The prodigal God: recovering the heart of the Christian faith

Introduction

The parable

The people around Jesus

The two lost sons

Redefining sin

Redefining lostness

The true elder brother

Redefining hope

The feast of the father.

Introduction

The parable

The people around Jesus: all gathering around to hear Him

Kinds of people

Why people like Jesus but not the church

The two lost sons : there was a man who had two sons

The lost younger brother

The younger brother's plan

The lost elder brother

Redefining sin : all these years I've been slaving for you

Ways to find happiness

Lost sons

A deeper understanding of sin

Both wrong, both loved

Redefining lostness : the older brother became angry and refused to go in

Anger and superiority

Slavishness and emptiness

Who needs to know this?

The true elder brother : my son, everything I have is yours

What we need

Who we need

Redefining hope : He set off for a far country

Our longing for home

The difficulty of return

The feast at the end of history

The feast of the father : he heard music and dancing

Salvation is experiential

Salvation is material

Salvation is individual

Salvation is communal

Babette's feast.