Prodigal Generation
His first question was what drives some churches to be different?
Was it: strategy, truth or message, community, leadership, family, creativity, Holy Spirit
He answered, No to all of the above.
He said what makes a church distinctively different is do they treat every prodigal the way a loving father would treat his own son.
He read from Luke 15:11-31 and he also emphasized verses 1&2 in Chapter 15 that read: "this man welcomes sinners and eats with them"
2 Different approaches to sin (lost son)
1. Approach of Jesus and the Loving Father OR 2. Approach of Pharisees and older brother
Loving Father approach
1. Pre-occupied with who is missing
Want church to not be about who we want to keep, but about who we want to reach.
2. Operate from a context of forgiveness
We live in a generation that wants to feel better about doing bad stuff, let's teach them to understand change and forgiveness
3. Throw parties - smart dads know how to build ministry around forgiveness and celebration
4. Confront Older brother thinking
5. Keep the lights on for as long as it takes
Older brother approach
1. Pre-occupied with themselves
2. Operate from a context of shame
3. Throw fits - % of church has people mad about something
4. Criticize loving Fathers thinking
5. Shut the door and turn off the lights
Build people that decide to treat every prodigal like a loving Father.
Why?
1. Jesus made it a priority
2. Because you are a model and need to lead it.
3. Because you know a prodigal
Before we even ask the question about what kind of church do we attend, how about what kind of thinking do we tend to move towards personally, loving Father or older brother? We all can take steps to be more like Jesus!
2 comments:
hey holly!!! i was navigating thru the FRC website as i was watching the service this morning and came aross all these blogs of people at church. i instantly recognizedyour name first and started reading yours. it made me smile because i felt like i could hear your voice reading or writing these blog messages. anyway i just wanted to say hi and see how everything is going and how your family is and how corey is doin in college any what not. i hope to hear back from u my email is caitlin.yapchung@gmail.com. i would love to catch up with you some time. xoxo ♥
Thanks Caitlin...glad to see things are going well at school. Corey is home now, taking summer classes at BCC. Will you be around this summer, please come by and see me. Joey Wood and Nick K just came by the other day, Joey is getting married. Love you, Holly
Post a Comment