Sermon Notes – February 16, 2025

Date: February 16, 2025
Theme: “Ready Set Go! – Ready to Worship!”

Scripture Reading: Luke 15:11-32
Messenger: Rev. Darren McKoy
URL: https://youtube.com/live/vLW_cjiGB7g?feature=share

Points:

• A Call to Love:
  • If we are going to witness to people and tell them about God (who represents love) but we have no love for them, it doesn’t make sense.
  • The parable of the prodigal son – Luke 15:11-25
    • The younger son requested his inheritance and his father gave it to him with no quarrel. He let him go  without disowning him.
    • The young man went to “live his life” and fell upon hard times.
    • He had to depend on strangers in order to survive. He got so hungry that he looked longingly at the pigs food. He was coming from a place where he was wealthy and had everything he wanted (his father was wealthy). 
    • This situation forced him into a period of introspection. During this time, he realised he had done wrong and had to make it right. He didn’t even feel worthy to be called his father’s son anymore.
  • The definition of Unconditional love – Luke 15:20
    • The son returned home and his father welcomed him with open arms.
  • Believers should embrace the unsaved and Christians who have gone astray with unconditional  love. This love could be the change agent needed in their lives.
  • We are not called to ask questions, we are called to show love.
• A Call to Introspection:
  • The older son, even though he didn’t go astray, he had some issues with his father.
  • While it is important to show love to the persons who you are trying to reach, don’t forget to show love to those already on the inside.
  • In order to focus on the lost and those who have gone astray, we need to fix what is going on inside.
  • As a church, we need to look at ourselves and ask if we are ready as a family to go out and show love to unbelievers.
  • As an individual, we need to look out ourselves and ask the question “Am I ready to go out and share love?”
  • What will unbelievers find when they come here? Will they find animosity? Or will they find love and unity?
• Recap points:
• If we are going to witness to people and tell them about God (who represents love) but we have no love for them, it doesn’t make sense.
• Believers should embrace the unsaved and Christians who have gone astray with unconditional  love. This love could be the change agent needed in their lives.
• As a church, we need to look at ourselves and ask if we are ready as a family to go out and show love to unbelievers.
• As an individual, we need to look out ourselves and ask the question “Am I ready to go out and share love?”
• What will unbelievers find when they come here? Will they find animosity? Or will they find love and unity?
• Supporting Texts:
  • James 1:1
  • Romans 12:1-2
  • Ephesians 5:1
  • James 1:13-16
  • Luke 8:18
  • Philippians 1:27
  • 2 Peter