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Focus Text: Luke 15.22-24

When the prodigal returned home, he was thoroughly and totally penitent. His father directed his servants to “…Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. And they began to be merry.” (Luke 15.22-24). The point of today’s message is to demonstrate that God has no penitent children whom he treats as second-class; with God it is either…  ( Click for more )

Focus Text: Luke 15.21-24

“And the [prodigal] son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 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. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.” (Luke 15.21-24).

In the quoted scripture, there is a great contrast…  ( Click for more )

Focus Text: Luke 15.20-21

“And he [the prodigal son] arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’” (Luke 15.20-21).

Whether one likes what the prodigal had done or not, it is impossible not to like his penitent attitude in coming home! He returned broke and broken, but he returned. Pride could have stopped him, but…  ( Click for more )

August 27 2007; The Shocking Truth

Focus Text: Hebrews 1.1-2

Believe it or not, I have personally attended a few “tent revivals.” For the younger crowd, a tent revival was (I use the past tense because they are essentially a thing of the past) an evangelistic tool used to attract and gather crowds to listen to a singing and preaching service. It derived its name from the unique practice of erecting a large canvas tent in which people would gather at the time announced on the sign posted near the highway or printed on the flyers that were passed out throughout…  ( Click for more )

Focus Text: Luke 15.14-19

The parable of the prodigal son is somewhat atypical of all other parables of Jesus. First off, it is much longer than most parables. Some parables are only one or two verses; the parable of the prodigal is twenty-two verses in length. Most parables have only one central theme; this parable has three major lessons with many other ancillary minor lessons or points of comparison. However, whether it is atypical or not, the context still reigns king in interpreting it. Please recall as you read the parable as well as when you read these lessons, that the…  ( Click for more )

Focus Text: Luke 15.11-16

Perhaps no parable is more often referenced than the story of the Prodigal son. In fact, it is so well know that several idioms in the English language have arisen from this significant biblical illustration. We speak to someone returning after a long absence and say, “Well, did the Prodigal finally decide to come home?” Or, when someone is down on their luck, we might say they have been “…eating with the pigs.” Or, if someone throws an elaborate party or celebration on a particular occasion, we might say they went all…  ( Click for more )

Focus Text: Luke 15.8-10

Jesus continued His response to the cold-hearted Pharisees who disdained lowly sinners and exalted themselves beyond measure: “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15.8-10. …  ( Click for more )

Focus Text: Luke 15.1-7

“Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, ‘This Man receives sinners and eats with them.’ So He spoke this parable to them, saying: ‘What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them,…  ( Click for more )

August 20 2007; HELLO PREACHER!!

Focus Text: Luke 11.37-47

I used to go into my regular barber shop and was routinely greeted by a loud, and usually cheerful, “Hello Preacher!” Maybe in my younger days, I kinda’ liked those greetings – at least a time or two; they soon got old. I think it was when I learned the real significance behind these welcomes that I began not only not to like them, but to despise them. Read on and see why!

I think I liked it at first because I was proud to be a preacher (in the biblical sense of the word). I came to…  ( Click for more )

August 17 2007; Part 12 of TBD

Focus Text: Luke 7.50

Sweet words and deeds linger long after the emotion and excitement of the moment have passed. If you stop and think, I almost know that you can remember some kind words and/or deeds that someone spoke or did years and years ago. However, I also know that no words or deeds could be sweeter than those spoken and performed by Jesus as he concluded His meeting with the sinful woman in Simon’s house. See what you think; He said, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” (Luke 7.50).

The most significant…  ( Click for more )

August 16 2007; Part 11 of TBD

Focus Text: Luke 7.39-50

I doubt that Jesus had ever personally met the woman, but that is speculation on my part. However, regardless of how it happened, she had learned a lot about him. Moreover, she had thought a lot about herself and her condition. But on this particular day, this woman’s spiritual fortunes would change dramatically; she would never be the same again!

If first words make lasting impressions, the woman must have been impressed for a long, long time with the words of Jesus. After Jesus finished talking to Simon and…  ( Click for more )

August 15 2007; Part 10 of TBD

Focus Text: Luke 7.47-50

“Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.’ Then He said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’ Then He said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.’” (Luke 7.47-50).

Read the focus text again paying particular attention to who is speaking as well as…  ( Click for more )

August 14 2007; Part 9 of TBD

Focus Text: Luke 7.41-48

Jesus asked Simon a question by means of a short parable or real life illustration. Here is the parable, His question, and then the much needed application:

“‘There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?’ Simon answered and said, ‘I suppose the one whom he forgave more.’ And He said to him, ‘You…  ( Click for more )

August 13 2007; Part 8 of TBD

Focus Text: Luke 7.36-39

The reading is long, but it has to be taken in at one time to gather its richness.

“Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, ‘This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.’ And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ So he said, ‘Teacher, say it.’ ‘There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred…  ( Click for more )

August 10 2007; Part 7 of TBD

Focus Text: Luke 7.36-39

We continue our analysis of the focus text, and for that reason it is repeated today: “Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed…  ( Click for more )

August 9 2007; Part 6 of TBD

Focus Text: Luke 7.36-39

How does God treat sinners? The truth sometimes shocks our sensibilities! To our surprise, and sometimes chagrin, He doesn’t treat them the way we want Him to! Consider our primary question of how God treats sinners as we investigate the focus text.

“Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster…  ( Click for more )

August 8,2007; Part 5 of TBD

Focus Text: Luke 6.31-36

We continue our study of how God treats sinners. Specifically, we are considering the use of the word sinner as it is used in contrast to faithful believers. Contrary to what some religious creeds say, not every thing that sinners do is reprehensible; some things sinners do are actually worthy of imitation. However, in matters such as we consider today, they do not go far enough. Consider the words of Jesus which follow immediately.

“And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if…  ( Click for more )

August 7,2007; Part 4 of TBD

Focus Text: Matthew 9.9-13

Who or what groups of people are referred to in the scriptures as sinners other than believers in Christ who inadvertently stray or who temporarily leave the path of righteousness only to return after a short time? Actually, the answer to this question is probably my first response to the query, “Who is a sinner?” I prefer to think of those who have never named the name of Christ as sinners – and most certainly they are. For the next few days, we will examine some usages of the word sinner in the…  ( Click for more )

August 6,2007; The Unshakable Kingdom

Focus Text: Hebrews 12.25-29

“See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, ‘Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.’ Now this, ‘Yet once more,’ indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.…  ( Click for more )

August 3,2007; Part 4 of TBD

Focus Text: James 5.19-20

Clarification is necessary when it comes to the use of the word sinner(s) in the New Testament. Sometimes the word is used to refer to a group/class of people who live in obvious rebellion to God’s word. At other times it is used to refer to those who live in subjection to God’s will, but who momentarily or inadvertently stray. And as if that were not enough, sometimes the word is used simply to refer to the fact that all of us sin from time to time, and hence, we are all sinners by that definition. As we…  ( Click for more )

August 2,2007; Part 3 of TBD

Focus Text: Genesis 3.1-8

Someone has observed that one cannot even pronounce the word sin without hearing the heinous hiss of the serpent. Had the serpent not wielded his influence upon mankind, this discussion of how God treats sinners would not be taking place. The hiss of the serpent made the word sin necessary. One thing is certain: If all our information were limited to the first two chapters of Genesis, the time when man lived virtually in God’s presence, we would never know nor need to know how God treats sinners – there…  ( Click for more )

August 1,2007; Part 2 of TBD

Focus Text: 1 John 1.5-10

In considering the question of how God treats sinners, it becomes of paramount importance to know just who is a sinner! If I don’t know anyone who is a sinner, and if I never meet anyone who is a sinner, the scale of importance of the issue drops to virtually zero. However, if I know a sinner or two, or if I am likely to come in contact with a sinner, the degree of importance rises somewhat. In fact, the more sinners I know or am likely to know, the more important the question becomes. I must confess that…  ( Click for more )

July 31,2007; Part 1 of TBD

Focus Text: Psalm 25

Is it really important for me to know how God treats sinners? Is it important to those who regularly receive and/or read this column to know how God treats sinners? When my friend first suggested this as the topic for a series of articles, it was intriguing, but maybe not compelling. Then I thought about the significance of such a group of messages and the implications of the topic. The more I reflected, the more compelling I saw the subject matter to be; hence, this series of articles! If you don’t see the subject matter…  ( Click for more )

July 30,2007; Secure!

Focus Text: John 10.27-29

To be secure is a driving force among humankind. We crave the knowledge that everything will be all right whether we are speaking of our jobs, our homes, our health, our financial situation, or a myriad of other concerns. Security means that we can rest assured that nothing adverse will happen whether foreseen or unforeseen. As Christians, we have the need to be secure spiritually; God has seen fit to attend to that need.

Jesus spoke of that security when He said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they…  ( Click for more )