AVBC - Sunday - 09/27/26 - Sermon Title: “The Lost Sheep” - Luke 15:1-7 - “The Parables of Jesus” – Sermon Series – (Part 4 of 6)

 Sunday 09/27/26 – Adams Village Baptist Church

Sermon Title: “The Lost Sheep” - Luke 15:1-7 - “The Parables of Jesus” – Sermon Series – (Part 4 of 6)

(Cover Picture – The Lost Sheep – Parables of Jesus – Luke 15:1-7 - Picture)  

          This morning, we are continuing our six-week sermon series on “The Parables of Jesus,” or stories of Jesus. I chose just six parables for this sermon series, but there are many others. If you have a chance to look at the various parables of Jesus, I encourage you to do so. Read them and be changed by them. For example, a parable of Jesus that we will not be discussing in this sermon series, portrayed in this chalk painting, is the parable of “The Rich Young Ruler.” Read them and be changed by them.

          As I also have been saying throughout this sermon series, Jesus grew up in farming, fishing, and in general, an agricultural world. I have told you a few stories now about my late Granpa Winkelman. Well at least some of the ones that are church appropriate, and in fact, I am the first generation in the Winkelman family to have not been raised on a farm. Jesus’ parables were given originally by Jesus to a world of farmers, fishers, and people who lived off the land. Even so they are timeless, and they have incredible and powerful meaning.

          This morning, we are talking about the parable of “The Lost Sheep.” Recently, in fact, a friend of mine lost their cat. It was awful, and my friend was worried, of course, about their cat. “Was the cat alive? Was the cat dead” the person thought. The cat then came back; thanks be to God. This person though shouted for the cat, looked for the cat. I mean who would not go after someone or an animal that was lost? Has anyone here ever lost a pet? Worse anyone here ever lost a pet and never found the pet? Brothers and sisters, God’s love for us is so strong, that He will tear after us when we are lost. Even if we do not know God, God pursues us like “The Hound of Heaven,” which is a poem that was written by English Roman Catholic named Francis Thompson in 1890. God pursues us and seeks to find us when we are lost.

(Luke 15:1-17 Scripture – Picture) 

          In looking again at our Gospel of Luke 15:1-7 reading for this morning, we hear this from Jesus, once again, starting in Luke 15:1:

15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. ² And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them” (Lk. 15:1-3, RSV).

 

          The religious leaders were giving Jesus a hard time for eating, talking with, and receiving people who society has rejected. I am so glad that I am pastoring a church, where there is a place for anyone. For those that have seen that pain chart at the doctor’s office that asks if your pain is a 1 to a 10, if you are screwed up from 1to a 10, you are still welcome here. Why? Jesus loves everyone, died for everyone, and he ate with, received, and interacted with tax collectors and sinners. Did Jesus ultimately invite all these people, all people to repent of our sins and follow Him? Of course, but “The Hound of Heaven” pursue us all. God wants us to be in relationship with. We have a choice, but either way He pursues us. We can help lead people to change, to repentance, while still loving them as someone made in God’s image.

          In response to the tax collectors and the Pharisees or religious leaders chiding Jesus for eating with, spending time with, and receiving tax collectors and sinners, he responds with a story, a parable. This is what Jesus said, that I just read a few minutes, once again:

³ So he told them this parable: ⁴ “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? ⁵ And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶ And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.’ ⁷ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance               (Lk. 15:3-7, RSV).

          Friends, what is most important is not what are you like when you first walk into this church, what is more important, is how Jesus changes you for when you leave. I can imagine over the many years of this church that some people may have initially come into this place in a very broken state in their lives. It is not about being perfect, it is about turning to Christ who is perfect, repenting, and being changed by the Holy Spirit. Jesus went to everyone because everyone needs Jesus. It does not matter if our level of sins is at a one or a ten like the pain chart at the doctor’s office, Jesus pursues us still.

(Lost Sheep in the Woods - Jesus – Picture) 

          I remember a couple of years ago, going to Gideon’s International Bible fundraising event. At this event, thousand of dollars were raised to buy Bibles to give to people that do not have a Bible. The keynote speaker who flew in from New Zealand told us a story. He told us how some hotels and other establishments will no longer allow the no cost to them Gideon’s International Bibles. These are generally Bibles that are in the nightstands in hotels. The Bibles that are given to many, at no cost to recipient. Yet the people at this fundraising event, were enthusiastic about getting Bibles, so the people might read the gospel, and maybe a parable or a story like the parable of “The Lost Sheep.”

          This man from New Zealand then told us a true testimony. A man had lost his job, his marriage was in tatters, and so he left his home and checked into a hotel. The man was in emotional anguish. Do you know that brick wall, the forks in the road that some of us face in life? What do you do now? The man purchased a large bottle of Vodka and started drinking it heavily. The now very intoxicated man, for some reason opened the drawer to his hotel room nightstand. Lone behold, there was a Gideon’s International Bible. He probably figured that since his life was in tatters and he was drunk as a skunk, why not try reading the Bible. He opened to one of the gospels, and that night God, “The Hound of Heaven” did spiritual heart surgery on that man. By picking up that Bible and reading, this man repented of his sins and brokenness and came to Jesus Christ.

My brothers and sisters, this is why we say in this church, come as you are. If you are at 1 or a 10 in how messed up your life is, Jesus goes leaves the 100 to go after lost one. Jesus is an expert at people who have lives that are so bad that they are at a 10. So, could Jesus have asked the tax collectors and Pharisees this morning, why are you not going after the people that are 10’s in their lives being messed us? Why not help those who are hurting and who need the grace of God in Jesus Christ? Also, while that man in the hotel room did come to Christ that night, I think he still had a bad headache the next morning! You can be forgiven, but you have still had to deal with the consequences of a night of drinking!

In this picture, we see a lost sheep, who could easily have the man in the hotel room that I just talked about. This lost sheep could be your neighbor, a person at the grocery store, a person who is not a Chicago Cubs fan, etc. Yet Jesus leaves everything and drops everything to come after you, just so you will be change, restored, and saved. After that he can use you as a piece of the puzzle that is this church to transform lives and serve others. 

(Man with Sheep on His Shoulders – Picture)

Jesus says that when the shepherd finds the lost sheep, that once again in Luke 15:5-7:

⁵ And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ⁶ And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.’ ⁷ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance (Lk. 15:3-7, RSV).

Is Adams Village Baptist Church for everyone? Yes, it is. Do we all have story? Yes, we do. Even so “The Hound of Heaven” pursue us, and Jesus leaves the heard for us. Whether we are at 1 or a 10 the pain or sin chart, Jesus comes after us.

(Jesus holding a Sheep – Picture)

          Of everything that I have seen or heard this week, this picture of Jesus holding this lost sheep has been the highlight of my week. Maybe we were this sheep once, and just maybe, we know of other lost sheep that might think that they will never be found. We are part of the puzzle of God’s Kingdom, and we all have a place here at the Adams Village Baptist Church.

          With said how does the parable of “The Lost Sheep” apply to our lives to today. Let us look at some application points for the parable of “The Lost Sheep.”

The core application of Luke 15:1–7 is that believers must adopt God’s heart by actively seeking the lost and rejoicing extravagantly when a sinner repents, rather than grumbling like the Pharisees.

1. Model the Shepherd’s Pursuit

·         Intentionally seek the lost: God does not passively wait for straying people to figure things out on their own; the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to actively search. Apply this by identifying specific individuals in your life who are far from God and making intentional efforts to reach them.                                                    

·         Overcome helplessness with grace: Sheep are prone to wandering and cannot save themselves. Recognize that spiritually lost people need patient rescue, not harsh judgment or condemnation.

2. Reject Self-Righteous Grumbling

·         Examine your attitude toward outsiders: The Pharisees complained because Jesus welcomed and ate with social and moral outcasts. Guard against spiritual pride that looks down on non-believers or resents God showing mercy to "undeserving" people.

·         Refuse to stay outside the celebration: Being close to religious routines (the "ninety-nine") does not equal having God's heart; join heaven's perspective instead of standing back and judging.

3. Celebrate Redemption

·         Rejoice over every single return: Heaven explodes with joy over one repenting sinner. Cultivate a church culture and personal life marked by deep celebration and gratitude when someone comes to faith, viewing evangelism as an invitation to a party.

Brothers and sisters, this is why “The Parable” of “The Lost Sheep” matters, and this is how it applies to our lives and our faith. To drive this point home, I want to show a great video with lyrics. The song is called “Reckless Love,” by Cory Asbury, and you should have a bulletin insert with these lyrics. Let’s listen and sing together. Amen.

(Reckless Love – Lyric Video) 

AVBC - Sunday - 09/20/26 - Sermon Title: “The Sower” - Matthew 13:3-23 - “The Parables of Jesus” – Sermon Series – (Part 3 of 6)

 Sunday 09/20/26 – Adams Village Baptist Church

Sermon Title: “The Sower” - Matthew 13:3-23 - “The Parables of Jesus” – Sermon Series – (Part 3 of 6)

(Cover Picture – The Sower – Parables of Jesus – Matthew 13:3-23 - Picture)  

          For the last two Sundays, we have been discussing “parables” or stories that Jesus told in the gospels. These stories were given by Jesus to connect to everyday people like us, but also to show us who He was and is as Lord and Savior. So far, we have talked about the parable of the “Prodigal Son,” and last Sunday I talked briefly about the parable of “The Good Samaritan.”

          This morning though, I want to talk about another great parable of Jesus, called the parable of “The Sower”. As I said a couple of weeks ago, the Bible was written in a world that was mostly agricultural. Most people farmed, fished, could not read, and knew how to grow food and live off the land. As a result, many of Jesus’ parables speak to a world that was very agricultural. Since our country has significantly less people in agriculture or farming today than one hundred years ago, and especially two hundred years ago, it is important that we read Christ’s parables in a way that everyone can understand now in 2026.

          The parable of “The Sower” is talking about planting. In fact, the Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines the word “Sower” this way:

“A sower is a person, machine, or tool that scatters or plants seeds in the ground for growth” (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sower).

My guess is that most farmers in the United States are not planting there fielding by hand or “sowing” the seeds. Meaning, I don’t think most farmers in 2026 are throwing seeds on the soil. Instead, they probably have tractors and machines that do this. When I was a little boy, my Grandpa Winkelman would marvel at the amount a corn that an acre of land could yield, and how perfect and straight the rows of corns were. The way the corn was planted had progressed quite a bit for my late Grandpa Winkelman from the 1930s to the 1990s.

          For those that plant gardens and or grow flowers though, we know all about planting seeds and bulbs. In some cultures, though, it was not uncommon to toss a lot of seed on the soil for certain crops, to help ensure a large harvest. The crop itself then would not look nearly as perfect as many of the crop fields we see around here and in much of the developed world. There are still countries and places in the undeveloped world though where plows are still used and where seeds are still planted manually, or with simple tools or machinery. I have sown grass seed by hand before, but even with that there are devices and machines that will even sow even those now! At one church that I pastored we used a push lawn spreader to spread salt on the ice in the winter! It was so much easier than spreading cups full of salt!

          For farmers, even today there is much to consider. The cost and maintenance of equipment, fertilizer, the cost of seed, etc. Further, how much of the seed you sow will grow? Who here grows vegetables in the summer, and every single seed you plant always grows? I did some research, because I am a nerd, and the research said as a massive average, seed that is still good will germinate 85%-95% of the time when properly planted and cared for. From the research that I have done, in the first century that Jesus lived in 30%-50% of seeds, would germinate or grow. Further, people did not generally buy seeds from a store or order them to be delivered like they do today. Instead, farmers kept seeds for the next year. You would keep some corn kernels, or beans, or wheat seeds, etc. to plant for the next spring. If your seeds rotted, got some sort of fungus in them, or were eaten, you would have nothing to sow in your fields and gardens. Imagine if you grew all your own food and your seeds for this coming spring’s 2027 planting were no good? What would you do?

(The Sower – Jesus’ Arm - Picture) 

          For all these reasons and others, when Jesus told the parable or story of “The Sower,” people listened and understood. For sowing seeds and property storing seeds for the next year could literally be the difference between life and death. In fact, one of my favorite pictures of “The Sower,” who is Jesus himself, portrays His arm flinging seeds onto fertile soil. Or in our case flinging seeds of faith that will hopefully grow in our hearts and our souls.

          Many communities still have “Harvest Festivals” or big dinners, often in October, for that is when so much of the food for season has come in. An abundance, a feast, a large harvest dinner. Jesus knew his crowd, as many of them were in agriculture, but what He is teaching in His parables is still 100% relevant today. Imagine for a minute though, if Jesus came to this earth in this century and not 2,000 years ago. Imagine me preaching on the completely made up parable of “The I-Phone?” It might sound like this:

“There were two people, who both had I-Phones. Where they were someone was hungry and in pain. One person kept looking at their I-Phone, but the other put down the I-phone and fed and helped the person. Which person with I-Phone do you think was greater?” Then Jesus would say, “The one who put down there I-Phone and fed and helped the person hungry and in pain. For it is like this in the Kingdom of God”

 

          While the parable of “The Sower” is in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, I chose the telling of this parable from the gospel of Matthew for this morning. We hear in Matthew 13:1-23, once again:

The Parable of the Sower

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. ² And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat there; and the whole crowd stood on the beach. ³ And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow (Mt. 13:1-2, RSV).

 

          After our scripture reading from Matthew 13:3-23 for this morning, Jesus will then give or tell the parable of the “Wheat and Tares” or “Wheat and Weeds”. Jesus will also give the parable of “The Mustard Seed,” and the parable of “The Yeast” in Matthew 13. Jesus taught about 30-40 parables in the gospels, depending on some that some may or may not be consider to be a parable. To put this in context, we are talking about just six of Jesus’ parables or stories in this sermon series.

          Picking back in Matthew 13:4, Jesus had just told us that a “A sower went out to sow in Matthew 13:3. Starting in 13:4, we hear, once again:

⁴ And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. ⁵ Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, ⁶ but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away. ⁷ Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. ⁸ Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. ⁹ He who has ears, let him hear”                     (Mt. 13:4-8, RSV).

 

          While Jesus is talking about sowing seeds to grow food, the larger meaning here is sowing seeds of faith. So that the gospel of Jesus Christ may sprout in our hearts and grow abundantly. If we sow seeds, the of the gospel of Christ, imagine what the spiritual harvest could be?

          The disciples in Matthew 13:10 right after the parable of “The Sower” ask Jesus why speaks to them in parables. In Matthew 13:11 the scripture picks up saying:

The Purpose of the Parables

¹¹ And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. ¹² For to him who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. ¹³ This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. ¹⁴ With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says:

 

‘You shall indeed hear but never understand,
    and you shall indeed see but never perceive.
¹⁵ For this people’s heart has grown dull,
    and their ears are heavy of hearing,
    and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should perceive with their eyes,
    and hear with their ears,
and understand with their heart,
    and turn for me to heal them.’

 

¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. ¹⁷ Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

 

          If the seeds of the gospel of Jesus Christ, of Christ’s love never grow in us, then we will never have spiritual growth or a harvest through Him. Blessed though are those that see and hear what Jesus is truly saying. For when we grow closer to Christ, we see more and more of His glory, and we can live it out in the world in powerful ways!

(What Soil Is You Heart? – Matthew 13:3-23 - Picture) 

          After this, our Matthew 13:3-23 reading concludes with Jesus, once again, explaining His parable of “The Sower”. Picking up in the gospel of Matthew 13:18 we hear once again:

The Parable of the Sower Explained

¹⁸ “Hear then the parable of the sower. ¹⁹ When any one hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart; this is what was sown along the path. ²⁰ As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; ²¹ yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. ²² As for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the delight in riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. ²³ As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty”                (Mt, 13:18-23, RSV).

 

          The analogies of sowing seeds on rocky ground, the path, among thorns, or on good soil is all about us receiving Jesus. Following Christ then, is something that we must not just decide to, but something that we must pursue. Sometimes we will be in the valleys, on the mountain top, and everything in-between. Through Christ though, if His gospel, His hope, and His love falls on the fertile soil of our hearts, then our faith will grow and flourish!

(Which Soil Are You? – Matthew 13:1-23 - Picture) 

          Which soil are you then? Do we choose to be the good soil? It is not always easy, but our faith and what God can use us to do, can create a spiritual harvest that sometimes we can’t even imagine!

(Choosing To Be Good Soil – Matthew 13:23 - Picture) 

          How does this parable of Jesus, this story of “The Sower” connect to our lives today? Here is how:

In Matthew 13:3–23 (the Parable of the Sower), Jesus uses four types of soil to show how people respond to God's word. Here are the key application points for each soil type:

 

1.     The Path (Hardened Heart)

 

·         The Condition: The seed sits on top of packed ground because the heart is closed, and Satan easily snatches the message away.

·         Application Point: Guard against a hardened heart. Ask God to break up uncultivated or bitter areas in your life caused by past hurts, pride, or habitual sin so that truth can actually penetrate.

 

2. Rocky Places (Shallow Heart)

·         The Condition: The seed sprouts fast with emotional excitement, but it has no deep roots, so trouble or persecution makes the person quit.

·         Application Point: Move beyond surface-level emotion. Build deep spiritual roots through consistent prayer, Bible study, and Christian community so your faith survives hard times.

 

3. Among Thorns (Distracted Heart)

·         The Condition: The plant grows, but everyday worries and the love of money choke out the spiritual life, leaving it lifeless and without fruit.

·         Application Point: Perform spiritual weed control. Actively prune out excessive anxieties, materialism, and busy distractions that crowd God out of your daily schedule.

 

4. Good Soil (Receiving Heart)

·         The Condition: The person hears, understands, holds fast to the word, and produces an abundant harvest.

·         Application Point: Cultivate a receptive, obedient life. Focus on action—letting God's truth change your daily choices to produce love, kindness, and spiritual fruit in your community.

 

Brothers and sisters, what kind of spiritual soil is in our hearts? Amen,

 

AVBC - "Live It Out Loud at AVBC" - Sunday - 09/13/26 - Sermon Title: “The Good Samaritan” - “The Parables of Jesus” – Sermon Series – (Part 2 of 6) - Luke 10:30-37

Sunday 09/13/26 – Adams Village Baptist Church

Sermon Title: “The Good Samaritan” - Luke 10:30-37 - “The Parables of Jesus” – Sermon Series – (Part 2 of 6)

(Cover Picture – The Good Samaritan and A Full Puzzle - Picture)  

          Last Sunday, I started a sermon series on the “parables” or stories of Jesus. In total, we will be looking at six of these parables in this sermon series. Last week we talked the “Prodigal Son,” but this morning we are going to talk very briefly about the parable of “The Good Samaritan.” For those of you that have my preaching schedule, you might have noticed that I switched this week’s message to last Sunday, and last week’s message to today. Why did I switch to the parable or story of “The Good Samaritan” on this our Live It Out Loud at AVBC or fall kick off 2026 Sunday Service? I did, because this parable captures the essence of the idea that we are all part of the puzzle of God’s kingdom through this church. This is because in the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus calls us to love everyone, show mercy and care to everyone, no matter who they are. You will notice in this parable that the two religious leaders that see the beaten man do nothing.

For a man is walking from Jerusalem to Jericho, he is beaten, stripped, and left for dead by robbers. Two religious leaders, priests, see the man and his situation, and do nothing. Yet a Samaritan of a different cultural and religious tradition cares for the man and gets him the help he needs. The Samaritan even pays for the man’s care in an inn to ensure that he gets healed. This of course is in response to Jesus being asked the question by a religious expert, “who is my neighbor”? Jesus then gives this religious expert the parable of “The Good Samaritan.” Jesus ends the parable with telling the religious expert, “Go and do likewise.”

          Imagine a church, brothers, and sisters, where everyone matters, not just the religious leaders? Imagine a church where your piece of the puzzle is not only needed, but is it necessary for us to complete our mission in Adams and in the world? At the Adams Village Baptist Church, whatever part of the puzzle you are, wherever you fit, we welcome you, as we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves. So powerful is the parable of “The Good Samaritan” that our hospital in Watertown is called Samaritan. One of our nursing homes in Watertown is called Samaritan’s Keep, and one is called Samaritan Summit Village.

I remember taking a friend to Samaritan Medical Center to get some outpatient surgery. As I was waiting in the surgical waiting room, it dawned upon me that the hospital has a coffee shop just downstairs. I love coffee! As I walked downstairs to go to the coffee shop though, I saw a wall tapestry or quilt. I stopped and looked at it for about 10-20 seconds, as it portrays in the hospital, the parable of “The Good Samaritan”. This reminded me of who Jesus is, and who he has called all of us to be. It reminded me that every time that I go to visit someone in Samaritan hospital, at Samaritan Keep Nursing Home, or at the Samaritan Summit Village care facility, that I am to love others like the Good Samaritan loved others.

          Now we all are not called to be the one who physically heals a beaten or broken person, but we are all called to be a part of this thing called God’s kingdom. We are called to believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and live and love like He did and still does. We are all like puzzle pieces, and we can all grow closer to Christ and to each other when we live out what God has called us all to do. When we do this, this church will continue to flourish like we have not seen in years. Further, when the church grows, when our puzzle pieces come together, the mission of the Adams Village Baptist Church can further be fulfilled in new and powerful ways, like never before! Wherever we fit in the puzzle here at AVBC, as we are all welcome to be a part of this church, I have four guiding questions that I want us to all consider. Here they are:

(Fulfilling our Mission at AVBC - Picture) 

          The application points for the story of “The Good Samaritan” to have this brief message walk out the door with us into Adams and the world this week are:

The Parable of the Good Samaritan is a story told by Jesus in Luke 10:25-37 that teaches people to show mercy and love to everyone, regardless of social or religious differences.

 

The Story

 

·         The attack: A traveler is beaten, robbed, and left half-dead on the dangerous road from Jerusalem to Jericho.

·         The religious leaders: A Jewish priest and a Levite both see the injured man, but they cross to the other side of the road and do nothing.

·         The Samaritan: A Samaritan—belonging to a group despised by Jews—sees the man, feels deep pity, and stops to help.

·         The care: The Samaritan cleans the man's wounds with wine and oil, puts him on his own animal, takes him to an inn, and pays the innkeeper to care for him.

 

The Meaning

 

·         Who is a neighbor: Jesus explains that a neighbor is not just someone from your own community, but anyone in need who crosses your path.

·         Action over status: The story challenges prejudice by showing that an outsider acted with true mercy, while religious insiders failed their moral duty.

·         The lesson: Jesus tells his listener to "go and do likewise," meaning love requires concrete, compassionate action.

 

 

At the AVBC, whatever part of the puzzle you are, you are welcome here. When we have all the gifts, graces, and abilities of God, we can truly be a complete and beautiful puzzle of God’s kingdom. We can remember this whenever we are in Watertown, and we see the name Samaritan. Amen!

AVBC - Communion Sunday - 09/06/26 - Sermon Title: “The Prodigal Son” - “The Parables of Jesus” – Sermon Series – (Part 1 of 6) - Luke 15:11-32

 Sunday 09/06/26 – Adams Village Baptist Church

Sermon Title: “The Prodigal Son” - “The Parables of Jesus” – Sermon Series – (Part 1 of 6) - Luke 15:11-32

(Cover Picture – The Prodigal Son - Picture)  

          This morning, we are beginning a new six-week sermon series called “The Parables of Jesus.” These “Parables” or stories are how Jesus often communicated His Gospel, truths, and other ideas. These “Parables” or stories are relatable, and are designed to get us to think, to understand the love of God, and the hope we have in Jesus.

          I was originally going to preach on the parable or story of “The Good Samaritan” this morning, but I switched that message to next Sunday. This Sunday’s message then is the parable or story of “The Prodigal Son”. Jesus lived in a culture of telling stories, of communicating ideas, truths, and who God was, often through the spoken truths of our faith. Jesus was on earth in an era where most people were illiterate or could not read, as about 3-10% of people could read where Jesus lived. Yet, the scriptures in the Old Testament or Hebrew Bible needed to be taught.

Those who could read, which among them where the priests and scholars, who could read and teach the scriptures. Some also could learn these scriptures and then tell them verbally to other people. We often call this the “Oral Tradition.” While most people could not read, but they could tell the story about Jesus feeding the five thousand, about his crucifixion, etc. The gospel writers made careful and painstaking efforts to ensure what was written were the events and words as they happened and were spoken. Jesus Christ grew up in this type of a culture, and as a result, it would make perfect sense that he would teach, communicate, and explain many ideas through parables or stories. Or as one of my former youth group members incorrectly called these stories “Pair-Ables.”

          The other thing to know and remember about Jesus’ parables or stories, is that many of them had farming or agriculture references in them. Why? Well, when Jesus walked this earth, about 80-90% of people were involved in some sort of farming, agriculture, fishing, etc. This was life for most people, and this is what they knew. Jesus spoke his parables or stories to people in a way that they could easily understand. To contrast this a little bit, when United States President Thomas Jefferson was elected in 1800, about 80% of country was involved in agriculture or farming. In the year 1900 about 40% of this country was involved in agriculture or farming. In the year 2000 about 1.9% of this country was involved in agriculture or farming. In 2026 we had about 1.4% of this country involved in agriculture or farming. My late grandpa Winkelman sold the family farm in the 1970’s and told my dad that one day all we would have is massive farms and all the small family farms would be gone. This has largely turned out to be true.

          I say all of this brothers and sisters, because many people are no longer involved in agriculture or farming in our country, so when I preach of the parable of the “Sower,” the “Mustard Seed”, the “Wheat and Tares,” etc., I have to make sure that everyone understands what this means. Parables or stories, and agriculture was the world that Jesus grew up in. Today’s parable or story though, is easy to understand because it is not totally focused on agriculture or farming. There is some of this in the story, however.

          I also have to say that the parable or story of “The Prodigal Son” is my favorite parable, because it conveys so well the loving and forgiving nature of God. If we turn to God, turn to Jesus, turn to the Holy Spirit, with a sincere and contrite heart and ask for forgiveness, will we have it? The answer is a resounding yes! Do we, based on earthly standards, always deserve forgiveness? No, but God forgives us, then we try to be more like Jesus, even when we sometimes fall short.

(Luke 15:11-32 – Picture)

          This picture of the parable of “The Prodigal Son” tells in many ways this whole parable or story in this picture. Where this parable or story starts however, is with a man who had a farm, animals, a lot of land, servants, and two sons. The Father by today’s standards, was probably a multi-millionaire, to have a massive estate, tons of servants, etc.

          Where this story picks up this morning in Luke 15:11, is with the man or the father who owns this large estate, and his two sons. The youngest son did not ask but told or demands that his father give him his share of his inheritance right now. Parents that are here today, how many of you would not give one of your children their share of their inheritance and they demanded from you right now? I hope your answer is I will never do that! Under Jewish Law in Deuteronomy 21:17, which is the Torah or Hebrew Bible the oldest son would get a double portion, or double what the youngest son would get. This means that the youngest son gets one-third of everything his father has, right now. Within no time, as Luke 15:13 says, “Not many days later,” the youngest son took his inheritance and left. The son traveled to a far-off country, and as far as his father knew, he might never ever see his youngest son ever again. While in this far off land, the father’s youngest son blew his inheritance. What did he spend it on? Well, our church Bible translation, the Revised Standard Version says, “loose living”. I have also heard “dissolute living,” but needless the say the father’s youngest son partied away one-third of father’s wealth, which was his inheritance.

          As this parable or story continues in Luke 15:13, Jesus tells us that after the father’s youngest son has spent everything he had, a great famine arose. Now in today’s very modern world, if we do not get a lot of rain, we have garden hoses, sprinklers, etc. In the time of Jesus, irrigation could be dug to draw water to crops from a river or another water source. If it did not rain in many places though, your crops just wouldn’t grow. If they do not grow, you have a famine. There was no grocery store, not even Sam’s Club. Can you image, no Sam’s Club? What a horrific time to be alive! If you had food stored up and there was famine, once you ran out, you literally had no food. Famines do still happen today, but modern technology has greatly helped with this problem.

          So, the father’s youngest son, who just blew one-third of his father’s wealth on wild partying and living, has no money. There is famine, and food is scarce. Well, the father’s youngest son needs to get a job in this far-off country that he lives in, since he has no money. So, he gets a job with one of the citizens of this country feeding the citizen’s swine or pigs. Devout Jews and devout Muslims are forbidden from eating any pig/pork products. The father’s youngest son, a Jew is not going to eat any of these pigs that he is feeding, but they are seen by Jews as unclean animals. Being among them is not good for a devout Jew. He has gone from the mountain top, doing a job that he is religiously not supposed to be doing. Even worse, the pea pods that he is feeding these pigs, he would have gladly eaten himself, but no one gave him anything. The father’s youngest son was hungry, and whatever compensation he was getting for feeding these pigs was not enough to keep him well fed.

          At this point, the father’s youngest son realized that he had failed, and had hit rock bottom. In Luke 15:17-19 the youngest son said:

‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! ¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.”’                                       (Lk. 15:17-19, RSV). 

The father’s youngest son admitted defeat. He squandered his inheritance, which was one-third of his father’s wealth. He knows he’s stuck, and he’s hungry. So, he will go home in defeat and not even be worthy of being his father’s son anymore. Not only this, but he has also disgraced his father, his mother, his older brother, and his whole family. If the community that he is from does not know what happened, they will. This will no doubt make his father and his older brother look bad too. Yet, he’s hungry and broke. What other option does he have to go home and “face the music” as the term goes?

(The Father Runs to the Prodigal Son – Picture)

          The father’s youngest son then starts on his way home. He is hungry, penniless, and imagines he will be met with great judgement and anger. Oddly enough though, picking up in Luke 15:20 though, we hear this, once again:

²⁰ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. ²¹ 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.’ ²² But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; ²³ and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; ²⁴ for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to make merry (Lk. 15:20, RSV).

(The Prodigal Son gets a Ring, Robe, and Sandals – Picture)

          Why is this so significant? Well, the father could have ignored his youngest son and publicly disowned him, and if he did, he would be in the right. I mean the whole community does and will know everything. This would therefore harm the reputation of the father, his family, and especially his oldest son. Further, the father ran with great vigor and excitement. Men of his station and social standing did not do this in ancient Jewish culture, as a man like the father needed to be reserved, calm, and together. After all the father has servants to run after things, why would he? The father, though, does not care about the gossip, his reputation, what is appropriate, or what people will say. His primary concern is that his little boy is home. So excited is the father that letting a third of his wealth be squandered, is not as bad as his young son being home. So, he runs to him. The boy who disgraced him, blew one-third of his wealth, he ran to him. Every time I preach about, read, or teach this parable or story of Jesus I get a little emotional. I do, because the father is God, and in some way, shape, or form we are all sometimes the prodigal son.

(The Prodigal Son’s Brother is Angry – Picture)

          Or we might be the older brother. After the father runs to his son, forgives him, puts a ring on his finger, sandals on his feet, and robe on him, he instructs his servants to start to work on a home coming celebration. They are instructed to kill the fatted calf, there is celebration, excitement, as a big party is about to occur.

The gospel picks up in Luke 15:25 though, with the response of all of this from the youngest son’s older brother. Starting at Luke 15:25, it says, once again:

²⁵ “Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. ²⁷ And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.’ ²⁸ But he was angry and refused to go in (Lk. 15:25-28a, RSV). 

The older brother of the prodigal son is mad because his younger brother came home, after losing one-third of his father’s wealth, and disgracing his family and community. Not only this, but there are also having a party and killed the fatted calf for him. Well, this is just unacceptable to the older son of the father.

          At this point in the parable or the story, the oldest brother confronts the father, as we read in Luke 15:28b-30, once again:

(The Older Son Confronts His Father - Picture)

His father came out and entreated him, ²⁹ but he answered his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!’ 

I think if we are honest, the older brother does have a good point. I mean after what his younger brother had done, how could the father just forgive him, throw him a party, and have killed the fatted calf for the party?

          This parable or story of “The Prodigal Son” then ends with Luke 15:31-32, saying, once again:

(The Father Explains to the Oldest Son - Picture)

³¹ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. ³² It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

At this point, I think the eldest son understands a little more that his life at home, his secure inheritance, and the stability that he has always enjoyed was not such a bad thing at all. Having all the father’s blessings, all of God’s blessings with us every day, is far better than living away from the father or God or living outside the will of the father or God.

(Luke 15:32 - Picture)

          The big take away on this whole parable or story of Jesus is captured in Luke 15:32. The reality brothers and sisters are that God will forgive us if we honestly ask for forgiveness, no matter what we have done. In fact, a great song, with lyrics that I will play for us at the end of this sermon from a group called Cochren & Co. in their song “What Grace Can Do,” say this regarding “The Prodigal Son” story:

“I've seen what sin can do
Drag you down and bury you
Make you think you'll never see the light of day
I've seen what shame can do
Make a lie sound like the truth
It'll tell your heart you fell too far away
But I have seen a Father come running
And I have seen His arms open wide saying come back home
I have felt how it feels to be forgiven and made new
Hallelujah, I have seen what grace can do” (https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/cochrenco/whatgracecando.html)

          Here are more application points to consider so that this sermon on the parable or story of “The Prodigal Son” walks out of the church with us this morning, and blesses us and others throughout this week:

Luke 15:11–32 (the Parable of the Prodigal Son) applies to our lives today by showing God's unconditional forgiveness for those who stray and warning against self-righteousness toward others. The story features three main figures—the younger son, the father, and the older brother, offering a vital life lesson. The Younger Son: Returning from Misery

 

·         The modern parallel: This son represents anyone who chases independence, hedonism, or material success away from God, eventually hitting rock bottom.

 

·         The application: No matter how far you feel you have wandered or how many mistakes you have made, it is never too late to "come to your senses" and turn back. God does not require you to clean up your life before returning; He accepts a humble, repentant heart.

 

The Father: Unearned Grace

 

·         The modern parallel: The father symbolizes God, whose love overrides human disappointment and anger.

 

·         The application: The father does not wait for an apology at a distance; he runs to embrace his child. This teaches us that God’s grace is free and immediate. It also challenges us to show radical, unearned forgiveness to people in our own lives who have wronged us.

 

The Older Brother: Checking Our Pride

 

·         The modern parallel: The older brother represents the self-righteous, who follow the rules dutifully but harbor bitterness, pride, and jealousy when mercy is shown to outsiders.

·         The application: This warns us against judging others or feeling that we "earn" God's love through good behavior. We are called to celebrate restoration rather than resent the second chances given to others.

Friends, forgiveness is available, grace is abundant, and God loves you. Amen.