Sons & Daughters, Week Seven

Published: April 14, 2019, 5 p.m.

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Jesus continued:\\xa0\\u201cThere was a man who had two sons.\\xa012\\xa0The younger one said to his father, \\u2018Father, give me my share of the estate.\\u2019\\xa0So he divided his property between them. 13\\xa0\\u201cNot long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth\\xa0in wild living.\\xa014\\xa0After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.\\xa015\\xa0So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.\\xa016\\xa0He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17\\xa0\\u201cWhen he came to his senses, he said, \\u2018How many of my father\\u2019s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!\\xa018\\xa0I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned\\xa0against heaven and against you.19\\xa0I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.\\u2019\\xa020\\xa0So he got up and went to his father. \\u201cBut while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21\\xa0\\u201cThe son said to him, \\u2018Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.\\xa0I am no longer worthy to be called your son.\\u2019 22\\xa0\\u201cBut the father said to his servants, \\u2018Quick! Bring the best robe\\xa0and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger\\xa0and sandals on his feet.\\xa023\\xa0Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let\\u2019s have a feast and celebrate.\\xa024\\xa0For this son of mine was dead and is alive again;\\xa0he was lost and is found.\\u2019 So they began to celebrate. 25\\xa0\\u201cMeanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.\\xa026\\xa0So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.\\xa027\\xa0\\u2018Your brother has come,\\u2019 he replied, \\u2018and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.\\u2019 28\\xa0\\u201cThe older brother became angry\\xa0and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.\\xa029\\xa0But he answered his father, \\u2018Look! All these years I\\u2019ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.\\xa030\\xa0But when this son of yours who has squandered your property\\xa0with prostitutes\\xa0comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!\\u2019 31\\xa0\\u201c\\u2018My son,\\u2019 the father said, \\u2018you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.\\xa032\\xa0But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.\\u2019\\u201d Luke 15:11-32 (NIV)

The Heart of the House\\u2026 reflects the heart of the father.

19-21\\xa0What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn\\u2019t work. So I quit being a \\u201claw man\\u201d so that I could be\\xa0God\\u2019s\\xa0man. Christ\\u2019s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not \\u201cmine,\\u201d but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that. Galatians 2:19-21 (MSG)

Now the tax collectors\\xa0and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.2\\xa0But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, \\u201cThis man welcomes sinners and eats with them.\\u201d 3\\xa0Then Jesus told them this parable:\\xa04\\xa0\\u201cSuppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn\\u2019t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?\\xa05\\xa0And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders\\xa06\\xa0and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, \\u2018Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.\\u2019\\xa07\\xa0I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.Luke 15:1-7(NIV)

  1. We keep Jesus the main thing
  2. We believe in the next generation
  3. We do life together
  4. We add value to the world around us
  5. We live with urgency
  6. We celebrate
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