Second Chance

Sermon from CCM Ladybarn
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LISTEN

This sermon was preached by J Adams at the Ladybarn site of Christ Church Manchester on Sunday 1st March 2020.

SERIES

This message was part of the ‘SERIES NAME’ series, preached at Christ Church Manchester’s church in Withington in EARLY/MID/LATE YEAR. The full series included the following sermons:

BIBLE VERSES

This sermon was based on Luke 15:11-31

KEY POINTS

Who is Jesus Addressing with this Parable?

  • The chapter starts with Jesus speaking to Tax collectors and sinners. Tax Collectors were looked down upon and really hated as the worst of the worst. Sinners here refers to people who were considered very low in the community and outcasts. These are people who others have a low opinion of and who have a low opinion of themselves as well.
  • The Pharisees and Scribes were also listening in. These were the most religious people you can imagine, they followed the rules to the letter. People look up to them and follow them. People have a high opinion of them and they have a high opinion of themselves.
  • So we have one group who hears this story and knows they aren’t good enough and they identify with the son in the story. We have another group who are probably thinking ‘well that’s not me that’s all these others’ and fully expecting Jesus to come down hard on the sinners.

The Son in the Story

  • The Son in the story here is preparing his apology speech. He’s working out what he needs to do to get back into the household. He’s thinking ‘if I work for my dad I can maybe go home as a servant’.
  • The tax collectors and sinners here will be relating to this, feeling this is what they need to do to get right with God.
  • The Pharisees and Scribes would be thinking ‘Yes Jesus, make them pay, show them that they need to make up for their sin and their poor choices, show them how difficult it is to be like us and work to keep the rules. Bring it home Jesus, show them how bad they are, convict them. What’s it going to cost them, show them what it costs.’

The Father in the Story

  • The Father has a totally diofferent approach here though. His response is insane, the son took the fathers money, squandered the fathers money, belittles and dishonours the fathers name and then comes to his senses. The father is so overjoyed he doesn’t even mention any of the things the son says in his apology speech, he just takes the weight of all that’s happened on himself and welcomes the son back with open arms. This is Grace!
  • The tax collectors and sinners would be listening to this and imagine the release they would feel! Its outrageous and its scandalouos and its beautiful!
  • The Pharisees and Scribes on the otherhand may see themselves reflected in the older brother who is full of judgement and anger.

  • The absolutely scandalous grace of God is that whether because we’re a younger brother sinner, taking too much licence and going off the rails, or being an older brother pharisee and being too legalistic, either way …. God invites us into the party. We all get a second chance.

MORE SERMONS

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