"The Long Road Home"

Pastor Laura Guy

June 18, 2006

Here's an instant replay of what happened in worship:

We heard the story of the prodigal son from Luke 15:11-32.
We learned how hurtful and hateful it was for the younger son to ask for his share of the inheritance early. It was as if he were telling his father, "I wish you were dead. I don't want a relationship with you anymore. I just want your money" Yet, even though brokenhearted, the father gave half his property (also translated as life) to his son.
We saw how the son went out seeking extravagance in every form - wine, women and song. His phony friends helped him burn through the money in no time, and then he soon found himself moneyless, friendless, fatherless and hopeless. It was in this moment that the Bible tells us he "came to himself." He saw himself as he truly was, and he knew how hateful and hurtful he had been. In that moment, he turned toward home to ask his father's forgiveness. This is the meaning of repentance, to turn away from where we were heading and to turn toward God.
We witnessed the incredible homecoming scene - the humble son prepared to grovel at his father's feet, but the father runs to great him and embrace him. The father asks for a robe, sandals and a ring for his son - all signs that he is a family member, not a servant. The son left home searching for extravagance, but he didn't really experience it until he walked the long road home. His father's welcome was the most extravagant thing he had ever experienced.
We heard Fusion 112 sing a song for prodigals, Hold On, by Nichole Nordeman.
We prayed the prodigal's prayer, confessing that we have sinned against God and that we are not worthy to be His children. Yet, we claimed Jesus' teaching as truth, that God will welcome back any prodigal who has repented, and turned toward the long road home. We thanked God for that extravagant mercy.
We listened to the last part of Keith Green's Prodigal Son Suite, the homecoming.
We celebrated communion at the table where all prodigals are welcome.
In Act(s) II, we looked in Luke at the two parables that precede the prodigal son - the parables of the lost sheep and lost coin. We thought about all the things Jesus was trying to teach us in those parables. We also thought some about the older brother in our story and how he was also relationally distant from his father.