It's Time To Come Home
Series: Comeback Kids
June 15, 2025
Pastor Brandon Whitford
Episode Notes
It’s Time to Come Back Home
Luke 15:11-32
“Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father,
‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “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.
After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to
be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his
fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no
one gave him anything.
“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to
spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him:
Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your
son; make me like one of your hired servants.’
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.
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer
worthy to be called your son.’ “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.
Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was
dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and
dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has
come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe
and sound.’
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with
him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never
disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my
friends.
But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home,
you kill the fattened calf for him!’ “ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and
everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours
was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”
Luke 15:11-32 NIV
THE FIRST MIRROR: THE YOUNGER SON
Romans 5:5 “For while we were still helpless at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly...”
The blood of Christ covers once and for all, all sin — past, present, and future, fully, freely and
forever.
Its not about earning — its just turning.
THE SECOND MIRROR: THE OLDER BROTHER
The older son was close to the father’s house but far from the father’s heart.
Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never
gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
Luke 15:29
The Tragic Irony:
- He stayed home but was spiritually homeless.
- He obeyed outwardly but rebelled inwardly.
- He was angry about grace while desperately needing it himself.
- He refused to enter the celebration happening in his own house.
“But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home,
you kill the fattened calf for him!’”
Luke 15:30 NIV
““ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.”
Luke 15:31 NIV
The father’s love isn’t diminished by grace given to others - it’s multiplied.
The elder son’s problem isn’t his faithfulness - he’s serving out of duty rather than delight;
obligation rather than love. He’s lost sight of the fact that he’s a son, not a servant.
Are we serving God out of love or legalism?
THE THIRD MIRROR: THE FATHER’S HEART:
Who needs you to run toward them instead of waiting for them to get their act together?
Our Heavenly Father clothes us with Christ’s righteousness (the robe)
Gives us authority as his children (the ring)
Grants us freedom to walk as sons and daughters, not as slaves (the sandals)
God fully restores his sons and daughters true identity.
God’s unconditional love for you, was yours before you could ever earn a single thing. It was
yours before the trauma and rejection of others ever discipled you into thinking that you were
unloveable.
As fathers our role is to bless our children with identity.
add these one at a time until all three are on screen
1. We speak blessings over them
2. He grounds their identity in God, not the world.
3. A father who seeks to bless his kids with identity will model the identity he most
wants to impart.
Its never too late to start now.
Will you come home?”
Maybe
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch; like me!
I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved,
How precious did that’s grace appear the hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils, and snares, i have already come;
Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
It’s time to come home.
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