The Bethany Bullet - Week of March 19, 2017

Sermon: “The Prodigal Father”

Text: Luke 15

Prodigal means "wantonly reckless" or "brazenly careless" and thus is a quite fitting title for the younger brother in Jesus' parable recorded in Luke 15.  He is a boy who wanted his father's stuff but not his father; and in the end does what he wants, when he wants, with what he believes is his to do with as he pleases.  Yet, the older brother too was wantonly reckless in his estimation of himself. Read the story again you'll find that he is a boy that believes his father owes him and his status is based on his superiority rather than his father's generosity, his behavior not his father's nature.  

In the end however, perhaps we learn that the term prodigal might belong to this father more than either brother.  After all he is always there...loving, caring, providing for the self-satisfied child whether or not he realizes it, desires it or knows he needs it; and he is always there waiting, longing, aching to embrace the self-destructive child even when he believes himself worthless and irredeemable. 

To be known as being wantonly reckless with blessings and brazen careless with grace ... like Father God and His only begotten Son, our Savior and brother Jesus...oh may the term prodigal rightly be said of us.

-Pastor Kevin Kritzer