We welcome you to Stone's Hill today!

A typical Stone's Hill service has:

* music (so feel free to sing out);

* some announcements (things that are upcoming that you can be a part of);

* a message out of the Bible (God speaks to us through his Word);

* and an opportunity for you to respond to the message (either immediately in the case of a decision that needs to be made OR in the future as you live out the message in your daily life.)

So relax and enjoy your morning! We're so glad you are here!

MESSAGE TEXT
Luke 15:11-32
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INTRODUCTION
The word “prodigal” in English means “reckless” or “wasteful.” We are all prodigal sons and daughters who have been reckless and wasteful – wasting values, wasting potential, wasting abilities, wasting health, wasting the future, and wasting life. We’ve all done that with life. God is the perfect parent, and still, His children wander. So don’t be discouraged if your child is a prodigal right now or becomes one.
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The best antidote for a prodigal child is a godly parent. Hoping. Waiting. Peering out the window. Meeting them outside the party. Praying for your kids to come home.
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Perhaps your son has pursued a reckless path of autonomy that has resulted in addictions, debt, or joblessness. Maybe your daughter’s outward lifestyle appears stable—healthy friendships and a productive career—but she is still lost, “separate from Christ... without hope and without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12). Maybe your spouse is pursuing a life she thinks she wants, leaving you and kids behind. While we can multiply scenarios, they all contain the same theme: two people we love—our love one and our Savior—are separated from each other. Our anguish comes when our beloved son or daughter walks away from the Christ we embrace.
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Proposition: It’s never too late, and you’re never too far. Come home.
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PREACHING POINTS
Proposition / Key Word: I want to give you FIVE CHARACTERISTICS of the dad, the father of the prodigal sons. When you see Him, it’s really a parable about the “Prodigal Father.” He is so reckless in His love.

Number one, he was flexible. Verse 12 Flexibility sometimes means letting them go.
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Second characteristic of this father, he was reliable. Look at Verse 17. Stay reliable, dependable, steady. You can’t go into hiding.
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Here’s the third characteristic of this dad. He was approachable. Verses 18, 20.
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Here’s the fourth characteristic. This father was affectionate. Look in Verse 20.
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Fifth and finally, this dad in this story was impartial. There are two sons. Verses 25-28. “Remember the other kids.”
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CONCLUSION
This is a dad you can come home to. This is the kind of dad the world needs more of. This is the kind of dad churches need more of. It’s no guarantee to “Prodigal Proof” a child. But at the very least, when that son or daughter of yours comes to their senses, no matter how far from home they have gone, they’ll remember the father and come home. The father scans the horizon. He awaits your arrival.