Jason Smith – Grace Church – October 5, 2025
Jason began by praying for people—those who couldn’t be at church, those traveling, and those at home—and asked God to give everyone wisdom and a heart to serve. Then he invited everyone to open their Bibles to Luke 15, explaining that for the past few weeks, the focus had been on this key truth:
“Lost people matter to God, so they should matter to us.”
He reminded the church that Jesus told three parables in Luke 15: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and finally the lost sons. Each story follows the same pattern—something valuable is lost, someone searches for it, and when it’s found, there’s great celebration. But Jason said this third story, the parable of the prodigal son, goes much deeper. It’s not just about a lost sheep or a coin—it’s about a lost child.
🧍♂️ The Younger Son
Jason explained that the younger son insulted his father by demanding his inheritance early—essentially saying, “I want your stuff, but I don’t want you.”
He took the money, went far away, and wasted everything in reckless living. When he was broke and starving, feeding pigs, he finally “came to himself.” Realizing how far he’d fallen, he decided to go home and beg to be treated as a servant.
But before the son even reached the house, the father saw him from far away, ran to him, and embraced him. Jason painted this scene vividly—the father watching the road, recognizing his son’s walk, and running to him even though it was undignified for a man of his status.
The father restored him completely:
- Robe – “You belong.”
- Ring – “You have authority.”
- Shoes – “You’re my son, not a servant.”
Jason said this is a beautiful picture of God’s grace. No matter how far we’ve gone, no sin is too great, and no distance too far for God to reach us. “When we take one step toward Him, He runs the rest of the way.”
👨🌾 The Older Son
Then Jason shifted to the second part of the story—the older brother. When he heard the music and celebration, he refused to go in. Instead of being happy that his brother had come home, he became angry and bitter.
Jason pointed out that the older son called his years of work “slaving” for his father. That revealed his heart—he didn’t see himself as a loved son but as an underappreciated employee. His obedience was duty without delight.
The father went out and pleaded with him, showing the same compassion that he had for the younger son. Jason emphasized that the father loved both sons—he ran to the rebellious one and pleaded with the resentful one.
❤️ The Father’s Heart
Jason said the whole story reveals the heart of God.
God’s love reaches both:
- The rebellious (those who run away), and
- The self-righteous (those who stay but grow proud).
He said, “You can be in church every week, do all the right things, and still be far from the Father’s heart.” Both sons were lost—one in sin and one in self-righteousness—and both needed grace.
🙌 The Call to Come Home
Jason shared personally that when he was younger, he often felt like the older brother—wanting justice more than grace and struggling to believe that God truly loved him. He said one of the hardest things to accept is not just “I love God,” but “God loves me.”
He reminded everyone that God’s love is unconditional:
- No matter what you’ve done, God still loves you.
- No matter how far you’ve gone, He’s still watching the road for you.
Then Jason invited anyone who felt distant, proud, or burdened to come home—to bring their pride, sin, and self-righteousness to the cross. He said, “The Father doesn’t look at you with disgust—He looks at you with love.”
He closed with prayer, asking God to break hard hearts, stir repentance, and help everyone see that both the rebel and the rule-keeper need the same grace.
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Lost people matter to God.
- The Father’s love runs faster than our repentance.
- Religious pride can keep us just as lost as rebellion.
- God’s grace restores, not condemns.
- The invitation is open: come home and join the celebration.