Sermon Tone Analysis

I. Introduction

II.

Story Context

Scripture Reading -3225

“Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.

26 And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be.

27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’

28 But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.

29 But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look!

For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; 30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’

31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.

32 ‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’

”

III.

Older son

Dutiful, Hard worker, Obedient

New Conflict arises as father throws a feast

came from the field - Hears music and dancing

Inquires of servant

Furious, Angry, Refuses to enter

Refuses to partake of festivities - by not going in he is saying I will not join the family

Father comes out of house, Pleads, implores with elder son

Son becomes disrespectful to father

Vents - says “look”I served.

I obeyed

Feels Slighted, Hurt

Hurt

Separates himself from family

This son of yours - not “my brother”

Not my brother

Does not identify himself with family

Jealous

particularly upset about cost, Concerned with cost

never gave me a goat, let alone a calf

meat expensive

no refrigeration

rare occasions

special celebrations religious feasts

birth of firstborn son

shared with community, costly feast

never threw a celebration for me

Great day for father

elder brother only sees the celebration

elder brother only sees the celebration

cares about the fathers things

all he sees is his share diminishing with the expense of this celebration for his ingrate brother

father is using HIS inheritance in a way he does not approve

he doesn’t care about the father’s heart - the joy of his lost son being found, the joy of his younger son returning, so happy he throws a feast to which the entire village is invited

IV.

Jesus’ Purpose in Parable

Each parable is told for a specific purpose

one theme runs throughout

Everything you ever heard, everything you ever thought about how to approach God is wrong

Grace abounds

Vignette about 2 sons, not just the one who squandered his inheritance

both are alienated from father

both are alienated from father

both want father’s things, but not the father

both want father’s status

Younger brother breaking all the rules

The younger brother portrays a traditional view of sin

Both have been using the father - for his material things - money

both trying to get control of the father’s things - one by rebellion - the prodigal

the thing keeping older brother from the father is not his sin, it’s his righteousness, his self-righteousness

I’ve never disobeyed.

I have stayed and worked hard

they both are lost

both alienated from the father

both alienated from God

You can escape god from morality & religion as much as from immorality

a lot of Xtians with an elder brother type of heart.

I try hard, I go to church, I obey, -God you owe me to give me the things I want

you owe it to me to give me what I ask for - things instead of obeying just to get God - the man who has kept all the moral words is lost

both are lost - under the surface they are both the same

under the surface they are both the same

what is your reason?

Are you like the younger brother?

The older brother?What is the reason we do anything good?We need to be like Jesus - wanting God because he is God, not just for what he can give us.

Story does not end with return

Story has three characters, not just two

Modern thoughts

Focus on the younger son

Story of forgiveness