SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 2007

WELCOME TO FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH,

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS SAID, “WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED IN MY NAME, THERE AM I IN THE MIDST OF THEM.”

GOOD MORNING.

WELCOME TO OUR WORSHIP SERVICE.

IF YOU ARE VISITING WE WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND TO YOU A WELCOME AND PLEASE SIGN THE RED BOOK AND IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT FELLOWSHIP, PLEASE SIGN THE BOOK.

GOOD MORNING.

I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU TO FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH ON THIS SUNDAY IN LENT.

FIRST SUNDAY OF SPRING BREAK. 

PLEASE STAND AND SING HYMN NUMBER 27.

WILL THE CHILDREN COME FORWARD FOR WIGGLE TIME?

HI GUYS HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

DO YOU KNOW I AM GOING TO TELL YOU A STORY OKAY?

ONE TIME I WAS AT MY FRIEND'S HOUSE AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO BED, SO YOU KNOW WHAT WE DID?

WE DID SOMETHING BAD, WE SHUCK OUT OF THE HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MORNING ABOUT 2 OR 3, AND WE GOT IN TROUBLE BECAUSE WE WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE THERE.

SO WE STARTED THROWING  THIS BASEBALL BACK AND FORTH IN THE GARAGE, AND I MISSED IT AND IT HIT A BIG BOX ON THE WALL AND IT FELL AND ALL THESE CERAMIC POTS SPLASHED ON THE FLOOR AND WE SWEPT THEM ALL UP AND PUT THEM BACK IN THE BOX, AND WE DIDN'T WANT HIS PARENTS TO SEE THE BIG MESS.

WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN IN TROUBLE FOR BREAKING ALL THAT STUFF AND FOR LYING.

YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED?

THEY FOUND OUT ANY WAY.

AND I WASN'T ALLOWED TO GO BACK TO THE HOUSE, BUT THAT IS OKAY.

BUT ANYWAY,  WHY WOULD YOU TRY TO HIDE THAT?

BECAUSE I WAS SCARED AND I MADE A MISTAKE AND I TRIED TO HIDE IT BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE HIDE OUR MISTAKES BECAUSE WE THINK PEOPLE WILL NOT LIKE US.

AND SOMETIMES I WOULD DO SOMETHING BAD AND I WAS AFRAID THAT GOD WOULDN'T LOVE ME BUT THE OTHER DAY I WAS READING IN THE BIBLE, AND IT WAS TALKING ABOUT [INAUDIBLE] SO IF WE DO MAKE MISTAKES IT IS OKAY BECAUSE GOD FORGIVES US.

GOD WANTS US TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND WANTS TO HELP US DO THE RIGHT THING.

DEAR LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR LOVING US.

PLEASE HELP US TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS.

AMEN.

II BE READING SCRIPTURES FROM THE MESSAGE. 

THE FIRST READING IS  PSALMS.  

(PLEASE FOLLOW ALONG IN YOUR BIBLE)

IN YOUR SERVICE BULLETIN YOU WILL FIND AN INSERT THAT HAS A HYMN FROM THE CHALICE HYMNAL CALLED "BE MY HOME."

WHAT ANNOUNCEMENTS DO WE HAVE THIS MORNING?

>>I WISH YOU ALL COULD SEE HOW MUCH EGGS THERE ARE.

WE HAVE EMPTIED THE BIG BASKET SEVERAL TIMES.

SO I HOPE YOU WILL COME ON WEDNESDAY THE 28TH WHEN WE ARE FILLING THE EGGS.

AND PLEASE BRING CANDY AND YOU ON THE 28^th.

WHAT JOYS?

SHALL WE SHARE TODAY?

I AM GLAD TO BE BACK IN CHURCH TODAY.

I AM GLAD TO HAVE MY DAUGHTER FROM ATLANTA HERE.

OTHER JOYS?

FIRST OF ALL I HAVE ENJOYED THIS MORNING ATTENDING CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP DOWNSTAIRS, AND I WANT TO ESPECIALLY POINT OUT THAT TRAVIS HAD A VERY GOOD MESSAGE, SO I FEEL READY FOR THIS DAY'S WORSHIP AND THE SECOND THING I HAVE BEEN REVERBERATING.

[INAUDIBLE]  SO ALL WEEK LONG I HAVE BEEN HEARING THAT AND I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE AGAIN THE CHOIR FOR ALL THEY ARE DOING AND GIVING US ALL THE MUSIC THEY GIVE US, AND I DON'T WANT TO FORGET SHAREE, THE EXPRESSION SHE GIVES TO THE MUSIC AND SO WE THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I WOULD LIKE TO MY NAME IS ‑‑ I AM GLAD TO BE HERE.

EVERY CHURCH IN THE WORLD IS MY CHURCH SO I HAVE ‑‑ I GO TO ALL DIFFERENT CHURCHES AND THE COLOR MEANS NOTHING TO ME.

I AM MYSELF, I WANT YOU TO BE YOURSELF.

HAVE LOVE IN YOURSELF.

I HAVE LOVE FOR EVERYONE AND WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND.

IF YOU TREAT ME NICE, THEY WILL TREAT ME NICE.

I KNOW YOU ARE STRONG AND WOULD RATHER BE NICE THAN BE BAD.

THANK YOU.

OTHER JOYS?

WE ARE PLEASED TO HAVE THE BOYS' GODPARENTS HERE TODAY.

SCOTTIE'S FATHER IS HERE  AND  AND I WANT TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON JOHN GOODMAN, THE BABY WHO WAS BORN AT 21 WEEKS AND HE CONTINUES TO FIGHT AND LIVE, HE IS CLOSE TO 2‑POUNDS, SO KEEP HIM IN YOUR PRAYERS.

CONCERNS?

MY FATHER IS GOING INTO THE HOSPITAL THIS NEXT WEEK FOR HERNIA SURGERY, AND HE ASKED THAT WE KEEP HIM IN OUR PRAYERS.

HE IS IN INDIANA.

SOMEONE JUST PASSED AWAY IN FEBRUARY WITH LUNG CANCER.

LEE'S FATHER WAS  WAS A DIRECTOR OF THE CHOIR FOR MANY YEARS.

OTHER CONCERNS ‑‑ LET US BOW OUR HEADS IN PRAYER AND MEDITATION:

WE GIVE YOU PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING, GRACIOUS LORD, FOR LIFE AND FOR SUCH HELP THAT WE HAVE FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE LOVED US, NURTURED US, TAUGHT US, AND FOR YOUR LOVE THAT SURROUNDS US DAY BY DAY.

IN THE QUIETNESS OF THIS HOUR WE ASK YOUR PARDON FOR ALL THOSE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE AMISS AND FOR THOSE THINGS, THOSE GOOD THINGS THAT WE HAVE FAILED TO DO, WE PRAY FOR YOUR FORGIVENESS AND FOR A PEACE THAT ENDURES.

ENCOURAGE US IN EVERY EFFORT WE MAKE TO DO JUSTLY THE LOVE  AND MERCY AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOU.

MAY YOUR HOLY SPIRIT ACCOMPANY US IN EVERYTHING WE UNDERTAKE THAT IS IN ACCORD WITH YOUR WILL FOR US.

WE PRAY FOR THIS CHURCH, THAT WE MAY BE A GROUP OF PEOPLE IN YOUR WILL, THAT WE MAY BE THE WELCOMING COMMUNITY AND THE LIGHT TO THOSE AROUND US.

WE PRAY FOR THOSE MENTIONED ABOUT WHOM WE ARE CONCERNED.

WE PRAY FOR RUTH, FOR HANK, FOR DON, FOR THE FORSHAY FAMILY, AND FOR ALL WHOM WE HOLD IN OUR HEARTS.

WE PRAY FOR YOUR PEOPLE EVERYWHERE.

PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE WHO FACE EXTREME CONDITIONS AND ILLNESS, OR HUNGER, WAR, ABUSE, BAD WEATHER, FEAR OF ANY KIND, NOW SPEAK TO US, LORD, THE WORDS THAT WE NEED AND LET YOUR WORD LIE IN US. 

 AND GRANT US THAT BY WORSHIPING YOU  WE  WILL SEE YOU MORE CLEARLY, LOVE YOU MORE FULLY, AND  FOLLOW YOUR WILL MORE PERFECTLY IN THE NAME OF JESUS WHO TAUGHT US TO PRAY ‑‑

 (THE LORD'S PRAYER IS PRAYED).

AS PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ABUNDANTLY BLESSED IT IS NOW OUR OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE.

LET US GIVE GENEROUSLY.

(OFFERING GIVEN.)

LET US PRAY:

LORD JESUS, SPEAK TO EACH ONE OF US WITH WORDS WE NEED TO HEAR TODAY.

AMEN.

AROUND 40 YEARS AGO A NEW TESTAMENT SCHOLAR NAMED CLARENCE WHO LIVED NEAR AMERICUS, GEORGIA CAME OUT WITH A TRANSLATION CALLED "THE COTTON PATCH VERSION."

SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO REMEMBER CLARENCE .

HE WAS ALSO THE FOUNDER FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.

IT LOOKED HARMLESS ENOUGH, SO HE LET IT IN SO IF WAS A GOOD PARABLE AND IT IS TOLD WELL ENOUGH THEN "BANG" IT HAS GOT YOU.

WELL, WE HAVE ONE OF THOSE TODAY.

PREACHING ON THE PARABLE THE PRODIGAL SON, OR I THINK MORE PROPERLY, THE FATHER OF TWO SONS IS INTIMIDATING, OR IT IS TO ME.

WHEN I FOUND IT WAS THE GOSPEL TEXT TODAY I WONDERED WHAT I MIGHT POSSIBLY SAY THAT HADN'T ALREADY BEEN PREACHED AND HEARD DOZENS OF TIME.

WELL, LET  US SEE.

HERE IS THE BACKGROUND:  THE SETTING OF CHAPTER 15 OF LUKE'S GOSPEL TAKES PLACE DURING THE CONFLICT OF JESUS AND THE RELIGIOUS AUTHORITIES.

THEY HAD BEEN TRAVELING FROM GALILEE TO JERUSALEM WHERE HE WILL BE ARRESTED AND PUT TO DEATH.

ALONG THE WAY HE BEGINS TELLING HIS FOLLOWERS THAT THERE ARE BAD TIMES AHEAD, YET AS FAR AS THE DISCIPLES CAN SEE THINGS ARE GOING WELL.

THEY HAVE THEIR OWN AGENDAS AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO HEAR WHAT HE IS SAYING OR JUST DON'T WANT TO HEAR.

PART OF THE CONFLICT IS THE FOLKS WITH WHOM JESUS EATS DINNER.

AS HE MOVES THROUGH THE VARIOUS TOWNS AND VILLAGES TAX COLLECTORS AND SINNERS WERE TOLD TO COME TO  HEAR WHAT HE HAS TO SAY.

HE TALKS WITH THEM AND THEN HE SITS DOWN AND SHARES A MEAL WITH THEM.

THAT MAKES CERTAIN PEOPLE NERVOUS AND UNHAPPY WITH JESUS.

THIS MAN EATS WITH SINNERS THEY SAY.

LOOK WHO HE RUNS AROUND WITH.

YOU KNOW BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER.

THAT IS REALLY AN UNSAVORY CROWD.

AND IN RESPONSE TO THIS JESUS TELLS THREE PARABLES.

EACH IS ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAD BEEN LOST AND THEN FOUND.

THERE IS FIRST THE STORY OF A LOST SHEEP,  AND THEN A LOST COIN, AND THEN A LOST SON.

AND THE REPEATED THEME OF EACH STORY IS REJOICE WITH ME.

THAT WHICH WAS LOST HAD BEEN FOUND.

REJOICE WITH ME OCCURS 3 TIMES.

ONCE IN EACH PARABLE AND JESUS IS CLAIMING THAT GOD'S RESPONSE TO THOSE WHO REBEL AND THEN RETURN IS JUST LIKE THAT.

GOD REJOICES OVER GETTING HIS STRAYING CHILDREN BACK AND NOT JUST A LITTLE BIT.

NOW THAT IS THE CLEAR MESSAGE HERE BUT THE WAY JESUS TELLS THINGS, THERE IS WAY TOO MUCH REJOICING IN THESE STORIES TO SUIT SOME OF HIS LISTENERS.

OUR FOCUS TODAY IS ON THE THIRD PARABLE.

NOT TOO LONG AGO I HEARD FRED CRADDOCK TALK ABOUT HIS OWN HISTORY WITH THIS PARTICULAR PARABLE.

ONE SUNDAY MORNING EARLY,  FRED RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM A WOMAN IN HIS CHURCH. 

SHE SAID THAT FOR SOME REASON THE SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER WAS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE THERE AND SHE ASKED HIM TO TEACH THE CLASS AND THIS PHONE CALL CAME TWO HOURS BEFORE THE CLASS.

IF YOU KNOW FRED YOU KNOW HE IS A CAREFUL PREPARER.

HE DIDN'T LIKE THE IDEA THAT HE HAD NO TIME TO PREPARE, SO HE ASKED WHAT IS THE SUBJECT YOU ARE STUDYING TODAY?

SHE SAID, "IT IS THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON, WE KNOW YOU KNOW ALL THAT STUFF.

IT IS FAMILIAR TO YOU."

FRED AGREED TO TEACH THE CLASS BUT HE ADMITS HE WAS A LITTLE IRRITATED.

ON THE WAY TO CHURCH HE DECIDED TO TURN THE STORY AROUND TO SEE WHAT THE CLASS DID WITH IT, SO WHEN CLASS TIME BEGAN HE BEGAN TO TELL THE STORY. 

A CERTAIN MAN HAD TWO SONS, THE YOUNGER MAN  SAID, "GIVE ME MY INHERITANCE NOW. "

AND THE FATHER  DID AND THE SON TOOK HIS JOURNEY INTO THE FAR COUNTRY AND BEGAN TO SPEND MONEY AND SHORTLY SQUANDERED ALL OF HIS PROPERTY IN LOOSE LIVING. 

AND WHEN HE SPENT EVERYTHING A GREAT FAMINE AROSE IN THE LAND AND HE BEGAN TO BE IN WANT.

HE GOT A JOB FEEDING PIGS AND HE WAS SO HUNGRY HE WOULD HAVE BEEN GLAD TO EAT WHAT THE PIGS HAD.

BUT NO ONE GAVE HIM ANYTHING TO EAT,

HE RECALLED THAT HIS FATHER'S HIRED HANDS HAD PLENTY TO EAT, AND THEY NEVER MISSED A MEAL, AND HE SAID TO HIMSELF, "I WILL ARISE AND GO TO MY FATHER AND SAY MY FATHER, I HAVE SINNED, I AM NO LONGER WORTHY TO BE YOUR SON. 

JUST MAKE ME A HIRED HAND. 

SO HE MADE THE LONG JOURNEY HOME AND AS HE APPROACHED THE HOUSE HE SAW ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON, HE HEARD MUSIC AND WHAT SOUNDED LIKE DANCING, LOTS OF CONVERSATION, MUCH LAUGHTER

HE SNEAKED UP TO THE BACK OF THE HOUSE TO GET THE ATTENTION OF THE SERVANTS WHO RECOGNIZED HIM AND THE SON ASKED, "WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?"

YOUR FATHER IS THROWING A BIG PARTY FOR YOUR BROTHER IN HONOR OF HIS FAITHFULNESS FOR ALL THESE YEARS.

AND IN THE BACK OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS A VOICE SAID, "THIS IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE."

NOW I SUSPECT I AM NOT THE ONLY  ONE HERE WHO HAS EVER ENTERTAINED A THOUGHT SIMILAR TO THAT,

AND IF YOU HAVE TOO YOU PROBABLY HAVE TROUBLE WITH ANOTHER PARABLE AND I TALK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO SHOWED UP AT 5:00 P.M. AND WORKED FOR AN HOUR AND THEY GOT THE SAME PAYCHECK AS THE ONES THAT HAD BEEN WORKING SINCE SUNUP.

SOMETHING IN THESE STORIES OFFEND OUR SENSE OF JUSTICE.

THE PROPHET ISAIAH SAID, "MY THOUGHTS ARE NOT YOUR THOUGHTS, MY WAYS ARE NOT YOUR WAYS, O LORD."

I THINK THE PARABLE IS DEMONSTRATING THE TRUTH OF THAT.

THE SCANDAL CAN EASILY GET LOST BECAUSE THE PARABLE IS SO FAMILIAR.

WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT RESPONSE THAT WAS BLURTED OUT IN FRED CRADDOCK'S SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS, "THAT IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE," IF THAT COMES CLOSE TO THE FEELINGS YOU HAVE OR HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT, YOU CAN SEE WHAT A THREATENING MESSAGE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WHEN JESUS TOLD THIS PARABLE.

THE FATHER HAD TWO SONS, HE LOVED THEM BOTH EQUALLY.

ONE SON BEHAVED ACCORDING TO NORMAL EXPECTATIONS.

THE OTHER DID NOT.

NOW WHAT IF YOU HAD BEEN WORKING ALL OF YOUR LIFE TO UNDERSTAND AND DO GOD'S WILL, AND YOU LEARNED THAT SOMEONE WHO BASICALLY HAD WASTED HIS LIFE BUT HAS FINALLY COME HOME IS AS IMPORTANT TO GOD AS YOU ARE.

AND WHAT IF HE EVEN GETS TO HAVE A PARTY THROWN IN HIS HONOR?

THE VERY IDEA OF THAT BURNED UP SOME OF THE PHARISEES THAT WERE LISTENING AND WE MAY UNDERSTAND THEIR REACTION BETTER THAN WE WANT TO.

NOW REMEMBER THE PHARISEES ARE GOOD PEOPLE.

JESUS AND THE PHARISEES HAD A LOT IN COMMON.

AND I KNOW ONE BIBLE SCHOLAR SAID THAT JESUS WAS RAISED AS A PHARISEE AND THAT IS WHY HE KNEW THEM SO WELL.

THEY BELIEVED IF YOU STUDIED THE TEXT, IF YOU FAMILIARIZED YOURSELF WITH WHAT THE RABBIS SAID, OVER THE YEARS YOU COULD FIGURE OUT THE WILL OF GOD IN ANY PARTICULAR SITUATION AND THEN YOU COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS RIGHT AND YOU HAD BETTER DO IT.

WHERE THE PHARISEES AND JESUS PARTED COMPANY WAS THE WAY THEY MEASURED THEMSELVES AGAINST OTHER PEOPLE.

IN THEIR MEASUREMENTS THEY CAME OUT AHEAD AND ABOVE.

SO WHEN JESUS STARTED EATING DINNER WITH PEOPLE THEY CONSIDERED RIFFRAFF AND THEN TOLD THE STORY INDICATING THAT THOSE FOLKS ARE AS IMPORTANT TO GOD AS ANYONE ELSE, THE PHARISEES WERE ANGRY AND READY TO WRITE HIM OFF BUT I THINK IT WAS THAT PARTY AT THE END OF THE STORY THAT REALLY BURNED THEM UP.

THEY SAID, THAT IS NOT FAIR.

AND YOU KNOW, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, IT WASN'T.

SUPPOSE YOU WERE ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS, YOU KNEW HE HAD TWO SONS AND HE LOVED THEM BOTH.

YOU KNEW THEY WERE DIFFERENT.

ONE STAYED OUT IN THE FIELDS AND WORKED HARD ALL THE TIME, AND YOU KNEW THAT THE OTHER SON WAS A RESTLESS FELLOW, HE LOVED PEOPLE AND LOVED PARTIES.

YOU HEARD HOW HE HAD THE AUDACITY TO GO TO HIS FATHER AND SAY, "I WANT YOU TO GIVE ME MY SHARE NOW, " AND THE FATHER DID THAT, AND SO THE SON WENT OFF AND SPENT ALL OF HIS MONEY JUST AS YOU FIGURED HE WOULD , AND THEN HE CAME BACK WHICH THEN THE FATHER CAME HOME AND SAID, "I WANT YOU TO REJOICE WITH ME."

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A BIG DINNER PARTY.

MY SON IS DEAD AND NOW ALIVE AGAIN, HE IS LOST AND NOW IS FOUND, AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A PARTY.

IF YOU WERE ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS AND YOU KNEW ALL OF THAT , WOULD YOU GO TO THAT PARTY?

YOU SEE THE SCANDAL.

TRUTH IS, THE STRICT ATTENTION TO FAIRNESS MAY NOT MIX WELL WITH COMPASSION.

AND SOMETIMES COMPASSION DOESN'T FIT WELL INTO A STRICT CONCERN INTO JUSTICE.

BOTH ARE IMPORTANT, OVER THE YEARS PEOPLE HAVE TENDED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEM.

SOME HAVE GRAVITATED TO ONE END OF THE SPECTRUM  A LOT AND SOME HAVE NOT, AND BOTH GROUPS CAN QUOTE SCRIPTURE DEFENDING THEIR POSITION.

I THINK IT WAS THAT PARTY THAT CAUSED THE ELDER BROTHER TO PITCH A FIT.

THE PARTY HITS US WHERE WE LIVE.

WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE FATHER WANTING HIS SON TO GET HIS LIFE STRAIGHTENED OUT.

IT MADE SENSE.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT IF THE FATHER HAD QUIETLY TAKEN THE SON IN AND SAID I KNOW YOU HAVE LEARNED YOUR LESSON, NOW TOMORROW I WILL PUT YOU BACK TO WORK.

IF YOU STAY IN LINE AND DO ALRIGHT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, WE WILL CONSIDER SOME OTHER POSSIBILITIES.

THAT IS THE WAY WE MIGHT HAVE DONE IT.

IT IS NOT THE WAY JESUS TOLD IT.

IT WAS THAT PARTY THAT MADE THE PHARISEES UNCOMFORTABLE WITH JESUS.

THEY WERE NOT PARTYING PEOPLE TO BEGIN WITH, AND IF IT WAS A PARTY THAT WAS TO BE THROWN, LET IT BE FOR SOMEONE WHO DESERVES IT. 

ONE NEW TESTAMENT SCHOLAR HAS SAID THAT THIS PARABLE IS PRIMARILY ABOUT THE OLDER SON, THE ONE WHO STAYED ON THE FARM, SOMEBODY WHO HAD TO, YOU KNOW.

THE ONE THAT IS LIKE CHURCH PEOPLE.

THAT OLDER BROTHER COULD NOT MAKE HIMSELF BE HAPPY OR GRATEFUL WHEN HIS BROTHER CAME HOME AND HE COULDN'T SEE THAT HIS FATHER LOVED HIM TOO.

DID YOU NOTICE IN THE STORY THE FATHER TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO GO OUT AND MEET BOTH SONS?

I BELIEVE THIS PARABLE'S MAJOR EMPHASIS IS ON THE FATHER AND NOT THE SONS, BECAUSE IT IS A PARABLE ABOUT GOD'S GRACE AND WE ARE LEFT TO STRUGGLE WITH THAT GRACE AND HOW JESUS DESCRIBES IT AND OUR OWN SENSE OF WHAT IS FAIR AND JUST.

MAYBE OUR RESPONSE HAS TO DO WITH THE COMPETITIVE NATURE OF OUR SOCIETY WHICH INSISTS IF THERE IS A WINNER, SOMEBODY IS GOING TO BE A LOSER, AND IF YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING A BASKETBALL GAME LATELY YOU WILL SEE THAT.

SOME WIN AND SOME LOSE.

WE HAVE A HARD TIME SEEING IT ANY OTHER WAY.

A CERTAIN MAN HAD TWO SONS, HE LOVED THEM BOTH, HE WAS GENEROUS TO BOTH SONS.

HE REFUSED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEM.

WHEN ONE OF THEM LEFT HOME THE FATHER KEPT GOING OUTSIDE EVERY DAY TO LOOK TO SEE IF THE SON WAS COMING BACK HOME.

ONE DAY WHEN HE LOOKED DOWN THE ROAD THE FATHER SAW WHAT HE HOPED TO SEE AND HE STARTED RUNNING.

AND JESUS SAID, GOD'S LOVE IS LIKE THAT.

BOTH, AND ‑‑ NOT EITHER, OR.

AND THE CLIMAX OF THE PARABLE THE FATHER SAYS TWICE, THIS SON OF MINE, THIS BROTHER OF YOURS WAS DEAD AND NOW IS ALIVE.

HE WAS LOST AND IS NOW FOUND.

IN LITERATURE THE MEANING IS GIVEN TO THE MOST IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTIC.

LOOK HOW LUKE ‑‑ IS BEING LOST MORE IMPORTANT THAN DEATH?

WELL I CAN THINK OF TIMES, AND MAYBE YOU CAN TOO, AND REMEMBER TIMES OF BEING LOST AND THE TERROR OF IT.

MAYBE AS A CHILD IN A DEPARTMENT STORE OR AN AIRPORT, YOU GOT SEPARATED FROM YOUR PARENTS.

MAYBE AS A TEENAGER IN UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY, MAYBE AS A COLLEGE STUDENT NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO.

MAYBE AS AN ADULT AFTER THE LOSS OF A JOB OR EVEN WORSE, THE LOSS OF A SPOUSE.

BEING LOST CAN BE TERRIFYING.

AND IS THERE ANYTHING MORE PRECIOUS THAN LIFE?   IN THIS PARABLE MAYBE THERE IS ‑‑ AND THAT IS AFTER BEING LOST FOR A LONG TIME ‑‑ TO BE FOUND.

THE BOTTOM LINE HERE COMES OUT OF PARENTAL LOVE AND IF YOU HAVE BEEN THERE YOU KNOW ‑‑ IT DOES NOT FOLLOW THE RULES OF LOGIC.

THE FATHER PROMISED TO SHARE EVERYTHING WITH HIS SON, AND WHO GOT ANGRY WITH HIS FATHER AND THEN THE FATHER ADDS,  "ALL THAT IS MINE IS YOURS, BUT WE JUST HAD TO CELEBRATE WHEN YOUR BROTHER CAME HOME BECAUSE HE WAS LOST AND NOW HE IS FOUND."

BOTH ARE FOUND ‑‑ RULE KEEPER AND RULE BREAKER BECAUSE EACH ONE HAD A FATHER WHO REFUSED TO GIVE UP UNTIL THEY WERE FOUND.

AMEN.

THE INTENTION OF THIS CONGREGATION IS TO BE A WELCOMING COMMUNITY AND FINDING YOUR WAY HOME.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A CHURCH OR A COMMUNITY YOU HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY NOW.

AS WE STAND AND SING HYMN 351.

WE COME NOW TO OUR TIME OF COMMUNION, THIS IS THE LORD'S TABLE, AND ALL WHO WOULD BE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS  ARE INVITED HERE.

OUR LORD RECOGNIZES YOU AND LOOKS UPON YOU WITH FAVOR.

HE BEFRIENDS YOU AND WANTS YOU IN HIS CIRCLE.

COUNT YOURSELF AMONG CHRIST'S DISCIPLES BY REMEMBERING THE THANKSGIVING OF HIS LOVE FOR YOU AND BY PARTAKING IN THIS FEAST OF FELLOWSHIP.

LET US PREPARE OUR MINDS AND HEARTS FOR THIS COMMUNION SERVICE BY MAKING CONFESSION OF THE LORD IN THOSE AREAS WHERE WE NEED TO.

IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, WE ARE FORGIVEN.

WHEN WE ACCEPT HIS FORGIVENESS WE ARE FREE TO LIVE A NEW LIFE IN JESUS CHRIST.

STARTING NOW WE WILL NOT LIVE IN FEAR BUT SECURE IN THE POWER, LOVE AND PRESENCE OF GOD.

AND NOW IF YOU WILL REMAIN SEATED WE WILL SING HYMN NUMBER 429.

THE LORD JESUS ON THE NIGHT WHEN HE WAS BETRAYED TOOK A LOAF OF BREAD AND AFTER HE HAD GIVEN THANKS, HE BROKE IT AND SAID THIS IS MY BODY THAT IS FOR YOU, DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.

IN THE SAME WAY HE TOOK THE CUP AFTER SUPPER SAYING  THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD.

DO THIS AS OFTEN AS YOU DRINK IT IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME, FOR AS OFTEN AS YOU EAT THIS BREAD AND DRINK THIS CUP, YOU PROCLAIM THE LORD'S DEATH UNTIL HE COMES.

OUR MOST GRACIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER, AS WE CONTINUE THROUGH LIFE'S JOURNEY, AS WE ENJOY THE WONDER OF YOUR WORLD THIS BEAUTIFUL SEASON, WE PAUSE AT YOUR TABLE TO PRAISE YOU AS THE GIVER OF ALL THINGS THAT ARE GOD AND TRUE.

WE THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF YOUR SON AND EVEN THOUGH WE ARE UNWORTHY WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU SANCTIFY OUR LOVING, LORD, WE COME NOT BECAUSE WE ARE WORTHY BUT BECAUSE WE ARE NEEDY.

WE COME SEEKING YOUR LOVE, YOUR PRESENCE, YOUR BLESSING.

WE ASK THAT YOU CLEANSE OUR HEARTS AND REFRESH AND RENEW OUR SPIRITS. 

THAT AS WE DRINK OF THIS CUP, SYMBOLIC OF YOUR GREAT LOVE FOR US, WE WILL BE YOUR SERVANTS. 

AMEN.

LET US PRAY TOGETHER THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING.

AND NOW MAY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE LOVE OF GOD THE CREATOR AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WITH EACH ONE OF YOU TODAY, THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK, AND FROM NOW ON.

AMEN.

OUR FINAL HYMN IS ONE OF THE INSERTS,  ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS.