The Younger Son Knew How To Apologize – and So Do My Grandkids!
In a good apology you make no excuses or justifications, you show that you understand why you hurt the person and the Lord, and you are willing to make restitution. The younger son planned to do all 3.
Here is the link to the sermon:
https://gospelinlife.com/sermon/to-be-called-your-son/
I think I’ve finally figured out how to make the text less confusing. Keller’s transcript is in blue and questions are in black! ≈
To Be Called Your Son
The Fellowship of Grace—October 19, 2008
Luke 15:11–24
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.”’
20 So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”
This is the Word of the Lord
SUNDAY:
- How did you experience the goodness of the Lord this week in friendship, in His Word, in His presence, or in His help to do His work in the world?
MONDAY: THE TEXT
2. Read carefully Luke 15:18-20
- What does the son plan to say to the father?
- How has he both sinned against heaven and against his father?
- Imagine you have accidentally broken a treasured vase of a friend. Do an apology with no excuses, shows why you brought pain to her, and how you will make restitution.
3. What request is he going to make, and how will his life be different than it was if his father complies?
4. Read Luke 15:21-25
- How does the Father respond in a way that shows he means for him to be still his son and not a hired man?
- What does he mean when he says his son was dead but now alive?
TUESDAY: THE CHARACTER OF SONSHIP
We’re looking for a number of weeks at this great parable of the prodigal son. Each time, we’re looking for insights as to how the grace of God affects our relationships with each other, how it creates a unique community, a unique human society. Tonight we’re looking at a theme that’s in the text which is very important because, for example, at the end of the text we read (the passage), the father says, “My son was dead.”
Did he think he was physically dead? No, of course not. Well then what does that mean? “My son was dead, but you’re alive again.” When the younger brother comes back to try to make restitution and reconciliation, you notice the main thing he is talking about is, “I am not worthy to be called your son.” Twice he says that.
What did sonship mean then? Because they’re talking about it in a way we don’t completely understand or relate to. What did sonship mean in ancient culture? What does sonship mean in the Bible? We have to understand that if we’re going to understand not only the narrative in the text but some of the greatest information we can get about what God has given to us through Jesus.
Let’s take a look at this subject: the character of sonship, the practice of sonship, the community that results from sonship, and the accomplishment of sonship. Okay? The character, the practice, the community, and the accomplishment of sonship.
The only way to understand the language where the father says, “My son was dead, but you’re alive again,” when the boy comes back and says, “I am no longer worthy to be called your son,” is sonship was a status, see, in a way that it isn’t now. A sonship was a status, and this young man had lost it.
He is right when he says, “I am no longer a son.” The man had said, “He had not been my son.” Why? Because in ancient culture, sonship was something that was much more important than in our culture for a couple of reasons. First, the son was a person whose job it was to carry on the family name. The name meant everything.
See, for you and me, the name is the name. It’s just the name by which I am distinguished from other people. The family name in those days was what the family stood for … the values, the beliefs, the culture, and the reputation. A son was someone who knew it was his job to carry on the family name, represent the family, represent the beliefs of the family to the world.
5. What did it mean that sonship was a status, and that a son was to carry on the family “name?”
Not only that, secondly, it was the son’s job to carry on the family business. This is the place where, when we read the Old Testament and the New Testament, we read ancient times about how sonship worked, we feel there’s an inequity here, because in those days, the oldest son got almost all of the estate. The oldest son got almost all the inheritance. Other sons got some inheritance, and the daughters got none.
When we see that, we say, “Wait. This isn’t fair. The sons get it, and the daughters don’t. The oldest son gets it, and the other sons hardly do.” It was unfair. I mean, I’m going to grant that. I’m not going to defend that, and yet I think we have to understand the context. In those days everywhere and today some places in the world, you didn’t survive unless you had a strong, intact, cohesive family.
In those days, the family was the basic form of government. It was the basic unit of government. Physically you didn’t survive, politically you didn’t survive, and socially you didn’t survive unless you had a very strong, intact family, a family with a livelihood, a family with means. See, today what you and I would do if you have three children, whether sons or daughters, is you divide your estate among the three, and then they divide their estate among their three.
Within two or three generations, all the wealth is gone. That doesn’t bother us, because our wealth is pretty liquid. We have things like cash and stocks and things like that. In those days, the wealth wasn’t that way. First, you couldn’t just go out and accumulate wealth. Wealth had to do with land. It had to do with animals. It had to do with means of production. It was so crucial that the family fortune, as it were, stay intact.
That’s the reason why the oldest son was an office, the heir. It was his job to keep the family wealth accumulated, because the security of the family and the economic security of the family was completely dependent on keeping the wealth together, accumulated, keeping the land together, keeping it all together. It was the oldest son’s job to do that. The law of primogeniture. It seems very unfair to us, but if you look back on it, it was really the only way people could survive.
6. Why did the eldest son get the largest portion of the estate? What was he supposed to do with it?
Now you begin to realize that to be a son in those days was an office almost. It was a status. It was extremely important. It was a big deal. Now you know how incredibly shocking it must have been when Paul the apostle wrote these words in Galatians 3 and 4. He wrote, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus … There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. […]
But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” The status as sons! “Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.”
See, in every other religion on the face of the earth, the gods were kings, and everybody was a subject. Here we have a God who comes in and says, “I’m not just a king, and you’re my subjects; I’m your father. Through Jesus Christ, you can be my sons, my heirs.” This was offering a kind of intimacy with God and an honor in the presence of God that no other religion ever offered anybody. It was unique! We’ll get to it in one second, but I just have to say one thing.
Sometimes women today read what the Bible says. It says, “You’re all sons of God,” and they feel like, “Well, that’s kind of gender insensitive. Why should we go back to a period of time in which the sons had all the power and the daughters had none? They got the status; we didn’t. Why should we go back into this moment in time, this cultural time of patriarchy, and take a term from that time and use it today?”
I’ll tell you why we should do it. I’ll tell you why I’m going to do it. Because it’s subversive. Do you know why? When Paul says to a group of Christians, men and women, “In God’s family, everyone is a son.” I’m sure the women who first heard these words … We could have just knocked them right off their little seat onto the floor. In God’s family, you’re all sons. You’re all heirs.
This is God’s way of looking at women and saying, “I love you just as much. I honor you just as much. If you’re a believer in me through Jesus Christ, you have as much love. You have as much honor. In the future when the new heavens and new earth come, you’re going to inherit it along with the men. You’re heirs.”
So you see, women, you shouldn’t chafe when the Bible calls you “sons of God” any more than the men ought to squirm when they’re called “brides of Christ” or any more than you should be insulted when the Bible says you’re all stupid sheep. Because every biblical metaphor tells you something about God’s grace to you that no other metaphor does. Therefore, you have to hold on to all of them. You have to inhabit all of them.
7. Why do you think in that culture it might have been shocking too hear that everyone who received the Lord is now a son: men, women, Jews, Gentiles, slaves, and freemen?
8. Why should we prefer Bibles that call us as women sons to Bibles that are “gender sensitive?”
WEDNESDAY: THE PRACTICE OF SONSHIP
Okay, now what does it actually mean in your life? If you really grasp the idea that in Christ Jesus we’re all sons, what does that mean? Practically, three things. First of all, deep security. Because adoption, the conferral of sonship status on someone, is not a gradual change in nature. It’s a sudden change in legal status, right? To be adopted means you were legally outside the family. You had no relationship to the inheritance. Now suddenly you’re in. Just like that!
That’s not how we see it. In fact, I would go so far as to say every one of us, including me, doesn’t really grasp the security of that. We’re like the younger brother, because when the younger brother comes back, he says, “I’m not worthy to be called your son,” which is true. “… make me like one of your hired men.”
In other words, he says, “I don’t want the status of sonship. I don’t deserve that. You can’t reinstate me into the family. I understand that. I’m not worthy of that. All I want is to be able to pay you back bit by bit. Make me like one of your hired men.” The father will have nothing of that. The father says, “Bring a robe, and put a ring on his finger.” That’s a signet ring probably. The signet ring was the way in which you made a contract. You didn’t sign your name. You put the family seal on it.
In other words, he was saying, “I don’t want to be a son. I just want to earn my way back by gradual …” The father is saying, “No, you’re a son!” He adopts him essentially, confers sonship on him, like that, in a stroke. We’re all like that. When we first come to God, we all say, “Well, I’m not worthy.” That’s true. “But I just want to earn it. I’m going to try to live a good life. I’m going to come to church. I’m going to read my Bible. I’m going to try my very best to pull it all together. Maybe someday at the end, God will take me to heaven.”
The biblical God will have none of that! When you believe in Jesus Christ, you get full rights as sons. That is an absolutely secure position. A hired man is like an employee. An employee, if you blow up your life … If you’re an employee and you fail your employer and you don’t do everything right and you blow up, you’re fired! There’s no security in being an employee. If you’re a child and you don’t do what your parents say and you blow up your life, what happens? The parents get more intensely interested you than before. That’s how it works in my family.
9. What did the father putting a ring on the son’s finger show?
10. Do you feel secure as a child of God that you can never lose that status through messing up? Why or why not?
The best way to get more of your father’s love than you’ve ever had before is screw up. Why? It’s totally different than being a hired man. It’s a status. It’s a standing. It’s secure. That’s the reason why Dr. Lloyd-Jones had a pastoral question he asked of people. He was a minister in Britain. He used to ask people this question, a diagnostic pastoral question. He would say, “Let me ask you, right now are you a Christian? Are you a child of God?”
If the person said (as often they did), “Well, I’m trying,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones knew here was a person who didn’t understand what it means to be a Christian at all. Here’s a person who wants to be a hired man or woman and doesn’t understand the deep security of having sonship conferred on you.
11. What was Martyn Lloyd Jones endeavoring to find out through his question?
Secondly, intimate access. The first is if you grasp you’re a son, that gives you a deep security. It also gives you an intimate access. Sinclair Ferguson, who wrote a great brook on this called Children of the Living God, tells a story of a missionary who adopted a poor, young orphan girl. Even though she was adopted and she knew she was legally in the family and he was legally her father, she was very standoffish.
One day he was at his desk, and she came up to him with her shoe and said, “Daddy, I need a new shoelace.” He melted because she was treating him as a father. Do you know what that means? You know, this is maybe a joke. I like to tell it, but it’s true. A child has access to the great heights that no one else does. If your father is the king or the prime minister or the president, you have an access nobody else has.
Even my wife, if she is not sick, at 3:00 a.m. in the morning she rolls over, wakes me up, and says, “I need a cup of water,” I would say, “Get it yourself!” This is my spouse! But if one of my sons comes padding up in the middle of the night … One of my little boys comes up and touches me on the shoulder, wakes me up, and says, “Daddy, I need a cup of water,” you get out of bed. Why? It’s your child. Nobody else can get through. That’s access. You go to him for your shoelaces.
First of all, you have the deep security then, secondly, you have intimate access. In other words, deep security means sonship is a legal relationship you can rest on no matter how you’re feeling and doing. You know he is committed to you. Sonship is also an existential relationship. You can take the legal relationship to use in prayer, to go and say, “I know you delight in me, and I want your love. I want the embrace. I want the delight.” In prayer, you can access his love in a way you never would have thought otherwise possible. Why? Because in Christ Jesus you’re all sons.
12. What point is Keller making above? Does your day show that you know you have intimate access or not? Explain.
There’s one more thing: future hope. What does it mean when the Bible says you are heirs? It means the new heavens and new earth God is developing, we are going to rule and reign together with him. Remember how I said in ancient times, fathers expected the oldest son to take over the business? Do you realize what that means for us? God is in the business of perfecting this world, getting rid of every flaw. Someday it’s going to be a glorious world, a new heavens and new earth. No suffering. No blemish. No stain. Nothing!
God is saying, “That’s your inheritance. Right now when you get up every day, it’s a scary economic time. Very frightening. Nobody is sure about the future. Nobody is sure about the financial world. Wouldn’t it be nice to know not too far in the future, no matter what happens to you right now, no matter what mistakes you make, no matter what choices you make financially, whether they’re good or bad, there’s an enormous inheritance of wealth coming to you? Wouldn’t that be nice? Wouldn’t that make everything different?
You’d get up in the morning. “Oh, the stock market is down a thousand points. Oh well,” because this inheritance is coming. It’s true! Do you not realize that? There’s a place where Paul says, “… I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us [as the sons of God].”
You know, when you and I adopt somebody, if you and I adopt a child, we can give them our philosophy, but we can’t inject our DNA into them. But God can because he has the Holy Spirit. We’re told on the last day of history, God’s DNA, as it were, the Holy Spirit, is going to come into us, and we’re going to become fully ourselves.
The entire family resemblance of the triune God … all of his love, all of his greatness, all of his goodness, all of his nobility, all of his majesty, all of his love, all of his grace … will finally be 110 percent fully realized in your life, and you will explode into your true selves. We’re told at that moment, the whole heavens and the whole earth will explode into its glorious self. We’re going to rule and reign in it. That’s coming.
Paul says, “I reckon …” What that means is, “I think when I’m in the middle of my suffering about my inheritance. I think about the glory. I think about the glory! I think about the inheritance that’s coming until I can handle anything now.” If you’re a person who grasps your sonship so you have that deep security, that intimate access, and that incredible confidence about life in the future, what kind of community does that make us? Here’s what that makes us.
13.Why can Christians better handle the sufferings of this world. Is this true of you?
THURSDAY: THE COMMUNITY THAT RESULTS FROM SONSHIP
We have a problem here right now, and that is when the Bible talks about what kind of community we should be since we all have one father and we’re all, through Christ, made children of God and we have this status as sons and all that, whenever the Bible describes what kind of community we ought to be, it calls it “brotherly love.”
Unfortunately, at least in English, “brotherly love” sounds so vague, but the ancient pagans understood what that meant. If you are brothers and sisters, if we are brothers and sisters, if the person next to you is a brother or sister, that has radical implications because we are not just members of the same religious organization. Brothers and sisters are totally different.
Lucian of Samosata, who was a pagan critic of the church (didn’t like the church), makes this comment about the early Christians. He said something like, “Their founder, Jesus Christ, persuaded them they should be like brothers to one another. Therefore, they despised their own privacy and view all their possessions as common property.” See, he knew, “If these people are just members of the same organization, well, fine. If they’re brothers and sisters, do you realize how radical that is? You have no privacy. Brothers and sisters have incredible claims on you.”
See, the pagans knew that to say the Christian community was marked by brotherly love was the most radical thing you could possibly say. Do you? Do I? I don’t think so, but look. Here’s something. Here are some implications. If we’re brothers and sisters, first of all, do you know what that means? Undifferentiated, unconditional commitment. Do you know what that means?
You did not choose your siblings, did you? I know some of you are saying, “No!” You don’t choose your siblings. You’re born into them. Because you have the same parents, you get these siblings. They just come with the package. Your siblings are not people you choose. It’s not a consumer choice who your siblings are. Many of them are people you would never choose as friends, ever, but there’s a bond, right? There’s a bond by having the same parents, by having the same ordeal, being raised by the same parents.
There is a bond there even though these are people who are very different than you (you would have never chosen them as friends). There’s a bond. Look. You can choose your own church. You come to New York, and you choose a church. Of course, there are a lot of churches. You have to choose a church. But inside the church, you must not choose your brothers and sisters. You must not avoid the people you don’t like. They’re your brothers and sisters.
14. Has it been your experience that you feel a loyalty to your siblings even if you are not like them and not even if you particularly enjoy their company? Should you?
You can’t network in a church. This is not a religious organization. There are people here who are your brothers and sisters who you would never choose as friends, just like real brothers and sisters. They have things to say to you and things to do in your life that no one else can. You cannot just … “Birds of a feather flock together” inside the church.
You can’t just choose the people who are more like you and who you like and who you feel like are going to help your career. You don’t do that here. There has to be an undifferentiated, unconditional commitment to your brothers and sisters. You can choose your church, but you can’t choose your brothers and sisters within the church.
15. Do you feel a loyalty to people in your church even if you are not like them and not even if you particularly enjoy their company? Should you?
Secondly, transparency. I’ll be very brief, because just last week we talked about this. You see, when you’re raised with people (your siblings), you know who they are. They can’t fool you; you can’t fool them. You can’t project an image. They know what you’re really like, and you know what they’re really like. That transparency ought to be also the case inside the church.
You should be willing to be honest with each other about your flaws, to be honest with each other about your sufferings and your burdens, to hold each other accountable, to gently call each other on the carpet, to gently support each other. There needs to be a transparency. So undifferentiated, unconditional commitment. Secondly, transparency.
Thirdly, unselfishness. What got Lucian of Samosata so upset? If we’re brothers and sister, that means we have a claim on each other’s resources. That’s certainly the way it is inside the family. You know that. Inside a family, when somebody has a financial problem, the other people feel an obligation you otherwise wouldn’t, because you’re family. Lucian of Samosata was very upset. He realized if they really are brothers and sisters to one another, that means they despised their own privacy and viewed all their possession as the common property.
16. How well are you doing with being transparent and generous with your brothers and sisters in Christ? Here? In church?
Do you think people right now in New York look at Redeemer and think that about us? Does anybody out there look at us and see us so radically sharing our property with each other and our money with each other that they say, “Wow. It’s almost like each person considers his or her own property to really belong to brothers and sisters as well”? I don’t think so.
Justin Martyr says this is the way it was done in the early church. He was one of the early church fathers. He said, “We who used to value the acquisition of wealth and possessions more than anything else now bring what we have into a common fund and share it with anyone who needs it. We used to hate and destroy one another and refused to associate with people of another race or country. Now, because of Christ, we live together with such people and pray for our enemies.”
Do people look in on our church and say that about us? If not, it’s because we actually are more of a religious organization than a family of brothers and sisters. That leads to the last thing. You need to grant the people around you in this church life-shaping impact. When you’re young, you think you’re the product of your choices and your decisions. The older you get, the more you’ll see you are largely the product of your family, as much as you hate to admit it.
What really shapes you is not your choices and decisions, not the books you read, not the sermons you come to hear and take notes on (it’s okay to take notes, by the way). You mainly become like the people you hang out with the most, the people you actually live with. See, if you go to a company or a club or a class, you only have one point of contact. You come together in the class because you all want to get a degree and study a subject. You come together in the company because you all want to make money and produce a project.
You come together in the club … You come to the bird watchers’ club because you all want to bird watch. At the birdwatchers’ club, if one of your fellow birdwatchers says to you, “Why are you dating him?” you’ll say, “Let’s get back to bird watching, please. I’ve come here to bird watch, and I know you as a birdwatcher. It’s not your business who I’m dating.” But in a family, it’s not just one point of contact. In a family, you play together. You eat together. You study together. You walk together. You talk together.
It’s the people you hang out with who actually shape you. My problems and your problems have come largely from the social environments we have come from. If you’re going to change, if you want to change, it’s not going to be just coming and listening to good sermons. You’re only going to change if you’re re-parented, if you’re re-loved by a new family. Here it is!
It’s not enough just to come to events or classes. You really have to get to know people. It means, at one level you could say, you shouldn’t just come to the big services. You need to be in a small group. It’s better to say you need to be in a group of friends inside the church of at least equivalent intensity to being in a small group, where you actually are playing together, studying together, reading together, talking together, doing recreation together, and therefore, really drilling the Christian faith into each other in a way that works.
I can’t tell you how many people have said to me, “Well, when I came to your church and I listened to your sermons, I really learned a lot, but it wasn’t until I got into a group of friends that we started processing it that I finally figured out what the heck you were saying.” That’s right. What is the main reason the younger brother is able to not just become a hired man but could become an heir again even though he had squandered his inheritance?
How could he be reinstated? How could he become an heir again? I hate to tell you the answer because actually we have to talk about this over the next couple of weeks at greater length. I hate to always give away the end of a story, but here’s the answer.
17. What are some ways the sisters here have shaped you? How have brothers and sisters in general impacted you. Let’s here some specific stories.
FRIDAY: THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF SONSHIP
The only reason why the younger brother can become an heir and a son again is at the expense of the elder brother, right? Because, you see, now the whole inheritance belongs to him. The only way the father can reinstate him and make him an heir again is at the expense of the elder brother.
The elder brother in the story hates it. We’re going to talk about that, but the elder brother in your story does not. Why? Because the true Elder Brother is Jesus Christ. Because, you see, he came to earth to sacrifice himself and to give up his place in heaven so we could have it, to give up his place in the Father’s bosom so we could have it, to lose his sonship, as it were, so we could get full rights as sons. The knowledge of that sacrificial love is what changes us and will turn us into a family.
Ernest Gordon was a British soldier in World War II. He was captured by the Japanese, and he was made to work with thousands of others on what’s called the “Death Railroad,” which was a railroad along the valley of the Kwai River in Thailand. During World War II, the prisoners of war were made to work on that railroad. The conditions were so awful that basically 1,000 to 2,000 prisoners died for every five miles that was built.
It got so bad that Ernest Gordon in his memoir said the men were all at each other’s throats. They went back to the law of the jungle. To paraphrase, he said, “Death was everywhere, and as conditions worsened, our lives became poisoned by selfishness, hate, and fear. Formerly we had huddled together because of our fears, believing there was safety in numbers. We had still shown some consideration for one another. Now that was gone, completely swept away.
Existence had become so miserable, the odds so heavy against us, that nothing mattered except to survive. We lived by the rule of the jungle, red in tooth and claw, the evolutionary law of the survival of the fittest. It was a case of, ‘I look out for myself, and to hell with everyone else.’ Everybody was his own keeper, and all the restraints of morality were gone.
One afternoon, something happened. A shovel was missing at the end of the day. The officer in charge became enraged. He demanded the missing shovel be produced or else. When no one in the squadron volunteered they had taken the shovel, the officer got his gun out and threatened to kill every one of them on the spot.
Suddenly, one man stepped forward. ‘I took it,’ he said. The officer put away his gun, picked up a shovel, and beat the man to death on the spot. At the second tool check, this time no shovel was missing. There had actually been a miscount at the first check. The word spread like wildfire through the whole camp. An innocent man had been willing to die to save everyone else. The incident had a huge effect. We began to treat each other like brothers.
Another man was caught trading with the local people (the ties for medicines for a dying comrade) and was sentenced to death. He submitted to it reading from a little Bible and then cheering up the chaplain right before his execution. Death was still with us, no doubt about that, but we were being slowly freed from its destructive grip.”
What happened? The sacrificial love (one man giving his life for the rest) changed a jungle into a community. That was just a human being. Jesus Christ gave himself for you. Jesus Christ stepped forward and was beaten into the ground to save us from our sins. Let that turn us into a family. Let’s pray.
Our Father, we thank you for giving us what we need to be a family, a knowledge of our sonship. We thank you that you have made it possible for us to know this because of your Word, because of the gospel. We ask now you would help us to begin to live it out. We don’t have the security. We don’t have the access. We don’t have the confidence and joy we should have because we do not grasp our status. We do not love each other, we do not share with each other, we do not shape each other like we should because we’re not living yet as family, brothers and sisters.
We know your Son gave himself for us. The more we understand that, the more it sinks into our hearts, the more it turns us into not a place where it’s not the survival of the fittest anymore, but it’s brother, it’s sister. We pray, Father, you would help us to realize this. We ask all this through Jesus. In his name we pray, amen.
18. How was Christ “the true elder brother?”
19.Do you have other comments on the sermon?
Saturday:
20. What is your take-a-way and why?
140 comments
Praying for wisdom this morning as we still have a birthday planned for our DIL, but have learned she has no intention of staying married and is not living her faith. We are heart broken and not sure how to respond if she shows up today. Appreciate prayers my friends
🙏 Praying for God’s grace, wisdom and love. May your DIL’s heart be softened and open to His truth and love.
Amen to Sharon’s prayer🙏
Dear Chris, I am praying for the Lord to give you His wisdom and words for your daughter in law. May this party be a time of healing, repentance, restoration and hope for the future.
Lord, we ask that the Holy Spirit be very present at the is birthday party. May hearts be soft and open, and may healing words penetrate each one present. Lord may your presence be evident to all attending. May you touch the soul of Chris’s DIL and give her love, hope and direction. In the Mighty Name of Jesus, I pray.
Ditto to Sharon’s and Patti’s prayers! With God nothing is impossible!
Thank you, all. It means so much to have prayer ahead of this difficulty. I cannot understand her wanting to come today and only hope the Lord can work in everyone’s hearts.
Amen Patti!!
Amen!
God is going to work His wonders!
I’m sorry that your family is going through this, Chris. I’ll be pray for everyone.
Oh, what a hard situation. Did she show up?
SUNDAY:
How did you experience the goodness of the Lord this week in friendship, in His Word, in His presence, or in His help to do His work in the world?
So, last week I felt very overwhelmed with what God has placed in my hands. It felt so heavy. But then, God strengthened me through my friends, and they prayed for me, reminded me of God’s promises and they prophesied over me. And, He kept reminding me of those things He had spoken to me in His word earlier this year. It was just beautiful to see how much He was holding me up.
Eunice, I so see God’s hand on you in this sweet post. You are going to bless many with your love of God and your obedience to what He has called you to do.
SUNDAY:
How did you experience the goodness of the Lord this week in friendship, in His Word, in His presence, or in His help to do His work in the world?
In friendship: we have a core group of 8 women on a group text. One of the ladies had a prayer request for her husband as they went through the first rounds of chemotherapy for his cancer. Seeing the sincere prayers of these women in text has truly blessed my heart.
In His Word: Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Discouragement could easily have crept in this week if it were not for His Word.
In His presence: Driving an hour each way to and from my dentist visit by myself was a peaceful time with the Lord. And my teeth are doing okay!
His help to do His work in the world: a friend who is also a nurse gave me some practical ideas on how to help a friend who is caring for her husband.
All glory to God!
Love your post, Bing!
Bing, you glorify God in all you do and say! Amen to Dee!
SUNDAY:
How did you experience the goodness of the Lord this week in friendship, in His Word, in His presence, or in His help to do His work in the world? I experienced the goodness of the Lord right here on the blog with my friends who pray. Thank you for always being here. We did find time to speak with our DIL and our son both together and separately. Our DIL left first and we prayed as a family for our son and his marriage. It does not look hopeful, but we hope in God. Thank you all for your wonderful prayers. Our tradition at birthdays has always been to sing the traditional song and then we add “God’s Blessings to You” in song. It was very hard to sing this, knowing the things we know. We feel we did our best to honor God and show grace and speak truth. I’m still confused about why she came, but praying the Lord works a wonder in her heart as she saw, possibly for the last time, the love our family has for one another. A sad story about her upbringing, to give you a picture, her own mother shared with me. When she was just a little toddler they nick named her Lucy. Her mother said it was short for Lucifer, because she was such a little devil. Her parents thought this was funny. They still joke about it. Her parents are still married but they have no real relationship and said they would divorce after our son married their daughter. We counseled them not to marry, but to continue dating a while longer as we had concerns. Her family is still living in dysfunction and I am hoping she wants to escape this and live for the Lord, but hoping our son was not her escape only to return to it in her own way.
Chris, I would like to say that your DIL coming to the birthday party for her was a good thing. I hope she saw your sincere efforts to bless her. Prayers continuing.
Prayers for your DIL. God is going to do something, making all things beautiful in its time.
You surely handled this in a way that was pleasing to God, Chris.
Chris, You and your family honored God and showed His love to your DIL and son. Prayers continue for them.
Thank you, all ❤️
I will continue to pray for this situation. Strange that she still sort of reached out, but also sad. I wonder if she has enough politeness in her that she felt like she needed to still attend. Hope in God, yes. 🙏🙏🙏
How did you experience the goodness of the Lord this week in friendship, in His Word, in His presence, or in His help to do His work in the world? I got birthday greetings from so many people this year, some from people that I haven’t heard from in years. It was heartwarming and made me feel like I do have some friends and people that care enough to wish me well.
That’s a very heartwarming experience. I love it for youuuu, really!
You are so loved, Dawn! You are such a blessing on this blog!
Dawn, you have a beautiful heart of gratitude. Birthdays are good times to reflect on God’s goodness through others. This blog does it well.
Happy Birthday, Dawn!
Dawn, what a sweet kiss from the King! Happy Birthday 🎉🎂
That is lovely, Dawn!
Praying for our nation during this winter storm that has caused power outages in several states. Dear sisters on the icy paths, I pray for your safety and protection. And for all the essential workers, highway, and power maintenance and restoration crews, for stores providing for the needs of those affected, Lord, hear our prayers.
Amen! God’s protection for you all.
Amen to your prayers for safety for all, dear Bing. How I pray for all those amazing workers too, and those who work in hospitals and emergency situations everywhere.
Thank you Bing! We had a winter wonderland these past few days! Probably 30 inches of snow. I love it myself. Here’s a picture from my front door yesterday morning.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/036wL-IBmoHQWXROTDycxnY-A
This was after we had shoveled 3 times the night before!
Yesterday happened to be an inservice for the teachers so our superintendent decided we would work from home (smart move). Today we have a delay. More to shovel as we received another 8 inches. We don’t get as many power outages as we used to.
I do remember the ice storms of the south. They are no fun and everything shuts down, including the power. I pray all is well for you guys 🙏🙏🙏
Oh my. I’m going to share this with my husband. He’s been frustrated with the 2-4 inches we’ve been getting daily but 30 inches! Wow
1. How did you experience the goodness of the Lord this week in friendship, in His Word, in His presence, or in His help to do His work in the world?
I can look at the past two weeks and see God’s hand on so many things. The most important is the arrival of Tony and Hannah’s baby LAST Tuesday night. God’s timing is always perfect. Tony, Hannah and the baby were safe at home in the storm that went through Nashville, and up the entire East Coast. They lost their power last night, but were able to stay at their neighbor’s home. So thankful, the baby came early (early to us, on time to God). God’s timing was perfect with three other things last week. Broken garage door spring, furnace part went out and my car battery went dead. Yet, all were fixed quickly, by nice people, and all was well when the storm came. Then, the man who services the generator contacted me and checked my generator to make sure it would work if there was a storm. I had good conversations with each one of them. God has taken such good care of me. How I Praise Him!
Oh, Patti! What a loving Husband the Lord has been for you! Thank you for sharing these praises.
How our loving Father has blessed you Patti and what a blessing you are to all of us here❤️
Wonderful!!
I love this Patti. Perspective is everything. My mom struggles with being a widow and without faith, I think she feels very alone in times of trouble. She is an hour from all her kids so she has to rely on neighbors or friends for help and it can be hard. She doesn’t see the Lord’s provision but rather the lack, even though she does get things figured out. I am impressed she plows her own driveway and shovels her property at 80 years old! Sometimes I think the Lord is just waiting patiently for her to acknowledge his loving care for her all these years. 💕
She doesn’t see the Lord’s provision but rather the lack,
Father, turn this around for Chris’s mom – that she can see Your provision and love
SUNDAY:
How did you experience the goodness of the Lord this week in friendship, in His Word, in His presence, or in His help to do His work in the world?
—I experienced the goodness of the Lord in friendship this week when I was able to go make a visit in the home of a very seasoned and special 85 year old woman named Marian. Marian teaches the “Joy Class” at the First Baptist Church we are attending while down here in Texas. It is a Sunday School class of a fairly large group of older women. Marian is sharp and loves God and His Word and she teaches it well. She is a recovered alcoholic and been dry for 43 years. She has an amazing story and has weathered much in her lifetime so far. Marian has very arthritic and painful knees. Two weeks ago she took a bad fall in the night in her own home that resulted in stitches in her head, two black eyes and a badly bruised fore arm. I took out her favorite lunch and she gave me a couple of hours of time just visiting about the Lord and life. I think we were an encouragement to each other but I know I was privileged to have some time with one of God’s special saints.
What a lovely time for both of you, Bev. Marian sounds like an amazing woman. I am sure your time with her was a huge blessing to her.
Bev, what a beautiful friend you have in Marian! I am sure she was blessed by your visit as well.
I love this story!
Dee, thank you for your efforts in finding the best format for us. I like the contrast of colors.
MONDAY: THE TEXT
2. Read carefully Luke 15:18-20
What does the son plan to say to the father?
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.”’
How has he both sinned against heaven and against his father?
All sins are, firstly, sins against our holy God; repentance is vertical. And against his father, repentance is horizontal.
Imagine you have accidentally broken a treasured vase of a friend. Do an apology with no excuses, shows why you brought pain to her, and how you will make restitution.
(Name of friend), I am very sorry for breaking your treasured vase. I know this is a very treasured item and a loss for you. I realize it will not be the same. Where can I find another one to buy to replace it? Or please let me buy you another one to replace it.
1. What request is he going to make, and how will his life be different than it was if his father complies?
He asked that he be made like one of the hired men. He will have food to spare, whereas before nobody gave him anything.
4. Read Luke 15:21-25
How does the Father respond in a way that shows he means for him to be still his son and not a hired man?
He clothed him with the best robe, gave him a signet ring, and sandals. The father gave the younger son symbols and identification of sonship. And had the fattened calf prepared for a feast. Those symbolic items would have been enough if it were me, but the generosity of this father stands for the largeness of the heart of our heavenly Father when we return to Him. No reservations!
Thanks Bing!!!
MONDAY: THE TEXT
2. Read carefully Luke 15:18-20
What does the son plan to say to the father?
—He intended to first admit and acknowledge his sin against God and his father and also admit his unworthiness to be called the man’s son. He was going to ask to work as a hired hand for him
How has he both sinned against heaven and against his father?
—The God of Heaven requires us to honor our parents and he had broken God’s law by greatly dishonoring his father in what he had done.
Imagine you have accidentally broken a treasured vase of a friend. Do an apology with no excuses, shows why you brought pain to her, and how you will make restitution.
—I am so sorry for the pain of loss I have caused you by my own actions. I will do whatever I can to replace it if possible or make restitution somehow. It was all my fault and I deeply regret the hurt I have caused you.
3. What request is he going to make, and how will his life be different than it was if his father complies?
—He wanted to go to work for his father as an employee and forfeit his place as a son in the family.
4. Read Luke 15:21-25
How does the Father respond in a way that shows he means for him to be still his son and not a hired man?
—He made sure he had clothing that was worn by someone worthy and sandals for his feet. And the ring was probably a signet ring that gave him back his identity in the family. He then threw a big feast preparing the best meal possible for everyone to have in celebration of his son’s return to the family. He acknowledges that his son was lost to him but now has returned home.
What does he mean when he says his son was dead but now alive?
—The relationship he had previously with his son had been completely broken but now that his son repented and came home it was restored.
MONDAY: THE TEXT
2. Read carefully Luke 15:18-20
A. What does the son plan to say to the father?
“Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as hired servant.”
B. How has he both sinned against heaven and against his father?
He broke God’s heart in living like he wanted to…his relationship with God was broken and that needed to be mended, a gospel repentance which opened his eyes to see he’d sinned against his father and that needed to be mended as well.
C. Imagine you have accidentally broken a treasured vase of a friend. Do an apology with no excuses, shows why you brought pain to her, and how you will make restitution.
I am deeply sorry that I broke your treasured vase that I know is irreplaceable and means a lot to you. Please forgive me and I will replace it any way I can.
3. What request is he going to make, and how will his life be different than it was if his father complies?
“Please take me on as a hired servant.” His life would change in that he wouldn’t be worthy to be called his son and that he would live in town and work as a hired servant rather than a domestic servant who lived on the estate. He would be working his way back into the family.
4. Read Luke 15:21-25
A. How does the Father respond in a way that shows he means for him to be still his son and not a hired man?
His father told the servants to quickly bring the finest robe in the house and put it in him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. Kill the fattened calf and we’ll celebrate with a feast. For this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. Was lost but now he is found. So the party began.
B. What does he mean when he says his son was dead but now alive?
The relationship that had become completely severed (dead) when the son left home was now reconciled and was alive again.
1. God blessed me with my two friends last week, whom I never get to see. We met at one friend’s house and made breakfast together. It was short and sweet but meant a lot to me.
Dee, will you make your initial comments (not the actual comments) in another color to distinguish them from the questions and the sermon text?
2. Read carefully Luke 15:18-20
What does the son plan to say to the father?
He’s going to admit that he sinned and apologize for sinning, and then he plans to ask him if he can be one of his hired servants.
How has he both sinned against heaven and against his father?
He sinned against the father by not honoring the familial rules and wishing the father dead. He sinned against God by living a sinful life.
Imagine you have accidentally broken a treasured vase of a friend. Do an apology with no excuses, shows why you brought pain to her, and how you will make restitution.
I am so sorry that broke your vase! I didn’t mean to, it was an accident. I know how special the vase was to you and I will pay for a new one even though I know nothing can replace the broken one. Please find one that will work for you and let me know where I need to go to purchase it for you. Again, I am very sorry about this.
I can try to do that, Laura. I admit ths new format has been really challenging for me for I do it, and go back and it is all changed back. So pray!
Laura, What a sweet blessing, to have breakfast with your two dear friends!
3. What request is he going to make, and how will his life be different than it was if his father complies?
He would request to be put on the payroll and treated as servant to his father. He would be serving his father if he was a hired hand. I think Keller pointed out in the last sermon that hired hands were more like day laborers and did not live on the property, rather they lived in town and were called when needed.
4. Read Luke 15:21-25
How does the Father respond in a way that shows he means for him to be still his son and not a hired man?
The father runs to the son to greet him. This was unheard of in those days. This meant he was serious about the greeting. He throws a party and kills the “fattened calf” for him. Keller says it was enough food to feed the entire village. This was also unheard of back then. He gives him his robe and ring. Another sign that he was still his son and not just anyone.
What does he mean when he says his son was dead but now alive?
The son was not right in his mind when he left but now he had come to his senses. He knew the pain he caused his father and the family. He knew the sin he had against God. The son had woken up.
5. What did it mean that sonship was a status, and that a son was to carry on the family “name?”
The family name was not just the name in those days. It carried the weight of the family’s belief, their culture, values and their reputation.
MONDAY: THE TEXT
2. Read carefully Luke 15:18-20
What does the son plan to say to the father?“Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”
How has he both sinned against heaven and against his father?
He treated his father, as if he wished he were dead, when he asked for his inheritance. All of our sins are against God first, as sin rejects God’s authority, His commandments and His Holy nature.
Imagine you have accidentally broken a treasured vase of a friend. Do an apology with no excuses, shows why you brought pain to her, and how you will make restitution.
I am so sorry I have broken your treasured vase. I know it meant so much to you and I am heart sick that I have hurt you. 😢I pray that you will forgive me. I want to find a way to replace this and do what I can to make it up to you.
3. What request is he going to make, and how will his life be different than it was if his father complies?
“I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”
4. Read Luke 15:21-25
How does the Father respond in a way that shows he means for him to be still his son and not a hired man?
The father ran to him, hugged and kissed him. Then, he called for the best robe and put it on him. He put a signet rig on his finger and sandals on his feet. The ring was a sign of authority and the sandals meant he was a son, not a slave.
What does he mean when he says his son was dead but now alive?
The relationship was broken when the son left, and he was considered dead. His return, his remorse and repentance restored the relationship and he is again alive to his father.
MONDAY: THE TEXT
2. Read carefully Luke 15:18-20
What does the son plan to say to the father? I have sinned against heaven and you and am not worthy to be called your son. Make me a hired servant, wage-earner.
How has he both sinned against heaven and against his father? He sinned aginst heaven when he turned his back on his faith and nation, choosing instead to go after pleasure and idols of the world. The son sinned against his father when demanding his share of the estate and leaving the family, thereby causing great sorrow and grievous hurt.
Imagine you have accidentally broken a treasured vase of a friend. Do an apology with no excuses, shows why you brought pain to her, and how you will make restitution. The key word here for me is “accidentally.” I would say, “Oh, Dee, I am so sorry. I broke the vase that belonged to your grandmother. You’ve told me how special it was to you, and it cannot be replaced. I am so, so sorry for being so careless. I will take it to an expert to see if it can be repaired and pay the cost of repair.”
3. What request is he going to make, and how will his life be different than it was if his father complies? The son had been an honored member of the household with a standing in the family and community. At home the son lacked for nothing (was well fed, well clothed, well sheltered). He had responsibilities within the working of the family’s business, but he was the owner’s son.
The son planned to ask that the father take him back, not as a son but as a hired servant, an employee. The son felt he no longer deserved to be a part of the family. He had given up all his privileges when he disgraced his father and left home. Although he would have wages, he certainly would not be as well cared for as before he left. His standing in the community would be very low now.
It’s interesting that the son never got this request out of his mouth before the father interrupted him. “…and am no longer worthy to be called thy son.” vs. 22 “But the father said to his servants, bring forth the best robe…” This reminds me of many verses that start with “But God..” How that before God opened my eyes to truth and saved me I was by nature a “child of wrath,” “But God, who is rich in mercy..” He did not leave me there! Hallelujah! Eph,2:3-5
I love your last comment, Cheryl!
This reminds me of many verses that start with “But God..” How that before God opened my eyes to truth and saved me I was by nature a “child of wrath,” “But God, who is rich in mercy..” He did not leave me there! Hallelujah! Eph,2:3-5
Great insight and application Cheryl, “But God, who is rich in mercy..” He did not leave me there! Hallelujah!
Yes! Hallelujah!
5. What did it mean that sonship was a status, and that a son was to carry on the family “name?”
Sonship status is like adoption, a legal relationship. The son carried on the name, values, culture of the family and what it stood for.
6. Why did the eldest son get the largest portion of the estate? What was he supposed to do with it?
The son carried on the name, values, culture of the family and what it stood for. He carried on the family business, the land, animals and wealth, in order to create a strong cohesive family; to survive physically, socially and economically.
7. Why do you think in that culture it might have been shocking to hear that everyone who received the Lord is now a son: men, women, Jews, Gentiles, slaves, and freemen?
It changes everything about the culture. In all other religions, their is a hierarchy : Kings, subjects, genders, with God’s family, we are all sons and heirs, with full rights.
8. Why should we prefer Bibles that call us as women sons to Bibles that are “gender sensitive?
In God’s family, gender does not matter; we are all heirs and God’s way honors, respects and loves women, as much as men. I love this from Keller: “ Every metaphor tells us something important about God’s grace.”
Keller: “ Every metaphor tells us something important about God’s grace.”
TUESDAY: THE CHARACTER OF SONSHIP
5. What did it mean that sonship was a status, and that a son was to carry on the family “name?”
—It was the son’s job to represent his family name well and that entailed what his family stood for as far as their values, beliefs, their culture and their reputation.
6. Why did the eldest son get the largest portion of the estate? What was he supposed to do with it?
—It was his responsibility to take care of and keep the family wealth in tact because the the security of the family was dependent on keeping it together as well as keeping the land together. It was their only means of survival.
7. Why do you think in that culture it might have been shocking too hear that everyone who received the Lord is now a son: men, women, Jews, Gentiles, slaves, and freemen?
—Because in their culture there was not a frame of reference for them to give place and status to women or people they considered lower in status than sons but especially the first born son.
8. Why should we prefer Bibles that call us as women sons to Bibles that are “gender sensitive?”
—We need to look at this in the light of the culture at that time because it is the appropriate metaphor which raises women to an equal status with men as sons who traditionally were the only heirs in the family. Jesus was naming women to be equal heirs as well in the family of God. It greatly elevated the status of what it had been for women.
This was new to me in understanding the deeper cultural impact of this teaching regarding what Christ was doing by naming women as sons and their being equal as heirs in God’s family.
Because I grew up in a time when the use of the masculine was common when referring to men and women in an inclusive way I had never seen it identified clearly here in this passage the implication and cultural impact of Jesus’s statement. I had never felt diminished by its application but I now have a deeper appreciation of this truth. To change the gender and try to make it gender sensitive would totally miss the point which is a huge elevation of women. And regarding the use of metaphor I also like the references to men being referred as the bride of Christ and all of us being stupid as sheep. 😊
Very well put! (Last paragraph)
Amen to Dee! Love your entire post, Bev!
MONDAY: THE TEXT
2. Read carefully Luke 15:18-20
What does the son plan to say to the father?
Father, I have sinned against Heaven and in your sight a. I am no longer worthy ro be called your son; just treat me like one of your hired men.
How has he both sinned against heaven and against his father?
They both wanted the best for him, but he was impatient and he didn’t wait for what they had in store for him, ruining their plans.
Imagine you have accidentally broken a treasured vase of a friend. Do an apology with no excuses, shows why you brought pain to her, and how you will make restitution.
My love, I’m so sorry I broke it. I am really really sorry. I know you love it and it meant a lot to you, so I’ll get you a new one. You’ll probably not love this new one as much as you did your old one, but please, take it from me.
3. What request is he going to make, and how will his life be different than it was if his father complies?
He was going to ask his father to take him as a servant. If his father had done that he would have lived his in total regret. And the story would not go in such a way that people are reminded that no matter how far they’ve gone they can always come back to the father whose arms are open wide.
4. Read Luke 15:21-25
How does the Father respond in a way that shows he means for him to be still his son and not a hired man?
His father didn’t even respond to his statement first, he simply clothed him and made him feel welcome before responding. He showed the genuine love of a Father.
What does he mean when he says his son was dead but now alive?
That’s actually a very deep one. Because we all know that the son never died. He was breathing throughout the whole story.
But really, we can look at the story of Adam and Eve. God told them not to eat out of that tree or they’ll surely die. They did, and they didn’t drop dead. It’s a spiritual sort of death. One that shows in every area of the person’s life other than the physical.
Good job on the apology, Eunice! 🙂
MONDAY: THE TEXT
2. Read carefully Luke 15:18-20
What does the son plan to say to the father? He is not worthy to be a son and wants to be a hired man-he has sinned against father and God.
How has he both sinned against heaven and against his father? He did not honor his father which God commands.
Imagine you have accidentally broken a treasured vase of a friend. Do an apology with no excuses, shows why you brought pain to her, and how you will make restitution. I am so sorry. This was such a treasure to you and I have destroyed it. What can I do to make this better for you?
3. What request is he going to make, and how will his life be different than it was if his father complies? Oh the son wants to be a hired hand but the father restores him to his position as the heir. He will have all the rights to the property again and not be a servant at all.
4. Read Luke 15:21-25
How does the Father respond in a way that shows he means for him to be still his son and not a hired man? Running to him, giving him the best robe, shoes and a ring (for contracts).
What does he mean when he says his son was dead but now alive? When the son left, he had died to him and the family. He would not have any responsibility of the family or relationship with them. This is how I feel about our DIL. If she chooses to divorce our son, she is dead to us. It’s so sad.
Father, do what is best withthis DIL. You know her heart and even if her heart might change.
Tuesday
5/6. What did it mean that sonship was a status, and that a son was to carry on the family “name?” Primogeniture (/ˌpraɪməˈdʒɛnɪtʃər, -oʊ-/) is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn legitimate child to inherit all or most of their parent’s estate, as well as succeed their parent as the ruler of a state.-from Wikipedia. My husband has talked about this as it seems so sad to sell our property that he has worked hard to establish for the family, and have it dissolved so everyone can have a piece. We would like it to be here for years to come and the family to use to the glory of God. I believe it will come down to who can afford to buy it when we retire. Might need to get creative but we hope to keep it in the family.
7. Why do you think in that culture it might have been shocking too hear that everyone who received the Lord is now a son: men, women, Jews, Gentiles, slaves, and freemen? The first born son was, at that time, the one to inherit and carry on the family fortune. For everyone to receive such a grand inheritance seemed inconceivable.
8. Why should we prefer Bibles that call us as women sons to Bibles that are “gender sensitive?” To be a son, was the greatest position in that society and for everyone to have it, was unbelievable, especially for women. It is an honor and privilege to be a son, so women should not be offended by this. It’s not devaluing their femininity, but showing their rights as heirs.
Wednesday
9. What did the father putting a ring on the son’s finger show? He was able to sign contracts or approve anything for the family legally.
10. Do you feel secure as a child of God that you can never lose that status through messing up? Why or why not? It is only by the grace of God that I can never lose status. Thank you, Jesus, for taking my place on that cross.
11. What was Martyn Lloyd Jones endeavoring to find out through his question? If the person was confident in their faith-did they understand the gospel.
12. What point is Keller making above? Does your day show that you know you have intimate access or not? Explain. As a son/daughter of the King of the universe, we have intimate access to Him at anytime. I believe my life shows this by my immediate prayers offered at anytime as needed. I know the Father is there for me, always. I don’t need to perform anything to be accepted or wait until he is not busy. He is always there for me.
13.Why can Christians better handle the sufferings of this world. Is this true of you? I think I’m getting better at this for sure. I used to fall apart at the sufferings of this world, but I’m learning that my Father has everything in hand. He is orchestrating the events of my life and I am not merely at the mercy of the winds of change. He knows my needs and sees my pain. I can trust him to get me through. Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good. A refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.
Your last paragraph– so good.
Tuesday
5. What did it mean that sonship was a status, and that a son was to carry on the family “name?” A son’s status was to represent the family in all of his transactions upholding the reputation and honor of the family. The son was to carry on the family “name” after his father died, so that the family’s values, faith, culture, and history would continue. Keller’s explanation give me a better understanding of why a brother had to marry his sister-in-law (when she became a widow).
6. Why did the eldest son get the largest portion of the estate? What was he supposed to do with it? The eldest fot the largest portion so that the family wealth did not disappear by being divided into smaller portions. It was his job to ensure that the family wealth stayed intact and accumulated, keep the land intact and the family business profitable. This provided the family with physical and economic security.
7. Why do you think in that culture it might have been shocking too hear that everyone who received the Lord is now a son: men, women, Jews, Gentiles, slaves, and freemen? Because in Biblical times there was a very strong system of family, social, and religious status. A person’s power, wealth, and standing in community was equated with their social and religious position.
8. Why should we prefer Bibles that call us as women sons to Bibles that are “gender sensitive?” I think Keller says it best, “So you see, women, you shouldn’t chafe when the Bible calls you “sons of God” any more than the men ought to squirm when they’re called “brides of Christ” or any more than you should be insulted when the Bible says you’re all stupid sheep. Because every biblical metaphor tells you something about God’s grace to you that no other metaphor does.”
I also think that the women who object, don’t fully understand their identity in Christ.
I so agree with your answer to 8 and that can really help us have empathy.
Amen.
WEDNESDAY: THE PRACTICE OF SONSHIP
9. What did the father putting a ring on the son’s finger show?
—The signet ring signified that the son was truly part of the family. It had the family seal on it which gave him the identity and power of the family he was a part of.
10. Do you feel secure as a child of God that you can never lose that status through messing up? Why or why not?
—Yes I do because there was a point in time when I was a young Christian believer that I saw clearly from the teaching of God’s Word that I had complete assurance of my salvation and that I could not lose it. These verses from John speak to that. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:27-30 ESV
11. What was Martyn Lloyd Jones endeavoring to find out through his question?
—He was seeking to find out if the person understood what it meant to be a Christian and if they had the deep security of being a child of God which gave them sonship. Being a child of God is never about what we have done to become God’s child or what we are doing that can anyway earn us that status.
12. What point is Keller making above? Does your day show that you know you have intimate access or not? Explain.
—His point is for us to recognize that we have intimate access to God as our Father. The key word is intimate. I am reminded here of God’s heart toward me.
This is a good question for me to think about in my relationship with God as my Father. It actually brought me to tears because I realized as I pondered it how even though I know I am God’s child and He loves me intimately I am like the little adopted orphan girl who was a long time coming up to her now father and calling him daddy and asking for his help. I have failed to see that it actually melts God’s heart for me to acknowledge and trust Him just simply because He loves me so. I actually was praying in the night about something and said Lord I feel like a whining child. This helps me see that in a secure intimate relationship as the child I need not whine but rather my Father’s heart is tender toward my asking. The reason this is poignant for me is that I did not have a warm and intimate relationship with my earthly father and it has made me slow to understand and appreciate my Heavenly Father’s love and acceptance. It has affected how I approach Him. Today my prayer request will be different in light of intimate access.
13.Why can Christians better handle the sufferings of this world. Is this true of you?
—We can handle suffering and trials in light of the incredible future hope we have. Jesus made this promise to his disciples and to us. And Jesus keeps his promises.
His Resurrection happened and our resurrection is coming.
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”
John 14:1-3 NLT
Come Quickly Lord Jesus!!
Bev, I really appreciate your very thoughtful and thorough answer. I appreciate your sincerity and willingness to share vulnerably. When I reflect personally about this, I think of the divorce and how my dad could not be there for me, but would have. And how my mom was rather absent as a single parent trying to manage everything. It’s sad the way our lives fall apart in the trials of this world, but then this makes us all the more grateful for our Heavenly Father. I agree, come quickly Lord Jesus!
It’s so good that you realize the Lord is so different than was your earthly father.
6. Why did the eldest son get the largest portion of the estate? What was he supposed to do with it?
He was responsible to take care of the estate and it’s wealth. The others in the family relied on him to do this. He was to make sure it kept accumulating over the years.
7. Why do you think in that culture it might have been shocking too hear that everyone who received the Lord is now a son: men, women, Jews, Gentiles, slaves, and freemen?
I think this would have been shocking because they had more of a “class” system back then. As I understand it, girls were not allowed to learn to go to the temple for the Torah learning. Gentiles were not a group that knew God. This receiving of God by these groups meant everyone was able to be with Jesus in Heaven, and they couldn’t reconcile with that.
8. Why should we prefer Bibles that call us as women sons to Bibles that are “gender sensitive?”
It makes us equal to the men if we are called “sons.” We hold a higher status. We are now an heir just like the sons.
Yes — very shocking back then — and why women FLOODED into Christianity.
It is interesting that women were highly influenced by the elevation Christianity gives them and this should still be true today. I’m thinking this may be something to share with my new Egyptian friend who has experienced so much trauma from men.
Absolutely something to share with her!
THURSDAY: THE COMMUNITY THAT RESULTS FROM SONSHIP
14. Has it been your experience that you feel a loyalty to your siblings even if you are not like them and not even if you particularly enjoy their company? Should you?
—Yes and yes I should.
15. Do you feel a loyalty to people in your church even if you are not like them and not even if you particularly enjoy their company? Should you?
—Not always but God is growing me in this need to accept the different and the difficult members of the Church (Christ’s Body).
16. How well are you doing with being transparent and generous with your brothers and sisters in Christ? Here? In church?
—When it comes to transparency if anything I am definitely on the more open side. I know my husband has wished I were less transparent and would hold things more closely to my vest so to speak because that is the way he is. I won’t say who is right or wrong about it but probably there is a better balance to be found for both of us. It is my propensity to want to be heard and understood so I admit I have maybe been too honest at times. But here I have felt a real freedom to be open with this group because I have found a real acceptance by this group.
As far as in church I presume you mean the local church I attend. In regard to that I would say over the years and having been part of a number of churches the level of transparently has varied greatly depending on the size and culture of those churches. But my observation would be that the tone for being transparent is set by the leadership of a church group.
17. What are some ways the sisters here have shaped you? How have brothers and sisters in general impacted you. Let’s hear some specific stories.
—This has been a place where I have found acceptance, encouragement and hearts that offer prayer for me when things in my life have been hard. As I read about the lives and stories of you here I learn from your experiences and examples of God’s work in your lives. As we study God’s Word together and share our thoughts and ponderings I have grown in my own knowledge and understanding of the teachings.
I have found real empathy from shared experiences in life and I have observed its impact on many of you as well. Those of you who have lost children to death share a bond. Those of you who are widows share a bond. Those of us who have or have had wayward children share a bond. But we all share a bond in Christ. It is because of Him we come together here. And my life is definitely better because of it.
100% agree with this sweet post! 🙂
Lovely post, Bev. Thank you.
In Deborah Tannen’s books (she’s a communication expert), she says women’s primary drive is for relationship, and transparency enhances relationship. Men’s primary drive is for status, and transparency hurts status.
That is an excellent observation.
Thank, Dee. That explains why my husband used to try to hold me back from being so publically excited during parise and worship songs at church. He finally realized that there was nothing he could do that would stop me, lol. He used to it now, although I don’t know what he thinks about it.
That made me smile 🙂
Amen to Chris and Dee! I love your entire post, Bev. I totally agree about this bond on our blog. How I thank God for each one of you dear friends.
9. What did the father putting a ring on the son’s finger show?
A sign of a contract, a seal, an adoption. It is not earned, it is given. A relationship.
10. Do you feel secure as a child of God that you can never lose that status through messing up? Why or why not?
Yes. God has brought me back into His Grace, even when I have strayed or sinned. My repentance means relationship with Him. I know I can never earn God’s love, but I grieve over my sins.
11. What was Martyn Lloyd Jones endeavoring to find out through his question?
He wanted to know if the person understood what it means to be a Christian. It is not a test or an achievement, it is an invitation to an eternal relationship with God, through Jesus. Jesus took the test and paid the price for my sonship into God’s family. I will falter, but true repentance restores. God desires our hearts not our achievements.
12. What point is Keller making above? Does your day show that you know you have intimate access or not? Explain.
I am God’s child. He gives me intimate access through prayer. Prayer is not a “wish list”, it is a dialogue, where I can come to Him, anytime, day or night, with my praise, adoration, thanks, discouragement, sorrow, repentance, hope, needs and He listens and I listen. His Word and His still small voice speak to our hearts, like the child who called her adopted father, “daddy”. We acknowledge that He is our Father, and He responds in love, that is intimate access.
13.Why can Christians better handle the sufferings of this world. Is this true of you?
Christians know that this is not our permanent home, we are passing through this life. I think Tim Keller said it so well, in another sermon. Life is about loss. If we live here long enough, we will lose everything and everyone we love. This is an imperfect world with poverty, illness, war and hate. Our permanent home is in heaven, where none of these negative things will exist. There will be no darkness, just eternal love, Praising God.
I really appreciate your answer to 13 today. My brother shared hard news with me last night about his best friend who he grew up with from elementary school. He is 52 and has just been diagnosed with bile duct cancer and placed on a transplant list. My brother immediately learned that they have the same blood type and that he would offer his friend 1/2 of his own liver. I’m just overwhelmed with sadness for this sweet man. I immediately asked my brother if his friend is secure in his faith and knows his trust is in the Lord and thankfully he does. My heart goes out to my brother as I know this is shaking him, though he put on a good front when he told me last night. I am finding my own heart broken for him. Oh, how I long for that permanent home in heaven and an end to the tears we shed here.
Chris, I will be praying for your brother and his friend. Please let us know when the surgery happens.
Oh, Chris. I will be praying for your brother and his friend. Such a difficult time. Yes, please let us know when the surgery takes place.
Thank you again friends for your prayers. It means so much.
Beautiful from Patti:
Prayer is not a “wish list”, it is a dialogue, where I can come to Him, anytime, day or night, with my praise, adoration, thanks, discouragement, sorrow, repentance, hope, needs and He listens and I listen. His Word and His still small voice speak to our hearts, like the child who called her adopted father, “daddy”. We acknowledge that He is our Father, and He responds in love, that is intimate access.
This comment stood out to me as well. 💕
wednesday
9. What did the father putting a ring on the son’s finger show? It showed total acceptance of the son and a complete return to the status of sonship.
10. Do you feel secure as a child of God that you can never lose that status through messing up? Why or why not?Yes, I feel secure, mainly because my relationship with the Lord does not depend on what I do/don’t do but on what Jesus has done. I was blessed early in my Christian walk to have solid biblical teaching on being in the Body of Christ and my identity in Him.
11. What was Martyn Lloyd Jones endeavoring to find out through his question? He wanted to know if a person had a clear understanding of her identity/security in Christ.
12. What point is Keller making above? Does your day show that you know you have intimate access or not? Explain. The pint is that in the Body of Christ, we are all sons, children of God. Being a child of God gives me intimate access to the Father through prayer. My day shows it as I talk to the Lord throughout my day. Whenever something causes me to be upset (the new headlines for example), I pray about it. If my body tenses up (hear an unkind remark for example), I pray about it. Praise if I see/hear somthing wonderful. There are reminders of God’s goodness and love all around me, and when I forget about myself, I can see Him.
13.Why can Christians better handle the sufferings of this world. Is this true of you? I can escape anger and depression when seeing the suffering/injustice/evil of the world by looking to the Lord. I can rest in the fact that God is in control, and I can take any concerns to Him. If there is something I can say or do about a situation, He will show me. Otherwise I just pray. If it’s personal suffering, I take comfort in the fact that He understands completely and that this world is not my Home.
Important from Cheryl:
Whenever something causes me to be upset (the new headlines for example), I pray about it. If my body tenses up (hear an unkind remark for example), I pray about it. Praise if I see/hear somthing wonderful. There are reminders of God’s goodness and love all around me, and when I forget about myself, I can see Him.
Cheryl, Amen to Dee!
It’s the only way I can function in today’s world. I have friends that get so caught up in politics that a conversation about biblical things turns into arguments about worldly matters. It’s sad to me that there is so much anger.
When I forget about myself, I can see Him- yes!
TUESDAY: THE CHARACTER OF SONSHIP
6. Why did the eldest son get the largest portion of the estate? What was he supposed to do with it?
It is a legal status, an office for the son. It was his job to keep the family wealth accumulated, keeping everything of the family intact-land, animals, everything. Wow, that is a lot of pressure!
7. Why do you think in that culture it might have been shocking too hear that everyone who received the Lord is now a son: men, women, Jews, Gentiles, slaves, and freemen?
It was countercultural, unheard of. It was only the oldest, and a son, at that, who received a majority of the inheritance. Being a “son” after receiving the Lord levels the ground for everybody regardless of gender, race, and status in life.
8. Why should we prefer Bibles that call us as women sons to Bibles that are “gender sensitive?”
It equalizes everyone. There is no reason for superiority. Gender sensitive bibles water down the gospel.
WEDNESDAY: THE PRACTICE OF SONSHIP
9. What did the father putting a ring on the son’s finger show?
The ring is a signet ring, a contract, a family seal. Nothing can change that! He has been accepted into the family!
10. Do you feel secure as a child of God that you can never lose that status through messing up? Why or why not?
Yes, I believe I cannot lose my status as a child of God, based on His Word. I feel the deep security that comes from His promises. I don’t have to work for it.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians1:13-14 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Hebrews 6:4-6 “For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.”
Thank you for sharing these great scriptures, Bing.
11. What was Martyn Lloyd Jones endeavoring to find out through his question?
He endeavors to find out whether one believes in Jesus Christ as the only way to salvation, rather than by works: “I am trying.”
12. What point is Keller making above? Does your day show that you know you have intimate access or not? Explain.
A Christian ALWAYS has access to God. It is an intimate relationship. It does not matter where you are or what situation you are in; you can readily come to the Father. Ephesians 3:20
I went to the elementary school yesterday, not knowing how one of the students who was defiant with his teacher and me last week would respond to my presence. Although I have some knowledge of classroom management, I knew the source of that knowledge is God. So, I prayed for Him to direct the teacher and me on how to respond to this student. He answered my prayers by giving us a productive day with him, along with the rest of the class. He had a privilege taken away from him, but there was also a plan on how to give that privilege back next week. I thank God for His guidance!
13.Why can Christians better handle the sufferings of this world. Is this true of you?
There is a future for me in the midst of suffering because one day, everything will be made new, and I can be the true self God has planned for me. I have an inheritance that my finite mind cannot imagine, but it will be glorious!
I have found that suffering in this world makes me weep all the more and gives me a longing and desire for Jesus to come. Soon! (a famous line from The Chosen’s Jonathan Roumie.:-))
Love this story on praying for wisdom with that student!
Lovely answer to prayer, Bing. Love the line from Jonathan Roumie too!
THURSDAY: THE COMMUNITY THAT RESULTS FROM SONSHIP
14. Has it been your experience that you feel a loyalty to your siblings even if you are not like them and not even if you particularly enjoy their company? Should you?
Yes. Although I had one of the best brothers and one of the best sisters I could ever have! Being the oldest in the Filipino culture “required” me to take care of my younger siblings. To some degree, I have done that, and my brother and sister have always appreciated that. Through the years, my job here has provided the resources I could use to extend help to them and their families. There is loyalty between the three of us. And I feel like our bond has extended to the next two generations.
15. Do you feel a loyalty to people in your church even if you are not like them and not even if you particularly enjoy their company? Should you?
Yes, and I feel like I should. It is a process, and I have one particular person with whom I still struggle relating. So I am praying that God’s love will help me to love this person.
16. How well are you doing with being transparent and generous with your brothers and sisters in Christ? Here? In church?
I am not there yet in terms of transparency. By “there”, I don’t know what that really means, at what point do I get “there”?. I have felt guarded with a few people who have hurt me, and especially my husband, deeply. But the Lord has been gracious-He continues to peel those layers of protectiveness and reminds me He will take care of that pain and grow me into a loving person. Generosity has been growing in me with joy and satisfaction. I remind myself that I am just a steward of His gifts and I should share them with my brothers and sisters.
Our small community pride themselves in being independent and hard working. I find that little gestures like home-baked goods, a thoughtful present, my time, and presence are more important and more impactful than money. Yet, my husband and I find ourselves increasing in our joy when we can also meet the financial needs of others.
I like to hear about the loyalty to your siblings and your efforts to help provide for them a world away. My grandmother shared of her families care for one another and it has really touched my heart to see a family so provide for one another. The brokenness in this world doesn’t allow for that like it should be. Only our faith in God can make a way for it.
Amen to what Chris said!
Amen to Chris and Dee. Love your family bond, Bing.
9. What did the father putting a ring on the son’s finger show?
It was a contract. He was showing that the son that he had the family seal. He was reinstated.
10. Do you feel secure as a child of God that you can never lose that status through messing up? Why or why not?
Yes and no. I know it by reading and studying the Bible, but, is it truly in my heart? Has the penny dropped? I feel like Paul…I know what is right but I do what is wrong…
11. What was Martyn Lloyd Jones endeavoring to find out through his question?
I think he was saying that you either know you are a Christian or you don’t. There’s no in between. I’m not sure.
12. What point is Keller making above? Does your day show that you know you have intimate access or not? Explain.
I think he is saying that there is an intimate bond between a father and their son (child) that is unlike any other.
I talk to God all day long. I believe I have intimate access. Morning, noon, and night.
13.Why can Christians better handle the sufferings of this world. Is this true of you?
We know that this world will pass and the new world, with Jesus, will come. We know that this is the ultimate for us. We know God is in charge. Not us. Yes it is true for me. He is Lord over all.
I like your answer to 12. I talk to God all day long as well. Our church challenged our congregation to tally our pray hours this year. They want a log of a minimum of 3 hours per week. They mean well with this to build the discipline in our lives, but it rubs me the wrong way. I’m not participating in it, but I am adding categories to my prayers and stretching myself that way. I’m keeping a more detailed prayer journal as well. This is my way of stretching myself in prayer. I just can’t log the hours as it feels wrong to me. It’s not personal but checking something off my list of things to do.
It’s funny you should say this Chris, because I don’t want to mess up my streak on the YouVersion app. I’m at about 702 days. I had to look at my heart when I misplaced my phone a week ago. I had left it at my Pilates studio. They were closed for the night and I had to go the night without my phone. I wasn’t worried about the phone. I was worried about my streak on YouVersion disappearing and having to start over at 1! So, am I really concerned about reading my Bible or just completing the streak of the day challenge? Ugh!
I get what you are saying, Laura. We rely on these little “points” we keep at first to hold ourselves accountable and begin a good habit, but then it becomes about us and the points we are gaining, right? Instead of being about God, it’s about us and our good works. Not sure we can ever really be free of this until heaven, to be perfectly honest.
LAURA:
Maybe it would help you Laura to differentiate between positional status and relational status. You cannot lose your position as a child of God, but you can quench His Spirit and temporarily cause strain iin the relationship through sin.
Tell me if this helps.
Thanks Dee. I will contemplate that.
FRIDAY: THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF SONSHIP
18. How was Christ “the true elder brother?”
—He stands as a true and perfect elder brother because he gave up all. His inheritance was sure and complete but he chose to set it aside and give it all up. He left Heaven the place of his perfect inheritance as the one and only Son of God. Then he even gave up his life in sacrifice for us so that we could have and share in his inheritance and have a place in Heaven with him as the very children of God the Father. Because of our elder brother Jesus we are now securely part of the family of God.
19.Do you have other comments on the sermon?
—I am grateful to have a better understanding of what it really means to be part of the family of God and to have a clearer knowledge of my being a child of God as a result of this teaching.
It brings a deeper appreciation of the Gospel and a greater security of my place in God’s family.
thursday
14. Has it been your experience that you feel a loyalty to your siblings even if you are not like them and not even if you particularly enjoy their company? Should you? I am not particularly close to my two sisters and brother, but I would drop everything if they needed me to come help them in any situation. We grew up together and the lvoing support and self-sacrifice of my mother created a bond that holds us together.
15. Do you feel a loyalty to people in your church even if you are not like them and not even if you particularly enjoy their company? Should you? I have a loving concern for the people in my church. I am concerned for their physical well=being, but more concerned that they grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. I know that sounds sanctimonious, but I want them to have what I have, a closer relationship with the Lord and fully understand the great love He bestows on us. Therefore I serve in whatever way I can, express my love/concern for them verbally, and pray for them.
16. How well are you doing with being transparent and generous with your brothers and sisters in Christ? Here? In church? I am more transparent and vulnerable on this blog than I am anywhere else in many ways. I have shared some very personal experiences, because this is a safe place. There is no judgement, only godly concern, encouragement, love, and honest discourse. I am transparent at church when I use sign language to interpret a song, throwing myself at God in very public worship, thereby opening my heart before other people. In my women’s bible study I have opened up some, and I’m overjoyed to see the women thus encouraged to be open, also. I think the key to all this is studying the Word together, praying for each other, and growing together in the Lord.
17. What are some ways the sisters here have shaped you? How have brothers and sisters in general impacted you. Let’s here some specific stories. LOL, I see that my answer to 16 made the same points that Keller made in the paragraphs followin question 16, I guess I’m thinking like he does. Others have shaped me through personal relationships/conversations both face to face and on this blog. As I said in 16, I think the key to all this is studying the Word together, praying for each other, and growing together in the Lord.
This is so encouraging, Cheryl.
Agree 100% with 16! Love our blog. ❤️
friday
18. How was Christ “the true elder brother?” Jesus is “..the firstborn of every creature:” “..the firstborn of the dead.” Col. 1:15,18, and we are “joint-heirs with Christ..” Ro. 8:17 We have learned this week that the elder brother was responsible to safeguard the family and the family’s wealth. Jesus is the “true elder brother,” because He came from heaven and sacrificed Himself, so that we could become part of His family and become heirs of the glorious inheritence God has prepared for us. Now that we are part of His family, Jesus safeguard us through the Spirit, and He is our advocate safeguarding our inheritence.
19.Do you have other comments on the sermon? There is just so much more to this parable than I have seen or considered before. Keller has shown that there are hidden depths, and that we have to really dig to see and understand the hidden “treasure.”
14. Has it been your experience that you feel a loyalty to your siblings even if you are not like them and not even if you particularly enjoy their company? Should you?
I have this loyalty to my sister but not so much my brother. I feel like he doesn’t care to keep in touch (I have tried) so I have given up. My sister and I are closer. I suppose we should try for the sake of our family, but, it’s difficult. We live far apart and it isn’t easy to see one another. We have to make an effort. Apparently, I am not important enough for him to keep in touch.
15. Do you feel a loyalty to people in your church even if you are not like them and not even if you particularly enjoy their company? Should you?
I do feel a strong loyalty to the people in my church. The church IS the people. I do think the people of a church should be loyal and I have spoken this in the recent past here. This was a conversation when we had several integral families leave the church. I felt they hurt us and maybe should have tried to work things out instead of just leaving.
16. How well are you doing with being transparent and generous with your brothers and sisters in Christ? Here? In church?
I think I am pretty transparent about most things both here and at church. Some hurts (our daughter and grands situation), some things are too personal though (marriage and health). When it comes to generosity, I am fairly generous with my time, not so much with money. That stems from my husband being a financial controller who watches our cash flow like a “hawk.” He isn’t as in tune with giving to others with the faith that God will always provide. He is better than he used to be, but…We do give to our church and could probably do more.
17. What are some ways the sisters here have shaped you? How have brothers and sisters in general impacted you. Let’s here some specific stories.
I love how I feel “checked” at times. I see how others are processing material and I question myself. It’s the Bereans viewpoint. For example, the story Bev told about having lunch with the older woman last week made me think how women (me) should try to hang around both young and old to learn and to help shape both themselves and others. Isn’t that part of being a “Titus 2 ” woman?
A woman at church is very good at encouragement. She encourages us to come to grandparenting, crafting, bible study, sisterhood, and sends cards to everyone! Sometimes it’s annoying, but I appreciate her effort, and I usually go, and guess what? I have a good time in fellowship with the others. Many of these people are not people I would have ever hung around myself (as Keller says). Thank you Lord, for this encouraging woman.
I smiled about the woman you sometimes fine annoying but still appreciate. There’s a guy in my church who often hurts me with what he feels is humor, but when I begin to have negatiive thoughts about him I also think of kind things he has done for me, for he has! I also thought, Laura, that guys generally are not nearly as good as gals at nurturing relationships.
Laura, I want to encourage you that this strain with your brother may have more to do with his own troubles in life than anything to do with you. Don’t give up on him, but keep loving even from a distance
18. How was Christ “the true elder brother?” He gave up his sonship so that we could become sons of God and co heirs.
19.Do you have other comments on the sermon? Some of Keller’s description of how a church family should be kind of sounds like what happens in a cult. You have no privacy, your property is communal and no one has any personal claims on anything. I know that cults are the extreme version of a good thing and that’s what makes them bad, but that is what went through my mind when I was listening to the sermon.
That’s an interesting thought. We are to beware and test so it’s good to think about these things! Might be a good conversation with teens-how are Christianity and cults alike/different?
18. How was Christ “the true elder brother?”
Jesus gave up His place in heaven to come down and live a perfect life, yet to die a horrible death. He became all of our sinfulness on the cross and too the punishment we deserve, so that we have the opportunity to live in eternity with Him.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, it have eternal life.”
“He is no fool to give up what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.” Jim Elliot
19.Do you have other comments on the sermon?
I love the importance Keller places on relationship and sonship. It gives us a responsibility in our relationship with God first, and with the importance of sacrificial and nurturing love for others.
Saturday:
20. What is your take-a-way and why?
Knowing we have the sonship with God, give us access to Him about everything, every minute. We can have security, confidence and joy, if we just trust. I sometimes fail to trust that HE will work out every detail. Yet, when I quit trying to fix things, He takes care of it. I think this says is all:
Tim Keller’s ending prayer:
We know your Son gave himself for us. The more we understand that, the more it sinks into our hearts, the more it turns us into not a place where it’s not the survival of the fittest anymore, but it’s brother, it’s sister. We pray, Father, you would help us to realize this. We ask all this through Jesus. In his name we pray, amen.
TUESDAY: THE CHARACTER OF SONSHIP
5. What did it mean that sonship was a status, and that a son was to carry on the family “name?”
The son was to carry on the values, beliefs and culture of the family.
6. Why did the eldest son get the largest portion of the estate?
It was his job to keep the family wealth accumulating as that’s how they were secure economically and as a family.
7. Why do you think in that culture it might have been shocking to hear that everyone who received the Lord is now a son: men, women, Jews, Gentiles, slaves, and freemen?
Only sons were considered heirs and to hear all are heirs was foreign to their culture.
8. Why should we prefer Bibles that call us as women sons to Bibles that are “gender sensitive?”
How wonderful to think that a women is considered a son/heir and we need to realize the meaning of this as women just as men need to realize the meaning of being called the “bride of Christ.”
What was he supposed to do with it?
Keep the land and animals together so the wealth continued.
WEDNESDAY: THE PRACTICE OF SONSHIP
9. What did the father putting a ring on the son’s finger show?
That he was part of the family as the ring had the family seal and he was able to make contracts.
10. Do you feel secure as a child of God that you can never lose that status through messing up? Why or why not?
Definitely.
It’s really interesting as God has really put this truth in our lives lately through different studies that my husband and I are doing separately and together (Galatians). A person in our church approached Jim and asked if he was afraid to die with the possibility of having a bad thought he hadn’t confessed and his immediate response was, NO and tried to explain why to which this person interrupted him and said I’ve been studying different Bible scholars and this is something we need to be concerned about! My husband doesn’t like to argue and just walked away dumbfounded.
What do y’all think?
11. What was Martyn Lloyd Jones endeavoring to find out through his question?
If they respond, “well, I’m trying,” then they don’t understand what it means to be a Christian…they want to be a hired man and have no understanding of having the security of being in Christ.
12. What point is Keller making above?
My first thought in reading this was Hebrews 4:14-16, “So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
Being His child I can boldly go to the throne of our gracious God.
Does your day show that you know you have intimate access or not? Explain.
Yes, I start my day in prayer, praising God, asking Him to search my heart, thanking Him and lifting up my needs. Then throughout the day I can call out to Him at any time.
13.Why can Christians better handle the sufferings of this world. Is this true of you?
It’s only temporary and we know that one day there will be no more sorrow and pain. We’ll be spending eternity with God, basking in His glory!
Psalm 126:5-6, “Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.”
When that man interrupted your husband, I think it showed that he did not honestly want to discuss the matter. He was looking for someone to agree with his opinion.
Oh, that person is so confused. To think God would damn someone for having a bad unconfessed thought before he died. That perhaps comes from a Catholic background? Seems like a form of works righteousness instead of trust in Christ’s accomplished work.
I agree, Dee. We are to accept and LOVE Jesus and our neighbors. God already KNOWS about those bad thoughts that we haven’t confessed, right?
20. What is your take-a-way and why? Maybe there needs to be a change in how I view and interact with my church family. I’ve pretty much given up trying to establish or maintain a deep involvement with anyone that isn’t a blood relative.
In the past I was all in, very involved with everything. Over time I began to see most church relationships as shallow or cliquey. People that I thought that I was close with, leaving the church with no forewarning or explanation. People who only associate and interact with people that they’ve known forever, leaving others out. It has gotten to the point that I smile and shake hands with people in my church, but that is the extent of my involvement with them.
When I listened to Keller’s take on how our church family should be like our birth family in regards to how you aren’t given a choice about who your siblings are, and how you know the good, the bad, and the ugly about all of them and yet you remain close and loyal to them. I can’t help but think that my church siblings are like foster kids. They come into your life for a while and then they move on and you don’t know where they went or what happened to them. Of course, there’s always Facebook so you can see what’s going on in their lives, but there is no real connection.
Dawn, I’m so sorry to hear this about your church. I’m not remembering all the information, but there are signs of a healthy church and yours is definitely missing some! The leadership should address this.
14. Has it been your experience that you feel a loyalty to your siblings even if you are not like them and not even if you particularly enjoy their company? Should you? This is a tough question. Of course my answers should be yes, and have been in the past. I have one sibling with a very difficult situation between us. She has chosen a path of sin and it has leached into our family when we have tried to help her in the past. This has caused us to require boundaries. My other siblings are living a life pleasing to the Lord and we do have good relationships though we are not as close as I wish. I’m sure if they were in trouble, I would do what I could to help.
15. Do you feel a loyalty to people in your church even if you are not like them and not even if you particularly enjoy their company? Should you? We can and do help people in our church. We have a large church so that I don’t always personally know who we help, but we give a tithe for the various needs and I am trying to get better at sending cards to those I’m praying for from our prayer chain.
18. How was Christ “the true elder brother?” He gave everything that we could have sonship in the Kingdom. Without his loss, we could have nothing. In the story, the prodigal was given a third when he left town. Upon returning, the 2/3rds was then divided again between the 3 men. Now the elder son had given part of his inheritance to the prodigal, which seemed so unfair. Jesus made himself nothing, in order to give us the inheritance which was rightfully his.
19.Do you have other comments on the sermon? The significance of the sonship really stood out to me. How ALL are included in this and what that all entails.
Saturday:
20. What is your take-a-way and why? I hope to share this significant meaning of how we are all sons of the kingdom with a few people this week and see if they can understand it the way I do. Besides feeling this great gratitude for the incredible inheritance into the kingdom, there is the responsibility of maintaining the inheritance. That is another aspect that is so important and plays into our role in the church. I feel that is undervalued. Everyone is glad to get into heaven, but not so obligated to help others.
THURSDAY: THE COMMUNITY THAT RESULTS FROM SONSHIP
14. Has it been your experience that you feel a loyalty to your siblings even if you are not like them and not even if you particularly enjoy their company? Should you?
Yes and yes.
I am not close to my brothers but I would be there for them if they needed me. My sister moved from Hawaii to be close to me as she has no one else. Even though we have different spiritual and political views I refuse to let them get in the way of our relationship.
15. Do you feel a loyalty to people in your church even if you are not like them and not even if you particularly enjoy their company? Should you?
Yes, to a certain extent and yes.
16. How well are you doing with being transparent and generous with your brothers and sisters in Christ? Here? In church?
I’m much more transparent here than I am in church. Don’t have much opportunity in church as it’s just Sunday mornings. There are only a couple of people in church that I am transparent with because of trust issues.
Jim and I have always asked the Lord to give us sensitivity to those in need and to give us direction in how to help whether it be physical or financial.
17. What are some ways the sisters here have shaped you?
They have shaped me with their encouragement, reading their stories of perseverance, commitment to the Lord and their genuine love.
How have brothers and sisters in general impacted you. Let’s hear some specific stories.
I will never forget a dear friend in Oregon who sensed my hurt, came alongside me and we would meet often for prayer and share what we learned in God’s word…I miss her.
Those kind of friends are so few-what a blessing she must have been.
FRIDAY: THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF SONSHIP
18. How was Christ “the true elder brother?”
“He came to earth to sacrifice himself and to give up his place in heaven so we could have it, to give up his place in the Father’s bosom so we could have it, to lose his sonship, as it were, so we could get full rights as sons. “
19.Do you have other comments on the sermon?
The part on how a church community should be has given me much to ponder. I see some of that in our church but I’m concerned about our church in many ways right now…prayers appreciated.
Lord, Jesus, I come before you to pray for Sharon’s church and the churches of all the ladies on our blog. May your Spirit move in a mighty way to bring to repentance those who have not been living as a family of believers. May the gospel so touch their hearts that they are moved to change and love one another as they should. Break down the shame and trust issues among your people and bring them together in a way that glorifies You. May there be healing and growth in your church so that the love of Christ is evident to all who see it. I praise you for the 42 new members in our church this morning and the many baptisms. May your name be glorified.
18. How was Christ “the true elder brother?”
Jesus lost everything to save us. That’s how much He loved us.
FRIDAY: The accomplishment of sonship
18. How was Christ “the true elder brother?”
He had everything of the Father’s, but He chose to give them all up for my sake, took my place, so I can be a part of God’s family. Philippians 2:5-8
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage, rather he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”
19.Do you have other comments on the sermon?
Powerful and convicting about the body of Christ being a community of brothers and sisters and how we should relate to one another.
Saturday:
20. What is your take-a-way and why?
Being a son along with my brothers and sisters in Christ gave me a new perspective on how to grow in my love for them.
The part about the brothers and sisters….I’m troubled about our DIL, because she is a baptized member of the church. She came to our birthday party for her. She took the gifts and blessings we offered and then went home and told our son that night that she wanted him to pack his bags and leave. I just can’t explain this except to say her faith cannot be real. Or she’s a prodigal? How do I view this? Do I hold out hope for her? We counseled our son to stay until he is served divorce papers, as he is obligated by his vows. She has admitted she just does not want to be married and has no scriptural grounds to divorce. She doesn’t seem to care about her faith anymore as she is not living it. Sometimes things just don’t make sense, but we want them to. Is this spiritual or maybe mental illness or both? I just keep praying that the Lord will give us wisdom for what comes next.