Who's Party is This? - Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32; (4th Sunday of Lent)

Thank you, brother. That was it. What it what else is there to say? What else is there to say? Praise God? We're passing. Johnson. Go ahead buddy. I was just joking. I was just a lot of warning. So yeah, I'm passing around these origami papers because we are cultivating. And letting go we're cultivating whatever we have written down. Maybe you have done that already and you need to do it again. Maybe you haven't done it yet during the season of Lent. We are cultivating what's good what helps us to connect with God? What we need in our lives in and we're as we're going to hear God's word this morning as we've heard it. We're going to hear it again. You made get a spark or an idea in your mind. So take one of those markers that's being passed around. There's there's a a jar markers and write down something that you need to cultivate. Or something you need to let go off.

Because we're approaching Easter. We are getting ready for the cross where at first were approaching Good Friday. We're getting ready to die to ourselves to obey Jesus command to whoever would be his disciple must take up his cross for her cross and die.

to follow him because without that there's no Resurrection. So what do you need to dye to what do you need to let go of

and what do you need to cultivate until after the sermon this morning? You can have an opportunity as we're singing to come and pick up one of these little clothespins here that have been very carefully prepared and just take a clothes pin and clip up going to have one of those sheets of paper. I'm going to write down what you need to cultivate and let go and you can fold it a couple times. If you need to if you want to get creative if you can come up to the Altar and get one of these. Origami sheets find out how to do your origami in a heart or you can do a bird or something fancy and then just clip it up on this tree.

You know this tree when we put this in here. It didn't have any blossoms on it. And then we put water in it and there's this beautiful image of something that was dead being brought to life. This was a cherry tree that wasn't going to make it and we brought it in here and later. We put water in it in the first week or two of his beautiful, right? But then you see what's happened to these buds are starting to wither and dry out a little bit. And I was disappointed. I was thinking man. I wish that that would have made it all the way through the five weeks of Lent that we can have this beautiful blossoms to remind us of the Resurrection, but I was convicted in that moment. I can't manage my own Resurrection. I can't manage my own salvation. I can't make life come forth in me. It's only God's grace. And so this was a beautiful simple, but it's just that it's it's artificial. We have to die first because we can't manage Grace on our own we can't. We can turn our way right you can't learn your way to Salvation. It's Grace pure grace. So that for me that's just a beautiful reminder of what the season of Lent is about that. We need the cross because we can't do it ourselves. We cannot save ourselves. We need the cross. So that's the good news is we're going to hear in the story of The Prodigal Son and maybe you've heard it referred to as you've probably heard it before if you've been in Turkey for the story a thousand times. But hopefully we can hear it with fresh ears this morning. See it with fresh eyes. the story of Grace

The first image I had Corey reference this morning is the father waiting. Waiting with open arms. so the waiting father The Prodigal Son or another person is referred to as the Lost Sons their two sons in the story. It's a way to read from Luke chapter 15 if it's helpful for you to read along it won't be on the screen, but you can read on your phone or your print Bible and a few and Luke chapter 15, or you can simply listen is the good news is red this morning.

Luke chapter 15 first three verses and then we'll skip over. 2 vs 11

Here now the story of God.

all the tax collectors and sinners We're gathering around Jesus. To listen to him the Pharisees and legal experts were grumbling saying this man welcomes Sinners and eats with them. Jesus told them this parable. verse 11

a certain man had two sons the younger sin son said to the father said to his father father. Give me my share of The Inheritance then the father divided his estate between them. Soon after the younger son gathered everything together and he took a trip to a land far away. There he wasted his wealth through extravagant living. When he had used up his resources a severe food shortage a rose in that country and he began to be in need. He hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

He longed to eat his fill from what the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything. We came to his senses. He said how many of my father tired hands have more than enough food, but I am starving to death. I will get up and go to my father and say to him father. I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son take me as one of your Hired Hands So he got up and went to his father. While he was still a long way off.

His father saw him and was moved with compassion.

Espada rangeman Huggin and Kissin

And his son said father I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son. But the father said to his servants quickly come bring out the best robe and put it on him put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. That's the fatted calf and Slaughter it we must celebrate with feasting.

Because this son of mine was dead. And it's come back to life. He was lost and is found and they began to celebrate.

That was older son was in the field. Coming in from the field. He approached the house and heard music and dancing called one of the servants and asked what was going on. The servant replied your brother has arrived and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he received his son back safe and sound. Then the older son was Furious. And didn't want to enter in but his father came out and backed him. He answered his father look. I've served you all these years and I've never disobeyed your instruction. Yet you've never given me as much as a young tote so I can celebrate with my friends. When the son of yours return after gobbling up your estate on prostitutes you Slaughter the fatted calf for him. Ben is father said Son. You are always with me. Everything I have is yours.

But we had to celebrate and be glad. Because this brother of yours was dead in his life. He was lost and is found. This is the story of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.

There's an image that I'd like to share with you.

Where do you see yourself in this image?

image of prodigal Grace

which are the story referred to as the prodigal son that word prodigal means excessive. It means Reckless. That means irresponsible even

What kind of father? Welcomes his son who's been so stupid and irresponsible and Reckless wasting his money on Tax Collector on prostitutes on Reckless living.

Where do you see yourself in this picture in the embrace?

Or maybe you're like me at times you see yourself standing out there. and the distance because this is not fair.

I've been good. I've gone to church. I've paid my taxes. Why should this irresponsible?

worm be welcomed like this be treated like this.

Whose party is this?

This past week we celebrated. My wife's 30-something birthday.

And she was so gracious her mom told her you've learned well. Because some people don't remind their husbands of their birthdays. And so Heather was very wise that she knew she has a forgetful to sometimes too distracted husband. And so she reminded me and the very first of March her birthday is March 29th, but the first day of March guess what it's my birthday. Until all week. She would say to me. Guess what? It's my birthday. And she would say to the kids. Guess what and the kids be like

over and over again. So she reminded us until we eat we celebrated in the kids are great because they had two primes right? They knew what was coming. They knew what the deal was. This is mama's birthday. This is not your birthday. Your birthday is later. And today snow in a week know your birthday is in 6 months. It's not your birthday. It's mama's birthday. So that I'm proud of my kids they learn right you guys figured it out. But y'all have been to that birthday party where there's the one kid, that doesn't know. It's not his birthday will call him little Johnny Wright. Will Johnny he's the one that comes at the party and when are the games are played in you want the birthday kid to win the games Lil Jonny's crying because he didn't win right or is throwing a fit or then there's the birthday present time right in their opening presents and will Johnny he's trying to open he's not even there pulling the wrapping paper off of the little girls presents who is her birthday party. Is it a Johnny? It's not yours. It's not your birthday right in and they bring the cake and what's Johnny and there's a piece but it up in front of that. He's trying to blow the candles out. Whose party is it whose party is a Johnny it is not your party. Okay. Whose party is being thrown here? Whose party is being thrown in the story? Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners Jesus is having a party with the lowlifes that you're responsible ones. The people that you wouldn't leave your kids with. If you needed a babysitter. And the people that are the responsible people people you would ask for advice about God or the or the Bible the people that you would leave your kids with if you needed a babysitter, they're the ones that are standing outside the party gremlin. This man is eating with Sinners and tax collectors. This is a pensive. We've been good where with God here comes this man that claims to be God Son and he's not hanging out with us. What's the deal Jesus?

It's a Jesus tells a story. I love it. He doesn't give him an answer. Look you guys don't you understand I came but he says later the human one came to seek and save the lost. But but before he says that before he says that he the human when the son of man came to seek and save the Lost he tells the story he tells three stories. We just heard the third of two parable of three Parables the first Parable he tells us a woman who loses a coin and then she claims her whole house to find that one lost coin. She has 10, but she lost one and she's clean the whole house and when she finds it girl friends over for a party she throws a party. And then there's another story of a Shepherd who has a hundred sheep and he loses one until he leaves the 99 behind completely irresponsibly risks losing the 99 sheep to go pursue this one lost sheep.

And then what does he do when he finds the sea? He throws a party. I wasn't we had birthday hat party hats. We should have passed them out for everybody. And so then there's another party story but a Mike's more engaging narrative a much more elaborate Narrative of a man who had two sons.

And one of them comes to his father and says look Dad. I know you're not dead yet, but would you mind going to give me the the money and stuff all the stuff that I'm supposed to get when you die.

It's kind of rude. Little bit of Hope none of y'all ever done that before. I mean, I like some of my dad's tools and stuff, but I would never go to him like that and say look, I'm no I'm probably going to get this but

it said that the younger son amazingly is given his inheritance before his dad passes away and he goes and liquidates. It turns it into cash and then goes and spends it. Corey had those dollar bills and I was saying where you going with his brother?

What do you do with a bunch of dollar bills? Well, we know what the prodigal son did. We know what the prodigal son did. And he wasted it and so he's experiencing famine. among gentiles so he is far away from God. He's going to a far-off country in Jesus is telling this to Jewish listeners people that would have understand far away means far away from Jerusalem far away from the nation of Israel far away from God's chosen people. This man is outside of God's good graces by this point and he is feeding swine who are unclean animals and he finds himself nearly eating with them because he's so hungry and so poor and destitute and wrecked in life. If you wants to eat the food that the pigs reading this is testable to a Jewish audience to Jesus as listeners of the story is telling this is disgraceful and disgusting. It's a finely the guy comes to his senses. And in the Greek words their use there in that story and means the same thing as repentance this family pets. He turns as we talked about a couple of weeks ago. It says look and it's almost like he gives himself a speech. I'm going to go to my father and I'm going to tell him father. I'm not worried because of your son. If you would only accept me then then at least I can eat like your servants eat and not go hungry like that. So he goes home and he's got a speech ready before he can even start a speech and he was running for Completely irresponsibly completely undignified for a man in Mediterranean culture at that time to run was very disgraceful. I mean, he could have even exposed himself in a way that would have been inappropriate running in a robe. I'm sorry all this is this is the story of Jesus tell his highly offencive. 2 to a Jewish audience this man goes running and he Embraces his son and loves him before he could even utter a word of his speech that he's prepared.

Into the guy begins to give a speech Potter. I've sinned against you. I'm not worthy to be be your son. If you would only welcomed me at your table. He doesn't even finish the speech the father saying come put on a robe put a finger on his a ring on his finger mean he can seal letters of the official seal of the family can do business for the family again put sandals on his feet a mark of dignity that this man is being brought back up to his former status after having wasted half of the inheritance. Come let's Slaughter the fatted calf the first fruits of our labors look for a party cuz my son was dead and he's been brought back to life. Praise God. And so the store could be over at that point a great story. But Jesus goes on to tell about this other older brother that has been good. It stayed home in obeyed and follow the rules and he went to church. And he did his chores. He was a good boy.

And he standing out there working in the field. On his father's land and he don't even know there's a party happening. He has to ask the servant to come explain what's going on?

And when he finds out that they slaughter the fatted calf for his younger, Idiot, Brother. He is furious. That was my fat cat. Everything fits left was supposed to be mine. You mean da of my brother? Now has gotten the fat in calf that I was supposed to get he is furious. He cannot Rejoice with his father.

And so is Dad has to come out pleading with him. His father comes once again humbling himself. He's the father in a patriarchal society. He's the one that's supposed to be dignified. But yet this father comes out humbling himself saying son. Everything I have is yours, you know this when I die everything that I get is yours. I've already given the other half away to your brother. But we had to celebrate we had to throw a party.

Because your brother was lost and now he's found whose party is this.

And the brother says that's not fair.

This is my party was my fat and calf my stuff you guys are eating. Carrying on having a good time. That's not fair.

I found this in the Parlor. I first came to this church. I had suspicions what this was, but I didn't really know and I looked it up.

Can anyone tell me who the artist of this painting is who created this?

Rembrandt Rembrandt 17th century Baroque artists the return of the lost son

was in The Parlor

one of the things I first noticed is how dark it is. This is son was lost. He is broken. He has humiliated hit one of his soles of his feet is missing.

There's Darkness all around but where's the light? this image

around the father embracing the sun, right? You can see on the screen notice the difference you may be able to notice the difference in the two hands. Do you see a difference there?

One is a little bit larger, isn't it? If the image were better quality, maybe you can see in this picture one is a little bit larger. One is a little bit maybe more masculine the left hand.

The right hand is a little bit more slim may be feminine representing the full Embrace of both mother and father is God is both mother and father to us Corey. Priest a couple weeks ago. Jesus depicting himself as a mother, hen. Too long to gather his chicks for her chicks under her wings. God is both mother and father full inclusion full Embrace of this lost son. I noticed you standing off to the side.

The father's embracing the Sun. What is the figure off to the left doing?

Where is he positioned in the image?

He's high.

distant hands folded

no embrace only judgment

that's not fair.

This is an offencive story.

I'm going to church my whole life. I should get to say how things go in church. I should have success. I should get to dictate what the musics like. What kind of carpet we have? where the money spent I've been good.

Whose party? Is this anyway?

The father is reckless. The father is irresponsible. He throws a party for the loss that you're responsible when someone's it should be pulling himself up by the bootstraps the ones that should be getting there life in order like the rest of us. The ones that should get off of drugs and get back in school and go get them self a job like I did. If they would only do that, then they could live the good life. Like I am. trouble is I'm missing out on the party.

Whose party is this? It's a party for the loss. It's a party for the broken. Church, if we're not throwing a party for the lost and broken and what are we doing?

We're playing Church. We're Country Club worse than that. We're lost. We are lost. We are still outside standing in the field with her arms folded wondering what in the world is this party all about anyway, It's ridiculous.

Whose party is this? What are we doing here? Where are we going to church?

Where are we going?

I confess that I'm guilty at times of making it about me. about what I want and what I think

I confess that I need to let go. Of my death grip on my face on God on the church. I need to let go with y'all just do this with me squeeze your palms as hard as you can for 5 seconds 1 2 3 4 5 let go

this is what we are called to do to turn from our control trying to manage our own salvation. and let go cultivate gratitude

cultivate hearts that are broken within for the Lost cultivate openness so that we can let go of our control because we're driving this thing into the ground when we do last week. We heard God say and Isaiah my ways are not your ways. My thoughts are not your thoughts the way that you think life should be done the way you think church should be done. It's not in the way that I often think.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer. I who live but Christ who lives in me. If it were up to me. I would be utterly lost. But thanks be to God Christ lives in me. That is the good news that we want to share that in Christ. There is healing in Brokenness. There is healing would you be broken this morning? If not for yourself for the loss. Would you be broken for people that are outside these four walls that need to know that there's a place where they will be loved and welcomed and embraced. Half of the evangelism conference I went to two weeks ago in St. Simons Island. That was the metaphor for evangelism was an Embrace. We have to have our own arms open. We have to be vulnerable. We have to be willing to let go and let things be done in a different way. So that those that are outside the church might feel welcome because if we won't open our arms if we won't make ourselves vulnerable like this if we stay or arms folded and we won't Embrace God we won't embrace the loss and we will die. alone

I want invite our musicians to come they're going to lead us in a song. Called come to the altar. The father's arms are open wide. This morning. I invite you to come to the altar.

To let go of control. And maybe you have written something down. Or maybe you don't even know what the right and you just need to to put something on the street to say God. I want to cultivate something.

I invite you to come and do that come and kneel at this altar if you feel so LED. Come in feel the Embrace of the father. Good loves us. Despite our judgmentalism.

Are feigned Pious nesar fake piety?

Our sin the stuff that we don't want people to see or know about the stuff that we do behind closed doors. The things that we think when we're alone.

God loves us in spite of all that has been fact he loves us so much that he'll help us overcome it in Christ Jesus. Let's come to the Cross this morning together to receive that Grace. May it be so amen

What's fan together?

by the way, Jesus is

search for train from the weather.

SpongeBob

Thank you Father. Thank you for the treasure that you have given us of Salvation through your son Jesus Christ of healing and wholeness and power through your Holy Spirit. I thank you. Thank you for that in brace that we have received and experienced the Divine love.

That you have sent into our lives.

The God we confess that sometimes.

We don't want to let go. Sometimes we want to remain in that embrace. We enjoy worship. We enjoy church culture so much that we don't want to leave it. And go and seek and save the Lost.

We make it about us and we think that it's our party.

When it's really a party for the broken.

God forgive us for being selfish.

Help us to open our arms once again. That we might embrace the other those people. People not like us people that think differently look differently live differently.

So glad we're here this morning. To worship you but we are also here to love our neighbor to fulfill your great Commandment that we are to love you and love our neighbors as ourselves. And so God we named concerns before you for those neighbors for friends loved ones.