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.
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Prodigal God: The True Elder Brother
December 12, 2021 • Keith Daugherty • Luke 15
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 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.
Prodigal God: Give Me My Share
November 28, 2021 • Keith Daugherty • Luke 15
Over the last few weeks we have been unpacking the richness of Luke 15. • The chapter begins with a meal between Jesus, tax collectors and notorious sinners. • The religious leaders dislike Jesus table manners and begin to murmur, • In response to their murmuring, Jesus tells three stories… That really rocks their world. • Then he tells the story of a lost sheep…. • Secondly he tells the story of a lost coin…. • Then he tells a third story of a man that had two sons. Through each of these stories Jesus challenges the relirious categories of Sin, Salvation and the world around them. This week we are diving into the third of Jesus’ three parables, which is the longest and most famous. It is a story about a family—a father, an older son, and a younger son. Typically known as the Parable of the Prodigal Son. --- #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.