Lost & Found - Week 4 - Gathered Up in Jesus Worship Series

Welcome to LaVale United! LaVale United is a place to learn, grow, and worship as a family. We strive to create an environment where those who are non-religious might learn and grow together with life-long christians. Skeptics and those who ask difficult and unpopular questions are welcomed, as well as those who have long ago committed themselves to Christ. Just be yourself, we will accept you as you are, no matter what that looks like. We are not “left” or “right”. We embrace nuance in all things. We believe in unity over uniformity, and we encourage all to be authentic before the Lord our God. We believe that church is not just a place to receive needed encouragement, but also a place to be challenged to grow. We believe that God brings transformation and growth and we think of this congregation as a seedbed that encourages that process. Our sermons convey timeless truths from the Word of God within the relevant context of how to live today. We are a United Methodist congregation, a part of the Cumberland-Hagerstown District, and the Baltimore-Washington/Peninsula-Delaware Conference. Ways to Connect Follow us on social media @ LaVale United. Facebook YouTube Instagram TikTok Join LaVale United on the Vanco Mobile Faith Engagement app. Message Notes Week 4 - Lost & Found - Gathered Up in Jesus Worship Series Scripture Reference: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 NRSV 15:1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 15:2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." 15:3 So he told them this parable: 15:11b "There was a man who had two sons. 15:12 The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. 15:13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 15:14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15:15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 15:16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 15:17 But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 15:18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands."' 15:20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 15:21 Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 15:22 But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe--the best one--and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 15:23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 15:24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate. 15:25 "Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 15:26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 15:27 He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' 15:28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 15:29 But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 15:30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!' 15:31 Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 15:32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'" Sermon Points Prodigal–wasteful, particularly in regards to money. It also means “to drive.” Prodigal means to be recklessly wasteful. The younger son ended up with 1/3 of his Father’s land which he sold for money that he then squandered. Licenses Copyright License #20095467 Expires 3/31/2022 Streaming License #20525298 Expires 4/30/2022