paul
said that it results in death (Rom.
9. LUKE 15 TELLS US SOMETHING ABOUT APOSTASY. THIS PASSAGE SHOWS WHAT HAPPENS TO THE FANTASY LIVES THAT PEOPLE CREATE AND TRY TO LIVE OUT WHEN THEY ARE AWAY FROM GOD. A TIME COMES—EITHER IN THIS LIFE OR IN ETERNITY—WHEN REALITY SETS IN AND THERE IS REGRET.
A. Look at this young man.
B. His money ran out.
There was a lack of food. He was
hungry.
C. He was a foreigner on strange soil.
D. There were no government handouts that he could sign
up for.
E. The people he knew and had grown up with were far
away.
F. It was impossible to send a quick message back home
to ask for help.
G. He may have been lonesome. This young man became destitute.
H. He thought he was leaving for the good life but
found himself in a pig pen.
I. He did not immediately realize what the future
would, but he eventually faced the cold, hard facts.
J. Thankfully, he was able to make it home.
K. This account is similar to the person who leaves the
faith.
L. When a Christian leaves the Lord they are headed for
the pigpen.
M. This may not be immediately clear.
N. There are a cases where those who leave do not
realize their mistake until eternity.
O. Leaving God or not being a dedicated Christian is
taking the wrong road.
P. This road is a path that some manage to return from.
Q. Others go so far or stay away so long that they do
not make it home.
R. There will be Christians on the Day of Judgment who
appear before the Lord.
S. Jesus will be able to say to them, “We once knew
each other.”
T. “We were once in fellowship one with another and
were on the same side.”
U. “You left and you never came back. You therefore have no part of me or my
kingdom.”
10. Those who do leave and manage to come back find that
going away was not worth the trip.
11. What if this young man were asked if it was worth
it? What would he say?
12. We can be sure of his answer.
13. This son was so desperate to come back home he was
willing to be treated like a servant.
14. At first he wanted to live out his fantasy and he
did.
15. However, he found out that his dreams were
unrealistic and offered little more than a nightmare.
16. Those who leave the faith, in this life or the next
one, discover a similar fate.
17. THE APOSTASY AND THE LACK OF GRATITUDE IN THIS STORY MUST HAVE BEEN HEARTBREAKING TO THE YOUNG MAN’S FATHER.
A. Most agree that in this story, the father describes
God.
B. If this is right, the son’s father was a good
dad. He was the best kind of dad.
C. He was not like the person who fathers a child and
then leaves.
D. Neither was he like a father who is hateful to his
children.
E. This man loved his sons. He tried to raise his children in the right
way.
F. He must have worked hard to make a good living and
accumulate an inheritance.
G. Like God, this father would have wanted to give this
inheritance to his children.
H. All the things done by this father were essentially
repudiated by the son.
I. It was like the son came to his dad and said, “I
can’t wait until you die.”
J. “I want to go now; give me what will be mine after
you are dead.”
K. This was a request that was brazen and almost unheard
of.
18. Yet, the father complied with the son’s request.
19. The father gave his child the inheritance and
allowed him to go.
20. This fact presents us with an interesting thought.
21. What happens when a Christian falls away from God?
22. What happens when a child of God becomes weak and
indifferent?
23. Does God run after such a person? No.
24. This story gives no indication that the father ran
after his son and pleaded with him.
25. The same is true for each member of the church.
26. God allows us to stay or go. He does not force us to stay in the body of
His Son.
27. The may come a time when a fallen member is
chastised.
28. The Hebrew writer warned about this in Heb. 12.
29. We may be disciplined, and our departing grieves
God, but we are allowed to leave.
30. This young man got to go but he eventually faced a famine.
A. In the Bible, famines are often associated with
judgments from God.
B. This is not always the case, but it is often true.
C. Here the word famine may suggest God’s
judgment came on the young man.
D. The day came when the “good times” ended.
E. This is always the way that waywardness ends.
31. IF
WE DID NOT HAVE ALL THE DETAILS TO THIS STORY, WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO DRAW
SOME CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THIS YOUNG MAN AND HIS LIFE.
A. What if this story ended with his leaving home? We would not know what happened to him.
B. In telling this story Jesus gave us all the details.
C. Based upon what is said, it is clear that this young
man was able to see both sides of life.
D. He knew what it was like to be raised in a good and
Godly home.
E. He knew what it was like to have a relationship with
God.
F. In 21a he said that he had “sinned against
heaven.” He knew about God.
G. He also knew what it was like to party and live a
worldly life (13b, “riotous living”).
H. After he tried the wild side, he said he was willing
to become a servant (19b).
I. In case you have never noticed this point, look at
how the word servant is described.
J. He said he was willing to be a “hired”
servant.
K. In this day and time, there were “house” servants.
L. A house servant lived in the house and was
highly trusted.
M. A hired
servant lived out in the bunkhouse and was more or less dispensable.
N. The young man found the world to be so disappointing
he was willing to be a lowly servant.
O. He was willing to come back and be among the
lowliest people on the estate.
P. The time came when this fellow understood that he
should have stayed in his Father’s house.
Q. The New Testament teaches that God has a house. This house is called the church.
R. 1 Tim. 3:15 – READ.
S. What should be our response to God and His house?
T. We should say, “Father, this is our home. This is where we belong.
U. “We know that there are other places, but these
places are not for us.”
V. “Our job is to be a faithful and dedicated member of
the household—the church.”
W. “We will do our share of the work and not shirk our
responsibilities.”
X. This is a home that we will not leave.
32. THIS
SHOULD BE THE DECISION THAT EACH CHRISTIAN MAKES, BUT WE KNOW THAT SOME DO
LEAVE. IF WE LEAVE, OR WE KNOW OF
SOMEONE WHO HAS LEFT, WHAT DOES GOD THINK?
A. Let’s first consider the length of time this young
man was gone.
B. He went in to a “far country” (verse 13). It took some time to get there.
C. Getting back home from this place would have also
taken some time.
D. More time passed as he wasted his money on riotous
living (13b).
E. More time passed as the famine arose (14a).
F. Time continued to pass as he began to be in want”
(14b).
G. He spent some time looking for a job and finally
found one.
H. How long did he work at this job? We do not know.
I. This young man may have been gone for 2-3 years.
33. Yet, what do we find in the text?
34. Verse 20 – READ
35. Thought the son may have been astray for years, the Father was looking
for him.
36. Dad had compassion on him.
37. According to the story, the young man was instantly
restored – verse 22 – READ
38. Servants did not wear shoes; the masters of the
house, however, did.
39. The “ring” may be compared to a credit card.
40. The young man who had squandered money was given
more upon his return.
41. He was given the “best robe.”
42. Who would have owned the “best robe?” Most agree that it was the father.
43. The dad said, “Go into my wardrobe and get the best
garment from my belongings.”
44. God wants every single person to be saved.
A. This especially true for those who are
backslidden. God wants wayward
Christians to return.
B. Are we a backsliding Christian? God is waiting for us to come back.
C. No matter how far we have wandered, we can come
home.
D. He is waiting and watching for our return.
E. Are we someone who has not yet named the name of
Christ?
45. Those outside of Christ may be in a “far country.”
46. God’s house is open to you as well, and God wants
you to be saved.
47. All are invited to obey the gospel and be faithful
Christians.
48. Have we obeyed, and are we trying to help others
know about and be a part of God’s house?