Dear church,
The last piece of the larger parable recorded in Luke 15, by far the longest of the three pieces, is often called the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Many of us know the story well—at least half of the story. Sadly, I find this is among the most misunderstood, under-utilized teachings of Jesus. As preachers, writers, and theologians have taught for centuries, perhaps as nowhere else in Scripture, this parable captures the heart of God and calls every kind of person to experience the salvation only available through Jesus Christ.
It is such an important segment of His teaching that we will spend the next two Sundays exploring it together. I believe they will be powerful, challenging, and helpful Sundays. I encourage each of you to make it a priority to be with our church family as we worship God through the study of His Word. Between now and then, I want our entire church family to do two things. 1) Read Luke 15:11-32 deliberately. If you are familiar with the story, it is easy to skim over important details, assuming you know all there is to know. Take enough time to notice the nuances and take in the entire scope of the story. 2) Think through these questions: Who is the parable told for (Luke 15:1-2)? How many main characters are there in the story? Who or what kinds of people do the main characters represent?
I don’t want to spoil the rest. By the grace of God, I believe the next two Sundays will be great! I’m looking forward to seeing you there. Pray about bringing a friend who needs to know about the extravagant heart of God.
For the sake of His name,
Pastor Adam
