Sermon Notes: "Playing by the Rules"

Jesus calls His first disciples in the fifth chapter of Luke. Jesus had been preaching through the towns and along the shores of Galilee...He was teaching, preaching, casting out demons, healing the sick...and the crowds were pressing so hard about Him that He had to get into a boat and asked the fishermen to row out a ways so that He could speak to the multitudes who were standing on the shore.  When He had stopped speaking (Luke 5:4), He said to Simon (who was also known as Peter),

"Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."

Simon told the Lord that they had been toiling all night long and had caught nothing, but "nevertheless, at Your word I will let down the net." (Luke 5:5)  

And the Bible tells us that they caught so many fish that their nets were breaking...and they had so many fish that their boats began to sink!  Simon Peter was so astonished at this huge catch of fish that he "fell down at Jesus' knees saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!'" (verse 8).

Verse 10 tells us that Simon's partners, James and John, were also there and they were very amazed as well.  Jesus then said to Simon, 

"Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men."

"So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him." (Luke 5:11)

And thus began the adventure of their lives that would not only change their lives, but all the world for all eternity...

So now fast forward to Luke chapter 15. Jesus and His disciples have been traveling throughout the land, and many multitudes of people are following them, and listening intently to all the teachings of Christ.  Even the "tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him." (Luke 15:1)  The Pharisees and scribes were complaining, saying "This Man receives sinners and eats with them." (Luke 15:2)  So thus begins a series of teachings of parables about God's grace and unconditional love, as evidenced by these stories of joy over being "lost and found".  

In Luke 15:3-32, Jesus gives them examples that show us how God Himself rejoices when that which was lost is found...See the parable about the lost sheep in verses 4-7, the lost coin in verses 8-10, and then the most profound story of all, the lost son, or better known as "The Prodigal Son", in verses 11-32.

In each of these parables we see how first there was that keen sense of loss...and then that thrill of discovery, joy, and jubilee when that which was lost was found.

Imagine what it must feel like to be God, when He sees His lost "sheep", "sons and daughters" come back to the fold of home...to the bosom of God Himself.   

Luke 15:7 tells us, 

"I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents 

than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."

Luke 15:10 says:

"Likewise, I say to you,

there is joy in the presence of the angels of God

over one sinner who repents."

And even closer to home, in the story of the prodigal who returns home, there is much celebration and rejoicing:

Luke 15:20

"And he (the younger 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 father tells his older son in Luke 15:32

"It was right that we should make merry and be glad, 

for your brother was dead and is alive again,

and was lost and is found."

These examples show us that God plays by His rules...not our rules. The prodigal's older brother was envious of the attention shown to his errant brother...He did not think it was fair that there should be such a celebration on his behalf when he had squandered his inheritance with riotous living and had ended up living in the squalor of the pig sty. He was crying "No fair! I've been good and haven't been so rebellious...and you've never done anything special for me." The father said to him in Luke 15:31,

"Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours."   The father is representative of God here, and how He looks at those who have been lost and found...He will always celebrate the sinner who comes back home to the Father.  And so should we celebrate as well and rejoice with the Father.

Who do we know who might be out there somewhere, lost and wishing they could come home, but they are too ashamed, too embarrassed, too fearful that they will be rejected and scorned by family, friends, and even the church?  The church especially...should be a place where we welcome the sinner with open arms  when he or she has repented and is in need of our love and forgiveness...and grace.  

Grace...that love that is so undeserved, but given freely with joy when we least expect it.

Again, think how God must feel when that errant child comes home...God plays by His own rules...not ours, not the Pharisees', not even the "church"...sad to say ... God throws a big celebration, dances with the outcast, welcomes the sinner home with open arms.

This is the love that God the Father has for us.  All of us were once dead in sin before we came to the Lord.  God does not hold our sins against us...God is not embarrassed by anything we have done...He welcomes us home with open arms.  Through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ on the cross, God has provided a way for you and me to return to the family of God. Please don't let fear or embarrassment keep you away...let grace win the victory.

Sermon Notes from FUMC Interlachen, FL., Pastor A.C. Myers, 1/27/2019

Please Note : I want to repeat this disclaimer here...the notes, outline, and content included here are based upon my own personal understanding of the message that was being given. I am not attempting to completely quote or reproduce this message or any other message I've shared previously. Just as each person reading these notes may glean insights and thoughts that seem to directly apply to one's own situation and interpretation, my own delivery of these messages is skewed by my hearing and translation of what is being said. Some may read my notes here and wonder if they were hearing the same message as I...and I say, God speaks to each of us as He wills...there are things He is trying to get across to each individual that may be entirely different than what the person sitting next to you in the pew is needing to hear... That is how the Holy Spirit works! He knows what we need to hear and how to apply it to our hearts. So it is with that understanding that I present these sermon notes to you.