Five Rivers Church
Celebrating at Home
The closing message in our Christmas series, Home for Christmas, takes us to the closing verses of the prodigal son story. These verses follow the same pattern as the other two stories found in Luke 15, and they reinforce an important theme: celebration.
Locations & Times
Five Rivers Church
1450 E Dorothy Ln, Dayton, OH 45429, USA
Sunday 11:00 AM
Home for Christmas
Home for Christmas gives us a fresh look at the Christmas story through the parable Jesus told of a compassionate father. You can catch all our previous messages in this series here.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSM0eKZiFXLqlmzFyOXbAfdAkN1hWVeMXFAQ on Home for Christmas Challenge
As part of our ongoing effort here at Five Rivers to "live like Jesus", we want to create opportunities for conversation with the people God has brought into our lives. This desire for these types of opportunities led us to the Home for Christmas Challenge.
The idea is simple: encourage those in our church to invite people to spend time with them at brunch instead of inviting them to church. We believe that people are often likely to be available on Sunday mornings, so we want to leverage this time and spend it in conversation around a table rather than sit in rows in a traditional, Sunday morning, church service.
Check out the link below for frequently asked questions.
https://fiverivers.church/challengeThe idea is simple: encourage those in our church to invite people to spend time with them at brunch instead of inviting them to church. We believe that people are often likely to be available on Sunday mornings, so we want to leverage this time and spend it in conversation around a table rather than sit in rows in a traditional, Sunday morning, church service.
Check out the link below for frequently asked questions.
Return of the Prodigal
The story of the lost son is less about the sons in the story and more about the father. While we can certainly identify with and see ourselves in the sons in the story, the focus of this story is the attitude and actions of the father.
The father welcomes his lost son home and then celebrates his return. As is the case with the other stories in this section, he celebrates with his community as well.
The father welcomes his lost son home and then celebrates his return. As is the case with the other stories in this section, he celebrates with his community as well.
The Celebration Theme in Luke 15
- Story of the lost sheep (vs 3-7)
And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.
- Story of the lost coin (vs 8-10)
And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.
- Story of the lost son (vs 11-31)
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
- Story of the lost sheep (vs 3-7)
And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.
- Story of the lost coin (vs 8-10)
And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.
- Story of the lost son (vs 11-31)
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
God stands ready to welcome his lost children home and celebrate their return. And just as this story indicates, his community stands ready to welcome them and celebrate with him.