CONNECT MESSAGE (2 Apr 2026, PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON; BY ELVIS GOOD LUCK)

CONNECT MESSAGE
(2 Apr 2026, PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON; BY ELVIS GOOD LUCK)

1.   The son who ran away
Luke 15:11-12 ^CEB
11 Jesus said, “A certain man had two sons. 
¹² The younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the inheritance.’ Then the father divided his estate between them.

I want your stuff but I don’t want you.
Like today, we want HIS blessing but don’t want HIS presence.

Luke 15:17-18 ^CEB
17 When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have more than enough food, but I’m starving to death! 
¹⁸ I will get up and go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
He came to his senses.

 

2.   The father who ran toward
Luke 15:20 ^CEB
So he got up and went to his father.

“While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion. His father ran to him, hugged him, and kissed him.

Luke 15:22-23 ^NKJV

²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 
²³ And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;

                        i.         ROBE               : restored his HONOUR

                       ii.         RING                : reinstated his AUTHORITY

                      iii.         SANDALS         : established his SONSHIP

                      iv.         FATTENED CALF           : CELEBRATED him

 

God doesn’t just forgive you, HE restores you.
HE doesn’t just bring you home, HE welcomes you home as a son.

3.   The brother who ran into jealous

Luke 15:29 ^NLT
but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends.

The trap of the religious spirit is doing the right thing without the right heart.

Luke 15:31 ^CEV
His father replied, “My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
Never meant to be a slave.

 

The parable is a story about the FATHER who:

      i.         Runs toward

     ii.         Still waits

   iii.         Still restores

   iv.         Says “You can always come back home”

 

Discussion:

1.     Which character do you relate to most:

·      Younger son

·      Older brother

·      Waiting Father

 

WHY?

 

2.     How does the father running before the son cleans up challenge your view of grace?

3.     What is one area where God is calling you to come back home?