Mid-week Wyneken Chapel

28 February 2018
Wyneken Lenten Chapel

What Sins Should We Confess?
Office Hymn 612 –“As Rebels, Lord, Who Foolishly Have Wandered
Closing Hymn 607 –“From Depths of Woe I Cry to Thee”

Psalm 130:3-4 –“If You O Lord should mark iniquity who could stand. But with you there is forgiveness that you should be feared.”

1 John 1:5-10 –“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Luke 15:11-32 - The Parable of the Prodigal Son –

A Grand Reunion
Have you ever asked, “Is God aware of and concerned about my fears, my worries, my temptations? Does he care about my life, my family, my home?” If so, read again the Gospel of Luke. The stories of common ordinary individuals – the widow of Nain, Zacchaeus, the woman who washed Jesus’ feet are all common ordinary folk that had a life’s story all their own.

It is the personal and human touch in the story of the prodigal son that has led many to call it “the pear of the parables”.

1. A wayward son (Vv.11-20)
     A.      He leaves.
          1.       “He squandered his property in loose living” (V.13)
          2.       This is our story. How easy to apply it to others. But this is you and me.
     B.      His sin has tragic results.
          1.       “He began to be in want” (v.14) in the fields feeding swine; his friends were gone.
          2.       We see what sin does. Disobedience to the Father leads ultimately to despair and                                   damnation.
     C.      “He came to Himself” (v.17)
          1         He can no longer blame others; there are no more excuses. “Father I have sinned” (v.18)
               a.       He’s still trying to make it his way, “I will be as one of your slaves”
               b.      All scheming must cease.
          2         How do you plan to come before the Father? Join the publican and the prodigal. Any                           other approach means you are still in “a far country.”

2. A merciful father (Vv.20-24)
     A.      He forgives.
          1.       Waiting for his son, “he had compassion” (v.20) ran to him, and ordered the fatted calf                         to  be killed.
          2.       Does our Father forgive you? Think of your worst sin. The father waits!
     B.      Look at “the robe of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10) It was purchased for you with the blood                   of the Savior.

3. A cold brother (Vv.25-32)
     A.      He reacts poorly.
     B.       Whom does he remind us? Jonah at the repentance of Nineveh? The Scribes and Pharisees?                  What about us with our suspicions about the converted?

The more we realize that is salvation is by pure grace, the less we shall be prone to play the cold brother.  We will rejoice at the goodness of God in Christ. He has not deal with us according to our sins. Rather, He restores, redeems, and reconciles.
________________

words - 475

passive sentences - 3%

readability - 80%

reading level - 4