June 17, 2018

Luke 15:11-32 New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Lost Son

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

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. 14 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. 16 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 servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 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 servants.’ 20 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.’

22 “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.

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Have you every wished you could have super powers?

If you could have a super power, what would it be? 

If you could choose to be a superhero, which one would you choose to be? 

Today I want to talk about a special kind of super hero and while my comments are directly targeted to the men of our church today, the principles I want to share relate to all of us

That’s right, I want to be a Super Dad… 

Now before I begin, I want to address some sensitive issues that seem to come to the surface whenever I talk about Dads 

Some of you had great Dads and for you this message will bring good memories to the surface as you say that was my Dad 

Others may experience feelings of sorrow, regret or even anger because you didn’t have a great Dad. To you I say, please stick with me to the end. Don’t ignore those feelings but don’t allow them to block out the spiritual truths that I want to share with you today 

Remember that this is not just a message about what we may have had, but what we can become

1.    SuperDads know the source of their power

2.    SuperDads avoid the dangers of kryptonite

3.    SuperDads are just Clark Kent’s in disguise

4.    SuperDads are super approachable

5.  SuperDads fight for truth and justice with compassion, grace, mercy and forgiveness.

6.    SuperDads are not Invincible