A Banquet Invitation

A Banquet Invitation
Luke 14:15
“What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God”

The Prodigal God
Luke 15:11-32

• The parable:
  
  • It is directed at the Pharisees
    
  • It’s focus is the Father’s love
    
  • It exposes two lost sons
    
  • It reveals the sons hearts toward their father
    
  • It reveals the father’s heart toward his sons
    
• Jesus is the true elder brother

The Two Lost Sons

• The assumptions:
  
  • The double portion is the elder brothers
    
  • If two sons, then three portions
    
  • two for the elder and one for the younger
    
  • In order to accommodate the younger son, the father would have had to liquidate a portion of his wealth
  • The elder son has the primary responsibility of honoring and caring for his father (serving)
    
  • Searching for his younger brother!
    
  • Serving at the banquet!
  • The real cost of the banquet was given out of the abundance of the father’s wealth!
    
  • Though the banquet was given out of the father’s wealth, the elder son was ultimately paying for it out of the remaining inheritance
    
• The Attitudes:
  
  • We desperately need the initiating love of the Father!
    
  • Mercy and forgiveness must be free and unmerited to the wrongdoer
    
  • If he has to do something to merit it, it is not mercy
    
  • Forgiveness always comes at the expense of the one granting forgiveness

The True Elder Brother

• Jesus is the true elder brother
  
• The younger brother’s restoration comes at an enormous cost to the elder brother!
  
• We can now follow Jesus’ example
  
• We are to bear the burden for the lost
• The Lost =
  
  • no longer in your possession or control
    
  • unable to be found or recovered or regained
    
  • confused: having lost your bearings
    
  • spiritually or physically doomed or destroyed
    
  • helpless: unable to function; without help
    
• Matthew 18:11 “For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.”

What is 750,000 miles long, reaches around the earth 30 times, and grows 20 miles longer each day?
Answer: The line of people who are without Christ.

Faith Promise
Disciple the nations
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel"

What is a Faith Promise? ~ 5 Things:

• One
  
  • A means of giving to God when you don’t have anything to give
    
  • Trusting God for some of His money to use for His Kingdom
    
  • An act of stewardship
    
  • CCC determines her missions outreach
• Two
  
  • It is a promise that is not based on your known resources, but on your faith
    
  • You promise to give what your Heavenly Father will supply!
    
  • “My daddy will pay for this”
• Three
  
  • An agreement between you and God
    
  • No one will come or call to collect it
    
  • We will not send you a bill!
    
  • This promise represents your personal desire, what you want to attempt for God
• Four
  
  • A plan for giving to God’s work in addition to your regular tithes and offerings
    
  • Tithe is 1/10 of your earned income
    
  • Offerings are your sacrificial gifts as the Holy Spirit leads
    
  • Alms are compassionate giving to relieve the oppressed or of giving to the poor
• Five
  
  • Faith Promise giving stretches our faith past its current boundaries
    
  • Then we see how God supplies the funds
    
  • Faith Promise giving enables every Christian to have a part in fulfilling the Great Commission