Everybody knows about grace and the blessing of God. Great stuff! Love it! But it gets rather prickly when un-grace or un-graciousness gets pushed in our face, like in the parable of the prodigal son. It seems like such a nice story, and it is, but both sides of grace get revealed.
To get focused, we examine the opening of Psalm 32 which recounts the blessing of God's forgiveness following confession - something we do together in the early phase of the Sunday worship service each week. The psalmist understands the withering of spirit and self when sinfulness burdens and the hand of God seems heavy. The psalmist also understands the relief, liberation and joy of genuine confession and the blessing of God's forgiveness.
The parable of the prodigal son is well know, and we prefer to dwell on the good part, the father welcoming the returning son without question, without confession, with warm embrace followed by an all-out celebration. That's the good part.
We may not see ourselves in the role of wanton, ungracious younger son, but we likely find some sympathy for the elder brother who is angered by Dad throwing a loser's party.
Step into the cool water of grace and moreover into the ouchy-hot water of un-grace and check out the sermon video below.
To get focused, we examine the opening of Psalm 32 which recounts the blessing of God's forgiveness following confession - something we do together in the early phase of the Sunday worship service each week. The psalmist understands the withering of spirit and self when sinfulness burdens and the hand of God seems heavy. The psalmist also understands the relief, liberation and joy of genuine confession and the blessing of God's forgiveness.
The parable of the prodigal son is well know, and we prefer to dwell on the good part, the father welcoming the returning son without question, without confession, with warm embrace followed by an all-out celebration. That's the good part.
We may not see ourselves in the role of wanton, ungracious younger son, but we likely find some sympathy for the elder brother who is angered by Dad throwing a loser's party.
Step into the cool water of grace and moreover into the ouchy-hot water of un-grace and check out the sermon video below.
| 03-31-19-sermon.mp3 |
| 03-31-19-ff-answers.pdf |
| 03-31-19-grace_really_is_amazing.pdf |