The Prodigal

Jesus tells a wonderful story in Luke 15 that is commonly called “The Prodigal Son.” It’s a story memorable for its dramatic events and its engaging characters: a son who wanders away from his family, a father who waits hopefully for his son to come home, and a brother who rejects his brother when he returns. But which one is really the prodigal; the wandering brother, the extravagant father, or the scornful brother? Or maybe all three?

The Prodigal
(c) 2006, Alex Kozobolis. Used by permission.
Link to more of Alex's photos

Date	Speaker	Resources	Topic
May 27, 2007	Chaplain Keith Rivers	audio archived	Good News Jail and Prison Ministry, Luke 8:4-15 "The Parable of the Sower"
June 3, 2007	Pastor John Wunderlich	Notes0603 audio archived	The Prodigal 1 - The Wandering Brother - "Coming Home to God" This prodigal was "exceedingly wasteful" with the blessing and inheritance of his father. Like the father in the parable, God give us incredible freedom. Often we use that freedom to walk away from him because we want a life free of God's demands. That life leads to disaster, but its never too late to come home to God. Don't waste your inheritance from your heavenly father; come home.
June 10, 2007	Pastor John Wunderlich	Notes0610 audio archived	The Prodigal 2 - The Extravagant Father - "The Extravagance of God" The father is a prodigal as well - "extravagant and extremely generous." Our God is "prodigal" in the same way - God gives exceedingly abundantly all that we can ask or even think. God's extravagance flows out of his great love for us. It is a ove that is unconditional, unsurpassable, and untamable. God's love is bigger than your sin. God's love is beyond your control. God's love is without peer.
June 17, 2007	Pastor John Wunderlich	Notes0617 audio archived	The Prodigal 3 - The Unforgiving Brother - "Learning to Forgive" The older brother tries to "drive forth or push away" from his brother and his family. His unforgiving heart pushes him away from his brother. His lack of understanding of grace drives him away from his father. This is the most difficult "prodigal" to consider. We see ourselves in the wandering brother; we see God in the extravagant father, but we fail to see a lesson for ourselves in the unforgiving brother. As a result un-forgiveness and ignorance rob us of the deepest blessings God has to offer.
June 24, 2007	Pastor John Wunderlich	Notes0624 audio0624	"Getting A Heart Transplant" - Luke 19:1-10
July 1, 2007	Dr. Peter Hays & family	audio0701	"Come Join Us on the Wall" - Col 4:2-6 Visiting church-planting missionaries to Holland

*Click the "MP3" link to play audio from your browser or right-click and save the audio file to your local drive