This Week\’s Sunday School Lesson, \”Life On My Terms\”, 4/24/2016

 

LIFE ON MY TERMS

 

Luke 15:11-24

 

TRAIN UP A CHILD

V:11 Jesus continued: \”There was a man who had two sons.\”

1. The two sons represents two different personalities.
2. Children can be raised the same way and treated the same way,

but be totally different.

1. The younger son was discontented and vocalized his feelings.
2. The older son may have also been discontented but to disciplined to

to speak up.

1. This story highlights the restless nature of the younger son.
2. A restless impatient nature can lead to irrational decisions.
3. This text is a continuation of Jesus examples of the love of the

Father for His lost sheep. ( review the preceding text).

1. The two sons were raise by a godly father.
2. They both had a solid foundation in the Word.
3. The younger son looked on the other side of the fence and saw a

different world that he wanted to experience.

1. On his side of the fence, he knew the strictness of his father

and his daily routine of chores and work.

1. On the other side of the fence, he imagined a world of  excitement

and freedom.

 

DECISIONS WITHOUT THE WORD

V:12. \” The younger one said to his father, \’Father, give me my share of the estate. So he divided his property between them.\”

1. The Father represents our Holy Father, who gives to us generously.
2. In the normal case, an inheritance is not given until the parent is dead.
3. Our Father gives us a permanent inheritance the moment we establish

a relationship with Him.

1. Like the younger son, we sometimes walk away from the Father\’s wisdom

to do our own thing.

1. We know what is required of us, but we don\’t always do it.
2. We have to be careful what we ask for, because the Lord may grant our request.
3. Some things that seems good may not be good for us.
4. The younger son asked for resources that he did not have the capability to

manage.

1. The younger son\’s inheritance was his, whether he had procession of it or not.
2. In the Fathers hands, it was safe.
3. In his hands, the inheritance was only as safe as his ability to manage it.
4. The younger son probably never had to manage time and resources.
5. The younger son probable never had to make a budget or pay bills.

 

 

FOOLISH LIVING

V:13 \”Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.\”

1. The younger son wanted to be out from under the control of his father.
2. He was restless and ready to live his life outside of the sight of his father.
3. Restlessness can lead to irrational behavior.
4. The younger son based his decision to leave on his fleshly desires.
5. The younger son rejected the spirit of the father.
6. The text says after some time he left.
7. The father and the brother probably counseled with the younger son not to leave.
8. He took time to consider what he did.
9. The younger son allowed his fleshy desires to over rule the spirit.
10. When the younger son left the father, he left the life in which he grew up.
11. He left the wisdom of the father.
12. He left the protection of the father.
13. He left the provisions of the father.
14. He left the guidance and direction of the father.
15. He left the tolerance of the father.
16. He left the peace of the father.
17. He left the joy of the father.
18. He left the security of the father.
19. He left the order of the father.
20. He left the discipline of the father
21. He left the strength of the father.
22. He left the council of the father.
23. He left the headship of the father.

 

1. The text says that the younger son went to a far country probably to get to a place

where  the word about his actions wouldn\’t get back to the father.

1. He lived like there was no tomorrow.
2. He lived in a manner that would have displeased his father.
3. He left all he had been taught at the door of the first club he went into.
4. He was the life of the party.
5. His behavior was disrespectful and dishonorable.

 

THE CONSEQUENCES OF FOOLISHNESS

V:14-15. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.\”

 

1. The younger son invested nothing in friendship or fellowship.
2. He invested everything in foolish living with no return.
3. He traded his wealth for a few good times.
4. He lived a life without responsibility.
5. The best way to learn the value of a good life is to lose it as a result of

foolish decisions and then long for it back again.

1. It was the love of the father to let the son experience life without responsibility,

so he could learn the value of being responsible.

1. The son needed to experience the consequences of irresponsible behavior.
2. He needed to experience the results of ignoring the fathers teachings.

 

TRIALS BRINGS YOU CLOSER TO GOD

V:16-17. \”He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 \”When he came to his senses, he said, \’How many of my father\’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!\”

1. Satan show\’s you all the glory you can have if you follow the flesh.
2. The problem is, it is all a lie.
3. Satan tried to pull that trick on Jesus after He fasted 40 days in the wilderness.
4. Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and said \”if you worship me

all of this will be yours.\”

1. Satan lied because he didn\’t own anything.
2. The younger son learned the consequences of foolish living results in want and

destruction.

1. He learned that his disrespectful behavior led to his disgrace.
2. He learned that money cannot by happiness.
3. He learned that money cannot buy friendship.
4. He learned that the father\’s commands were the best way to live.
5. He learned that in hard times, you cannot count on man.
6. The younger son needed the hard times to make him reflect on the goodness in the

father\’s house.

1. He learned that he was out of his mind not to follow the wisdom of the father.
2. He learned that good sense is the fathers teachings.
3. The text say when he came to his senses he realized how much he lost

when he left the father\’s house.

1. He learned that there is honor in the father\’s house.
2. He learned that there is provisions in the father\’s house.
3. He learned that the best place for him was in the father\’s house.

 

CONFESSION OF SINS

V:18-19. \” I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.\’

1. The younger son set his mind on going back to the father\’s house.
2. He recognized his sins were the cause of his degraded position.
3. He recognized that he had sinned against the father and heaven.
4. He recognized that his sins made him unworthy of the fathers love.
5. He remembered that his father had taught him about the kingdom of heaven
6. He remembered that his father had taught him that there is salvation in

righteousness.

1. The younger son made up his mind that he was going to go to the father and confess

his sins.

1. He made up his mind that he was going to the father and ask for forgiveness.
2. He made up his mind that he was going to  the father with an humble spirit.
3. He made up his mind to give up his sonship for a slave position.

 

TURN BACK TO JESUS, THE REVIVAL

V:20-21. \” So he got up and went to his father. \”But 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 \”The son said to him, \’Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.\”

1. The father knows your heart before you speak a word.
2. The father is waiting on you to turn to Him for forgiveness.
3. You are never out of the sight and the mind of the father.
4. The father uses your circumstances to draw you to him.
5. He will allow you to go through trials to make you realize your need for Him.
6. The younger son left with a proud heart, but came back with a humble

spirit.

1. He left thinking he didn\’t need the father, but came back knowing he

could not survive without the father.

1. The Father has love and compassion for those who turn to him.
2. The love of the Father does not count your past against you.
3. The Father embraces those who come to him.
4. For those who repent, forgiveness is automatic.

 

THE LOVE OF THE FATHER

V: 22-24. \”But the father said to his servants, \’Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let\’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.\’ So they began to celebrate.\”

1. Once you confess your sins and ask for forgiveness, full fellowship with the Father is

restored.

1. The best robe was reserved for honored guest.
2. The father accepted the son back as a guest.
3.    The ring represent  his sonship.
4. The sandals identified the son as a member of the family.

and not a slave of the family.

B  The son was welcome back with a celebration.

1. The son that was lost was now back in the family.
2. He was restored to fellowship with the Father.
3. Angels in heaven rejoice when one sinner repents.

 

THE WORD, DON\’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT

 

 

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway

Houston Texas