Who is God to you? Do you know God like the younger son does or like his elder brother?

(Luke 15: 11-32).

v. 11 Two Kinds of Christians:

Younger son-a. Obvious sinner-liberal. Elder brother- Secret sinner-conservative. -b. trusts in Gods grace. trusts in his/her good works, & legalistic -c. knows God is generous believes God is a slave driver & ungenerous

v.12 Each Christian has an inheritance from God-mana.

God gives two kinds of inheritance: *material/worldly *spiritual/eternal: Bible, Bible teaching, worship, devotion, prayer meeting, etc.

 vv.13-19 What Happens When We Sin or Backslide

1. We waste or ignore our material/spiritual inheritance v.13 2. Sooner or later we lose all our material inheritance v.14 3. God himself sends other problems famine. 4. We lower our attitude about our self v.15 5. We lose our friends v.16 6. God reminds us of some truth about him & our relationship to him. God is rich! V. 17

 vv.18-24 What Happens When We Confess & Repent of Our Sins

1. God gives us a remembrance of his graciousness & forgiveness v.18 2. We plan to earn back Gods favor, acceptance by doing good works v.19 3. God stands outside & waits all the time for us to return to him & be forgiven. Remember the duct. 4. God does not & will not disown us as his children v. 21 cf Rom.5:1; 8:1.

 5. God will give us back all that we lost: material & spiritual vv.22-24
Robe-experiential righteousness Ring-privilege to withdraw from Gods bank account. Sandals-privilege to again share the Gospel, Gods Word Eph.6:15 Calf-feed on Gods Word for your soul. Celebration-worship. Alive-living, not just surviving. Found-you know who, what & where you are in Gods plan.

 What Happens to the Self-Righteous Seeing God Restoring a Sinner vv.25-32 1. Gets angry with God who forgave & celebrates for the restored sinner vv.25-28 2. Begins to count his/her long & hard ministries v.29 3. Boasts about his/her holy life. 4. Demands payment from God for his ministries & holy living v.29 5. He underestimated his fathers generosity v.29

 6. Stops considering his brother as his brother v.30 7. He judges & he envies his brother v.30 8. He is ignorant of the generosity of his father v.31

 Note Gods Attitude Towards the Two Kinds of Christians: He stands & waits for the younger son & welcomed him. He went out to his elder son & entreated him to come.
When God sent a famine, the younger son woke up & realized his sin.

When the father went out & entreated the elder son to come in, he refused.