Prodigal God: The People Around Jesus

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Prodigal God: The People Around Jesus

November 21, 2021 • Keith Daugherty • Luke 15

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Last week, we began a several week conversation that centers around Jesus’ parable in Luke 15 that has been traditionally called: "The Parable of the Prodigal Son." On the surface, the story line of the parable isn’t all that gripping. There was a father who had two sons. The younger son asked for his share of the inheritance. He was given what he asked for and left for a distant land where he blew the entire inheritance on partying and sensual pleasures. He returns home broken fully aware of what he’s done and is shocked that his father welcomed him with open arms. The father’s gracious welcome of the younger son alienated and enraged the elder brother. The story closes with the father appealing to the older son to join the welcome and forgiveness of his younger brother. At first glance, it seems pretty simple, but if you fully grasp what Jesus is actually saying here you learn everything you need to know about the heart of God, the meaning of the gospel, and your place in his story.

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Prodigal God: The Feast of the Father

December 19, 2021 • Keith Daugherty • Luke 15

In this last week of our Series on the 15th Chapter of Luke's Gospel. Through this series, our prayer is that our understanding of the grace of God, our belief in the extravagant love of God, our heart for people who don’t know Jesus, our passion for the least, the last and the lost, forgotten people in forgotten places…and like the father in the parable when the son who was thought to be dead was found to be alive, we would say, 'We had to celebrate with the Feast of Salvation! Our prayer is that this is not just another series, but it truly expresses the unique culture and DNA of who we are as a church. --- #wearemercychurch If this is your first time with us, make sure to fill out the connect card: http://bit.ly/mcwfconnect OR text WELCOME to 3258994100 If you would like to give, you can do that here: http://bit.ly/mcwfgives If you need prayer, please let us know in the comments section or private message us and we would love to pray with you.

Prodigal God: The True Elder Brother

December 12, 2021 • Keith Daugherty • Luke 15

We are in week 5 of our study of Luke 15. In the 3rd parable, the Father initiates dialogue with both lost sons. To the younger morally bankrupt son, there is no condemning attitude from the Father. The exact opposite happens when younger son returns home. Listen to this: Luke 15:20 NLT 20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. Despite the manure matted hair from the time he spends in the pig pen…despite the flies that swarm his body…despite the stench…the Father runs to the him, embraces him, kisses him, and welcomes him home. He initiates love for the son before the son ever has a chance to confess his sin. This is important because it shatters the religious lie that a distorted understanding of scripture tells. Its not the son’s repentance that causes the Father’s love, but the complete reverse. The father’s extravagant love brings genuine repentance and remorse from the son. The Father initiated love. --- #wearemercychurch If this is your first time with us, make sure to fill out the connect card: http://bit.ly/mcwfconnect OR text WELCOME to 3258994100 If you would like to give, you can do that here: http://bit.ly/mcwfgives If you need prayer, please let us know in the comments section or private message us and we would love to pray with you.

Prodigal God: The Elder Brother

December 5, 2021 • Keith Daugherty • Luke 15

We are in the fourth week of a study of the 15th chapter of Luke’s gospel. It all began with Jesus being criticized for continually being seen in public eating with notorious sinners the socially ostracized those on the fringes of respectable society. The religious community (of which Jesus was a part) criticized the company he was keeping. Their criticism revealed how far their religious hearts had drifted from the heart of God. In response to their criticism, Jesus tells them three stories that describe God’s heart those who are “lost”…those who are far from him. --- #wearemercychurch If this is your first time with us, make sure to fill out the connect card: http://bit.ly/mcwfconnect OR text WELCOME to 3258994100 If you would like to give, you can do that here: http://bit.ly/mcwfgives If you need prayer, please let us know in the comments section or private message us and we would love to pray with you.