Lost the "love feeling"?

This blog is a devotional from Girlfriends in God. Check it out here.

Today’s Truth
“Yet I hold this against you; You have forsaken your first love,” (Revelation 2:4 NIV).

Friend to Friend
“We’ve lost that lovin’ feelin’,” the guys crones on the radio. And I sit there and think to myself, “Stop whining man! Love’s not a feelin’ in the first place. That was your problem to being with!”
Now, that sounds a little cynical, I know. But can I be honest? I get so weary of people talking about falling in and out of love, like it is something you can turn off and on like an electric blanket to warm you up on a chilly night. Love is a commitment. I married my husband because I loved him. Now I love him because I married him. If we let our hearts be jerked around because how we’re feeling on any given day, then we’re headed on a never ending roller coaster ride that will leave us heart sick and soul sore. (I’m feeling feisty today. Can you tell?)
OK, so what do you do if you’ve “lost that lovin’ feelin’”? Maybe you truly adored your husband in the beginning, but now you can’t remember why. Maybe you admired his finer qualities, but now you can’t remember what they were.  Maybe you appreciated his wonderful attributes, but now take them for granted. What do you do now?
Here’s a statistic you might find interesting. According to an analysis of the National Survey of Families and Households, 86 percent of unhappily married people who stick it out find that, five years later, their marriages are happier. In fact, nearly 60 percent of those who rated their marriage as unhappy in one survey, and who stayed married, rated their same marriage “very happy” or “quite happy” when re-interviewed five years later. In comparison, those who divorced and remarried, divorced again at a rate of 60 percent.
So, starting over may very well be the answer … as long as it’s with the same man.
In the book of Revelation in the Bible, God had this to say to the church at Ephesus. “Yet I hold this against you; You have forsaken your first love” (Revelation 2:4).  Ephesus was one of the most loving churches in the New Testament and yet, somewhere along the way, they lost that initial thrill of knowing Christ. Their love for each other and for God had grown cold.
And it is the same way in many marriages. Many men and women have forgotten their first love. Somewhere between taking out the garbage, paying the bills, running carpool, mowing the lawn, disciplining the kids, folding the laundry…somewhere among the mundane routine of life, they’ve lost that lovin’ feelin’.
So how do you get it back? God gave the church two simple steps for the Bride of Christ to renew her passion for her Beloved, and I believe we can apply the same principles to renewing your passion for the man of your dreams.

Remember and Return
Remember what drew you to your husband in the first place?  Remember how you tried to please him, capture his heart, and win his affection? That may have been fifty pounds and a full head of hair ago, but that young man who longed to be adored, admired, and appreciated still lives within his heart. He wants to know if he still “has what it takes.” Let him know that he does.
Everyone loves a love story. Tell your children the story of how you first met and fell in love. Remember special days such as your first date, your first kiss, or when you first realized he was the man you wanted to marry.
Listen to a tape or watch a video of your wedding. Steve and I celebrate not only our wedding anniversary but also the day he asked me to marry him. I’m sure my son has tired of hearing the story time and time again, but he’s never doubted that his parents are crazy about each other.
Listen, if we tried to hang on to that “lovin’ feelin’” 24/7, it would be like continually popping a beach ball up in the air to try and keep it from touching the ground. On the other hand, we CAN commit to love 24/7. And while we’re at it, we can stir up some of that lovin’ feelin’ to go along with it.

Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, I so want to be a woman that is on fire for You. I want my spiritual passion to be ablaze and never cool. Likewise, I want my marriage to be a passionate example of Christ and the Church. Help me to always remember what drew me to my husband and show me ways to keep that love strong.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn
If you have kids, tell them the story of how you met and fell in love with your husband at the dinner table tonight.
If you aren’t married, tell someone how you met Jesus Christ and gave your life to Him.
If you are married, write down what drew you to your husband initially.
If you are not married, write down what you long for in the man of your dreams.

End Times

Rolling Stone
Words of Jesus on the End Times (Matthew 24-25)
February 17, 2013

Matthew 24:1-2
 How are Jesus’ words fulfilled?

24:3-14 Birth Pains• What are the disciples’ questions?
• What is Jesus’s answer? (Rom 8:22-23, 1 John 4:2-3, Matt. 28:19)

24:15-26 Tribulation• What is the abomination of desolation? (Dan 9:27, 2 Thess. 2:3-4, 8-12)
• What will the tribulation be like?

24:26-31 Return of Christ• What are the signs of the return of Christ? (Dan. 7:13-14, Rev. 1:7)

24:32-41 When?• When will Jesus return?

4 Parables: What does Jesus want us to learn from each parable?

24:42-44 Thief and Homeowner• What does it mean to stay awake?
24:45-51 Servants

25:1-13 10 Virgins/Bridesmaids

25:14-30 Talents
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
25:31-46 Great White Throne Judgment
• What will happen?
• When will this happen?

Parable of the Tenants

Here are the notes from last Sunday! It was a very interesting study so I encourage you all to take a look at it on your own time if you couldn't be there. Also, this Sunday we will be studying Matthew 24-25 if you want to read that ahead of time!
Jordan also asked that I share this link: The Wicked Tenants

Rolling Stone

Parables of Jesus: Parable of the Tenants

February 10, 2013

The Tenants – Matthew 21:33-44, Mark 12:1-11, Luke 20:9-18

Context: 

• Vineyard imagery (Isaiah 5:1-7)

• Psalm 118:22-23 was already known as messianic psalm

• Jesus cleanses the temple after arriving in Jerusalem (vv. 12-17)

• Jesus’ authority is questioned (vv. 23-27)

• Parable of the Two Sons (vv. 28-32)

“And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.” (Matthew 21:32 ESV)

Who is the audience? Jewish leaders

Who is the master of the house? God

What does the story tell us about Him? He is incomprehensibly kind, but will exact judgment

What does the vineyard represent? God’s kingdom

Who are the tenants? the Jewish leaders

What does the fruit represent? the fruit (a metaphor will still use) of their faith

Who could the servants represent? (1 Kings 18:4, 19:10; 2 Chr. 24:20-21; Neh. 9:26; Jer. 20:1-2, 26:20-23, 37:15, 38:6) prophets who had been rejected

Who is the son? Unmistakably Jesus Christ, this is a public declaration of his divine Sonship

How can we reword verse 40 in these terms?

“When therefore [Jesus] comes, what will he do to [the Jewish Leadership]?”

What will be the two results? 

1) Death of the tenants

2) Giving of vineyard to others who will produce fruit

When and what does this refer to? The present arrival of Jesus; the taking away of leadership of fruit bearing from the Jewish leadership to the church; preliminarily, the destruction of the temple

The church will be a new “people” (Gk. ethnos, “nation, people”) consisting of disciples, both Jews and Gentiles, gathered out of many “nations” (Matt. 28:19; plural of Gk. ethnos) and brought together as one new “nation” (1 Pet. 2:9; singular of Gk. ethnos) in the unfolding of God’s kingdom in the present age. (ESV Study Bible)

Does this mean that Israel will never be responsible for God’s kingdom? (Romans 11:25-27) 

No, Israel has always been promised a nation, a people, and a Seed (Jesus). This will be fulfilled in the end times.

Who is the cornerstone? (Acts 4:11, 1 Peter 2:4-8, Dan 2:44) Christ

Who is the one who falls on the stone? (Matt. 24:29-31, 25:31-40) one who is broken with repentance as a result of falling on Christ

Who will it fall on? (Matt 25:41-46) those who refuse to repent

How did Jesus want his audience to respond?

Let our words be a blessing

This post if from a devotional by Sharon Jaynes over on the website Girlfriends in God. The focus is more towards women but I think its beneficial for everyone to read!

A Marriage Destroyed by Words

Today’s Truth

“Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word, nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it,” (Ephesians 4:29 Amplified).

Friend to Friend

I talked to a friend of mine about what went so wrong in his marriage that led to divorce. Girlfriend, we need to pay attention to his response.

“When I met Jona at the beach retreat,” Don explained, “I was struck by her vivacious, fun attitude. Oh and did I mention, she looked great in her purple bathing suit? (This is 20 years later and he still remembers the color!)  She stole my heart and as soon as we got home from the retreat, I called and asked her out.”

I had always been a people pleaser.  At first I was always trying to please my parents, then I moved to pleasing my friends, and when I met Jona, I always tried to please her as well.  We were soon married and I couldn’t have been happier. She was so encouraging, loving, and supportive.  After a few years of marriage and several poor financial decisions, I began to see her lose her respect for me. That was most evident in the words she spoke.”

“In the past everything I touched turned to gold. I was president of the student body, won athletic awards, and succeeded in business. As a result, I over promised to Jona and expected her to trust me. Jona was the one person I wanted approval from and the one person from whom I was not getting it. She grew frustrated, angry and bitter towards me. She also withdrew physically, which was the crowning blow to my manhood.”

Jona said things like, “If you cared about us, you wouldn’t make all these bad decisions, you’re a loser, you’re worthless.”

“I’m not putting all the blame of our past marriage problems on Jona. I was shooting for the moon instead of a ten yard gain. I was trying to hit a homerun instead of a base hit. But honestly, once I realized Jona had lost respect for me, I felt the marriage was over. Her words cut too deep and no bandage could stop the bleeding.”

I asked Don what could have made a difference and prevented the eventual separation and divorce.

“If she had said, ‘I’m with you, Don,’ or ‘Let’s work on this together’ or ‘How can I help?’ it would have made all the difference in the world. I didn’t feel like we were on the same team. Instead, she said, ‘If you don’t fix it, I will.’ Instead of constantly pointing out my failures, because believe me, I knew what they were, encouraging words would have made all the difference.”

“At one point,” Don said with tears in his eyes, “I found a list of 80 things that Jona didn’t like about me and 3 things she did like. That list broke my heart. She had no intention of me finding the list, but I happened across it one day when I was looking for something. That was the final nail in the coffin. Jona had nothing but disdain for me. A marriage without respect is no marriage. I saw no hope.”

After Don and Jona’s divorce, he met a woman who gave him all the adoration and encouragement that his wife had not. She was gentle, soft spoken, affectionate, hung on his shoulder, smiled at him, and was very affirming. Her beautiful spirit was a breath of fresh air.

“Don,” I asked, “what advice do you have for a woman who is withholding encouraging words or perhaps cutting her husband down with critical jabs?”

“I don’t think any single thing takes away a man’s strength of character more than the loss of respect,” he said. “Don’t dwell on his weakness, but dwell on the positives. Men are in a fight for our lives. We are at war mentally. We’re out there trying to conquer the world.  A man needs to know that home is a safe place to be instead of feeling like you’re leaving one battle for another.”

Maybe you have not been giving encouraging words to your husband lately? Perhaps it has been so long you’ve forgotten how? I hope Don’s and Jona’s story stirs your heart to build up that man of yours and become the woman of his dreams.

Think back to when you were dating. What did you admire about that young man that captured your heart?  Look for an opportunity to praise him, but make sure it is genuine.  Find one attribute, character trait or task that he does well and begin there. If you are out of practice, this may be difficult at first. But I can promise you, it will become easier with time, especially when you see the results on your husband’s face and his attitude towards you.

Let’s Pray

Lord, oh how easy it is to see my husband’s flaws and ignore my own. Help me to use my words to plant seeds of love and encouragement and not weeds of bitterness and discouragement. I commit this very day to not use my words to tear my man down, but only to build him up. Help me to be like Job and put my hand over my mouth if any negative words attempt to escape my lips (Job 40:4).

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Are you feeling brave? Really brave?

If so, look up the following verses:  [Proverbs 11:22; 19:13; 25:24; 21:19; 27:15-16]

The Net and The Weeds

Rolling Stone

February 3, 2013

Parables – The Net and the Weeds

The Weeds – Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43;  Mark 4:26-29

• Audience – the crowds; later the disciples only
• Context/Setting – many crowds had come to him; so he got in a boat and sat down while the crowd stood on the beach as he taught them in parables.  (Matthew 13:1-2)
• This is one of the parables that Jesus explains clearly, so there is little to be interpreted.  
• Who sows the good seed?
• Who sows the weeds?
• What does the field refer to?
• What is the good seed?
• What are the weeds?
• What does the harvest represent?
• Who are the reapers?

• Discussion:
• Read 2 Corinthians 4:18.  Remember that the disciples were very uninformed and uneducated on the Scriptures and the Law.  They did not have the New Testament or Revelation to refer to.  What did this parable help them understand about the unseen, eternal world?
• Read Matthew 13:28-30.  Why does the Master say not to go ahead and uproot the weeds?  What would this have meant for the disciples hearing this message?  (Look at 2 Peter 3:4-10 and Romans 8:28)  What does this mean for us as the Church with relation to our outlook on the world and our mission in the world?
• The parable of the mustard seed and the leaven comes between the parable of the wheat and the weeds and Jesus’ explanation of the parable.  How do those parables maybe shed light on the interpretation of this parable?  
• Read Matthew 7:15-20.  In the end, there will be a clear differentiation between the good seed and the weeds.  This distinction is difficult to see when the wheat and weeds are just sprouting.  How will we know according to this passage?  What does this mean to us as Christians in the meantime?
• Did you know that Jesus prayed for you specifically?  Read John 17.  Identify the parts of Christ’s prayer that relate to this parable of the wheat and the weeds.  How incredible is it that Jesus prays and intercedes for us!!!

The Net – Matthew 13:47-50

• Audience – Disciples
• Context/Setting – now in the house; more intimate conversation between Jesus and the disciples.
• Points of Reference:
• What does the sea represent?
• What does the net represent?
• Who are the good fish?
• Who are the bad fish?
• Who are the men that are sorting the fish?
• What is the fiery furnace?

• Discussion:
• Some of the disciples were fishermen.  They had witnessed Jesus catch many fish in a net in their first encounter with Him.  Read Luke 5:1-11.  How did this parable relate Christ’s promise to make them fishers of men?
• There are many parallels from the parable of the wheat and the weeds and this parable.  However, I want to focus on this idea of the net.  What does the net represent for the fish?  (Read 2 Corinthians 5:10)  
• Net represents anything that ensnares and traps.  For the fish, it meant death.
• A net is something you don’t see coming.  (Proverbs 1:17)

• What does Christ offer to the sons of righteousness?  (Read Psalm 25:1-15.  Pay close attention to verse 15).  What is similar between this passage and the passage about Joshua the High Priest in Zechariah 3?

Marriage for God's glory

I've decided that I want to start sending out a link every week with an article and/or video about marriage...so if any of you have a good link, send it to me and I'll make sure to post it! :)

Here's the one for this week:

Marriage lived for the glory of God

I know its a little long, but its a good one and definitely worth the read.

The Kingdom of Heaven

Rolling Stone

January 27, 2013

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, Part III

PARABLES: The Mustard Seed, The Leaven, The Hidden Treasure, The Pearl of Great Value

---

The Mustard Seed: (Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19)    Audience: Disciples/Multitudes
    Context: after telling speaking with the multitudes, the disciples are explained the meaning of the parables, then Jesus continues with comparing the kingdom of Heaven to a mustard seed
    These three passages are very similar except for one detail: Mark details the branches shooting out so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.  
    Is this an immediate occurrence?
    Why do you think Jesus meant to compare it to the mustard seed?
        -It represents the Kingdom.  Only one seed is mentioned, instead of a plot of seeds.  Just one – Jesus was One man in time. At that time the Kingdom may have appeared insignificant but will grow to manifest at the end of the Age.
    What does it take for a mustard seed to grow?
        -Ground: nutrients, water, environment for growth, sunlight, one to cultivate, protect it work is involved, for future greatness, it progresses by intentional growth takes an act of faith to plant ONE mustard seen, but if it represents the kingdom it won’t return void. The world says to plant multiples in case one does not root, but this is the kingdom…it WILL produce
    This parable speaks of the destined greatness of the kingdom, contrasting its limited (at the time) present significance in a small band of original followers with worldwide domination at Jesus’ return – a greatness that will be apparent at its consummation at the end of the Age.  
   
The Leaven: (Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:20-21)    Leaven and measures. Leaven makes it better – causes bread to rise.
        -ability to spread
        -whatever it touches it affects and “saturates” it.
    The woman took the leaven, hid in 3 measures...about 2 pecks in all…of meal till it was all leavened. Significant that she allowed it to PERMEATE all parts of the meal (every corner of the dough)
    Does bread rise immediately? What happens if you bake unleavened bread?
    Why leaven/yeast? How does it work?
    This parable speaks of the Kingdom not fully being manifest, but it will be made manifest to all.

The Hidden Treasure & The Pearl of Great Value: (Matthew 13:44-46)
    These are similar parables.  Both tell of an item of great worth that is found or sought after.  The treasure was hidden but found, while the pearl was being sought after.  After being discovered, the man in question sold all of his belongings just to purchase the field/pearl.  
    These both stress the superlative value of the kingdom.  
        -something that has incredible worth.  
        -the treasure could be us – how God searches and finds us and out of great joy Jesus went to the cross to secure us for His kingdom.

Love and Forgiveness

Rolling Stone

Parables of Jesus: Love and Forgiveness

January 20, 2013

Review: Forgiveness in The Prodigal Son

The Two Debtors – Luke 7:41-43 (36-50)

Which came first: love or forgiveness? (47)

What saved the woman? What is the evidence of this? (50)

Do we believe that Jesus can forgive sin?

How can we show our faith without having a physical Jesus in our presence like the woman?

The Good Samaritan – Luke 10:29-37

“What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” What is Jesus’ answer?

“Who is my neighbor?”- Why does the lawyer ask this? What would be a better question?

How can I be a better neighbor? How does Jesus answer this question?

How do we respond to this answer?

The Unforgiving Servant – Matt 18:23-35 (21-35)

Background info: 

• ten thousand talents. In NT times, it was a unit of monetary reckoning (though not an actual coin), valued at about 6,000 drachmas, the equivalent of about 20 years’ wages for a laborer. (A common laborer earned about one denarius per day.) In approximate modern equivalents, if a laborer earns $15 per hour, at 2,000 hours per year he would earn $30,000 per year, and a talent would equal $600,000 (USD). Hence, “ten thousand talents” hyperbolically represents an incalculable debt—in today’s terms, about $6 billion.

• a hundred denarii. This was still a large amount (equivalent to about 20 weeks of common labor, or about $12,000 in today’s terms), but compared to the debt that the wicked servant himself owed ($6 billion), it was a relatively small amount.

The forgiveness of such a massive debt is a dramatic illustration of

1. the massive debt that people owe, because of their sins, to the holy, righteous God

2. their complete inability ever to pay such a debt (“For the wages of sin is death … ,” Rom. 6:23a)

3. God’s great mercy and patience (Matt. 18:26, 29) in withholding his immediate righteous judgment that all people deserve for their sins

4. God’s gracious provision of Christ’s death and resurrection to pay the debt for sins and to break the power of sin (“but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord,” Rom. 6:23b)

The two central points of the parable are:

1. that the gift of salvation is immeasurably great (“how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” Heb. 2:3)

2. that unless a person is comparably merciful to others, (a) God’s mercy has not had a saving effect upon him (Matt. 18:32–33), and (b) he will be liable to pay the consequences himself (vv. 34–35).

January 6 ABF

Here is last week's (Jan. 6) ABF so that you can catch up if you weren't there :)

Rolling Stone

Parables of Jesus: Humility & Prayer

January 6, 2013

The Kingdom of Heaven:

The Workers in the Vineyard

Matthew 20:1-16

I. Background in Matthew

Ch 3 begins the narrative of Jesus’ ministry.

Ch3-7:29 à Proclamation of the Kingdom of Heaven, ending with the Sermon on the Mount – how people should live under the reign of the Almighty

Ch 8-11:1 à Ministry in Galilee, instructions to disciples for their ministry

Ch 11:2-13:52 à controversial events involving Jesus; 7 parables describing some aspect of the Kingdom of heaven coupled with necessary human response (we will get into these around Jan 27^th)

Ch 13:53-18:35 à concerns the conduct of believers within Christian fellowship

Ch19-25:26 à final journey to Jerusalem and conflict with Judaism; the last things, events/teachings pertaining to the Crucifixion, Resurrection, Commission to the church

The Kingdom of Heaven

Matthew 5 – beatitudes

Poor in Spirit: recognizing spiritual poverty, denying self-dependence, seeking God’s grace

Those who mourn: including those who experience sorrow for repentance – they will be comforted

Meek:  controlled strength; humility and self-discipline

Persecution: because of loyalty to righteousness – great is your reward in heaven.

Christ Fulfills the Law – 5:17-20

            - Christ came to fulfill the law, to be preserved as He interprets it: Jot and tittle signifying small marks that distinguish letters in the Greek/Hebrew alphabet.  v20 – the Kingdom requirement is righteousness at heart – not by legalism

The Narrow Way – 7:13,14

            - Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Jesus is the way to salvation and righteousness.

Purpose of Parables – 13:10-17

            - make spiritual truths clearer to hearers; put truth in form easily remembered; avoid offense with hostile peple who would not receive the truth; declare judgment upon those who were willfully blind

            -followers of Jesus will understand or will probe for deeper understanding.  Those who have shut their eyes/ears to the truth will not realize the significance of what they are seeing and hearing, consequently will not repent and receive forgiveness.

We pick up in 19:23 that leads up to 20:1-16

1. Who is the audience?

            -Disciples; it grows out of the attitude they had toward service and rewards.  Jesus rebukes the spirit of serving for a reward itself rather than out of love

            -What is 19:23,24 saying? – trust in riches over God makes it impossible to enter heaven

            .

2. What are the points of reference?

            -Landowner: God

            -hirees: Jews, Gentiles

            -vineyard: Kingdom, the work to be done

            -days wage: Denarius, the reward

            -the Marketplace: the world

3. What is the meaning to each potential audience?

            -landowner: decides how to manage his land, the worth of a days wage, who to hire/fire

            -hirees: at the mercy of the landowner, do not own the land, awaiting for work

                        -what are their complaints?

                        -how does the landowner respond?

                        -what about those who are hired later?

                                    -what are their two states? Idle  vs hired/diligent

            -vineyard: the kingdom, the work zone, mission field, etc

            -days wage: the reward, is it out of debt? does he reward obedience and effort?

4. How can we tell this parable in our own words?       

            -parallel the reward to eternal life: those who acknowledge JC as Savior and confess sin, follow Him receive eternal life; however, ones who on their death bed who acknowledge JC as Savior and confess sin receive eternal life.  

5. How can we see the gospel/kingdom at work in this parable?

            -the hirees were handpicked…chosen

            -they had their reward coming – their inheritance, if you will

            1. Jews were called first – they had the law

            2. The gentiles heard the gospel later – they should receive the same gospel, same reward, equal privileges in the kingdom

            3. the reward is given to SAINTS, believers not by their work or the timing of their conversion (it’s not who you know) but it’s the reward of salvation

            4. We all were idle in the market, unhired, awaiting for something to happen.  Jesus came, with life and salvation and now God calls us to eternal life – he calls us out of the marketplace

           

6. How do these ideas apply to our lives/marriages?

    - Love is the theme – God’s love.  His grace.  Salvation.  It is not by our work, but by His grace.  Not by what good we do, but by the goodness of His love.  How deep can we get to this?

Love and Marriage Conference

You're Invited!!

Who? All nearly and newlyweds

What? The 11th annual Love and Marriage Weekend

Where? First Irving

When? Friday February 8th (6:30-8pm) AND Saturday February 9th (8:15am-12:15pm)

Why? To gain wisdom, get encouragement, and learn Biblical truths about marriage

The cost for the entire weekend is only $30 per couple. This covers two meals, childcare, and marriage enrichment!

*If you are getting married (or know a couple who is), this weekend also gives you a voucher for $60 off of the Texas marriage license fee.

Make sure to be praying about inviting someone that you know could use encouragement in their marriage- this is such a great opportunity!

Go here to register and find out more.

The Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and Prodigal Son

I want to start by apologizing that things on here haven't been updated as regularly as I would like lately, but with 2 broken computers and traveling for the holidays, its been more difficult to get things posted! I promise that I will do better from now on :)

Here are the notes from ABF today!

Rolling Stone

January 13, 2013

Parables – The Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son

The Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin – Matthew 18:10-14; Luke 15:3-10

·         Audience – Pharisees and scribes, tax collectors and sinners

·         Context – this parable is given by Christ in response to the Pharisees grumbling and complaint about Jesus’ time spent and meals shared with tax collectors and sinners. 

·         These stories are identical.  There is a precious coin or a single lamb that has been lost from among the others.  As a result, the shepherd and the woman go in search of it, and when they find it, they rejoice!

·         Jesus shares this parable to describe the response that is experienced by the angels in heaven over one lost sinner who repents.  There is great joy in heaven when what has been lost is found. 

·         I love that his words are “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”  Knowing his target audience is the Pharisees, what could this have meant to them?

o        Isaiah 64:5-8

o        Psalm 51:16-17

The Prodigal Son – Luke 15:11-32

·         Same audience and context.

·         Two Sons:

o        Younger – takes his share of the property and squanders it in reckless living.

o        Older – faithfully serves the father and obeys all that he commands

·         The younger son reaches the end of himself in verse 16.  At this point he realizes his wrong and decides to return to his father and repent of his sin. 

·         Notice the incredibly gracious and merciful response from the Father:

o        Saw him and felt compassion

o        Ran to where he was, met him on the path, and embraced him

o        Put the best robe on him, a ring on his head, shoes on his feet

o        Prepared the fattened calf and celebrated

o        Read Zechariah 3:1-5

·         The response of the older son:

o        Angry and refused to go in to celebrate

o        His pride and hope was in the things HE HAD DONE for the father, not in the father himself

o        He felt deserving of and entitled to a greater reward than the younger son.  Sound familiar to the parable of the laborers in the vineyard?

o        We need to always remember that our works are not our hope for salvation.  When compared with Christ’s standard of perfection and holiness, our best day is “filthy garments.”  Sacrifices he desires not, but a broken and contrite heart, he will not despise. 

Let’s close by reading Isaiah 53.

Discussion:

1.       Which son are you?  Do you find yourself struggling with the same thing the older son did?

2.       Seeing the father’s response of grace and forgiveness, and even restoration to the younger son’s repentance is a great encouragement for us.  What implications does this have for us in our marriages when we face marital conflict or one or both spouses exhibits selfishness?

3.       What did the younger son have to do to earn his father’s affection?  What does this mean to you?  Hebrews 4:14-16