Undeserved & Undeniable | Grace That Breaks The Rules
Pastor Darryn Scheske | Jesus and The Kingdom of God | Part 7 | Luke 15:1–3, 11–32 | Father’s Day, June 15, 2025
When God runs toward some people, the rule-keepers always complain. Discover why God’s generosity is surprisingly unfair. Decide now—party inside or pout outside?
Communion Scripture Reading
Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. Then Jesus took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I will not drink the fruit of the vine from now on until the Kingdom of God comes.” Luke 22:17–19
Gospel Reading
Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them! So Jesus told them these stories...” Luke 15:1–3 NLT
Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. Luke 15:11–12, NLT
“God so loved...He gave...” John 3:16 NLT
1. God will give you more than you ever deserve.
“A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” Luke 15:13–19, NLT
“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. Luke 15:20, NLT
When men describe their emotional range, “there seem to be two primary responses: pissed off or shut down.” –Brené Brown, Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began. Luke 15:21–24, NLT
2. You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving.
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, and he asked one of the servants what was going on. ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’ “The older brother was angry and refused go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused one of your orders. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’ “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always been with me, and all I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’” Luke 15:25–32, NLT
3. Both sons are lost. Both are entitled.