Mike Fritscher, Pastor

April 4, 2017
We Choose Life By Walking In His Ways!
Forgiveness Restores Relationships! Luke 15:11-32

Deuteronomy 30:15 See, I have set before you today life and prosperity and death and adversity; 16 I that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and too keep His commandments! 19….So Choose Life by Loving the Lord Your God, By Obeying His Voice and Holding fast to Him in order that you ma live, you and your descendants!

The Ways of God! Exodus 34:5-7 From Compassion to Forgiveness!

• Compassionate – Merciful, It’s a Movement in Your Heart! Feeling!
• Gracious – To Show Favor, To Bend or stoop in kindness
• Slow to Anger – Long suffering, Patient, to Anger
• Abounding in Loving-kindness: Mercy that Forgives, Grace that empowers, and Favor that positions us to Glorify Him! It’s the love, kindness and everlasting covenant love of God
• And Truth: faithfulness, stability, reliable
• Keeps loving-kindness for thousands!

A Family Portrait of Offenses and Forgiveness! Luke 15:11-32

1. The Repentant Offender!

A. His Offense: A Brazen Demand That Dishonors The Father!

B. His Offense: A Brazen Rebellion that Reflects and Leads to Death!

C. His Salvation: He Comes to His Senses With Breathtaking Humility!

1) Confess Your Responsibility For What You’ve Done & Where You Are!

2) Remember and Confess the Greatness of Your Father’s Ways!

3) Submit to and Accept Appropriate Discipline!

4) Get Up from the Pig Pen, Pit of Death and Go Home to Your Father!

2. The Gracious and Loving Father! Offendee!

A. Compassionate!
B. Gracious! Runs to Meet Him, Greet Him and Protect Him!
C. He Kisses Him Over and Over!
D. Lovingkindness! He Restores Him!

• The Ring: Establishing rightful authority and benefits of the Household
• The Shoes: Demonstrating Freedom not Servitude.
• The Robe: A gift of God’s Favor

E. Forgives Transgression! The Party: A Resurrection Celebrated!

Lost Sinners Found Give: An Honest Confession of From an Honest Assessment!
Submit Their Lives to Appropriate Discipline! Forgiving People Offer Forgiveness, Restoration and Celebration!

3. The Victim Pretender!

Unforgiving People Grumble, Compare and Totally Mistrust!

Notice the Way of Life: Rejoicing, No Condemnation, Forgiveness, Provision, Freedom, Restoration, Celebration!

Notice the Way of the World: Pride, Anger, Judgment, Condemnation, Rehearsing what the other Person Did, Demanding credit, It needs to be fair.