Luke 15:11-24

TO: My loving wife

FROM: Your departed husband

SUBJECT: I’ve arrived!

MESSAGE: I’ve just arrived and have been checked in. I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. I am looking forward to seeing you then! Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was.

P.S. Sure is hot down here.

“And He (Jesus) said, ‘There

was a man who had two sons.

And the younger of them said

to his father, “Father, give me the share of the

property that is coming to me.” And he (the

father) divided his property between them.

Luke 15:11-24

Not many days later, the

younger son gathered all he

had and took a journey into afar country, and there he squandered his

property in reckless living. And when he

had spent everything, a severe famine arose

in that country, and he began to be in need.

Luke 15:11-24

So he went and hired himself

out to one of the citizens of

that country, who sent him

Luke 15:11-24

into his fields to feed pigs. And he was

longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs

ate, and no one gave him anything.

But when he came to himself,

he said, “How many of my

father’s hired servants have

Luke 15:11-24

more than enough bread, but I perish here

with hunger! I will arise and go to my

father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have

sinned against heaven and before you.

I am no longer worthy to be

called your son. Treat me as

one of your hired servants.’”

Luke 15:11-24

And he arose and came to his father. But

while he was still a long way off, his father

saw him and felt compassion, and ran and

embraced him and kissed him.

Luke 15:11-24

And the son said to him,

“Father, I have sinned

against heaven and before

you. I am no longer worthy to be called

your son.” But the father said to his

servants, “Bring quickly the best robe, and

put it on him, and put a ring on his hand,

Luke 15:11-24

celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is

alive again; he was lost, and is found.” And

they began to celebrate.’”

and shoes on his feet. And

bring the fattened calf and

kill it, and let us eat and

A JOURNEY indicates a quest, a seeking,

searching and looking for something. Ultimately

the search is for LIFE

We long for unconditional love

We desire worth & significance

We yearn for meaning & purpose

We crave intimacy, connection & belonging

We desperately need hope

THE JOURNEY AWAY: v.11-13

The Problem: Our “journey” is a quest, a

seeking, searching and looking for the answer to

our needs in ways that will NEVER PROVIDE IT.

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

THE JOURNEY AWAY: v.11-13

I will suffer the consequences of my choices that

are most often filled with PAIN

“For he who does wrong will receive the

consequences of the wrong which he has

done, and that without partiality.”

(Colossians 3:25, NASB)

THE PAIN OF

THE JOURNEY: v.14-16

A journey away from God will lead to:

EMPTINESS

DESPAIR

SPIRITUAL HUNGER

THE PAIN OF

THE JOURNEY: v.14-16

The life that we are longing, searching and

hungering for can only be found in the FATHER,

through JESUS.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and

the truth, and the life. No one comes to

the Father except through Me.’”

(John 14:6, NASB)

THE JOURNEY HOME: v.17-20

The Journey home begins when:

1) I come to my senses and WAKE UP

2) I realize my DESPERATE SITUATION

3) I recognize my Father can RESCUE ME

4) I STAND UP and start my journey home

THE JOURNEY HOME: v.17-20