-Balance

Grace & Truth (BALANCE)

Moms many times do balance these best...very fitting on Mother's Day !!

Being a Christian includes living out the balance of GRACE and TRUTH

--Crowd is gathering, "both" sides: Grace & Truth....interesting. :-)

Jesus addresses them on COMMON GROUND

Parable of the Lost Sheep

--whole crowd, still agreeing...this is weird. :-)

--all of them had lost something (we can relate too)

Jesus SHOWS them GOD'S grace and truth.

Parable of the Lost Son

--...whole crowd on edge of their seat...still agreeing....fill in the blank with what son's father was filled with: ANGER !!

--not what father was filled with, Jesus said COMPASSION

--whole crowd still agreeing...looking around, nodding together....let's let the story end at Feed pigs...getting what he deserved (truth). each group understood sons disgracing their fathers, fool squandering!!

--But, this parable is Earthly story with a heavenly meaning...Jesus is telling them how Our Heavenly Father & His Kingdom is!!

--prodigal son repented, received GRACE, not TRUTH (what he deserved)

TAKE AWAY:

God could not love us MORE

Nothing we do will cause Him to love us LESS

Take this in! Own it for yourself!

…When we get this: Sin will break our hearts (not reaction of anger anymore)

Repentance will stir our hearts

Maybe you feel like the older son / maybe you're a prodigal: Either way, God is speaking to you!!