Orange session #1: Reggie Joiner

Rescuing the Prodigal Generation
Think about the prodigal story

The church has a choice to make:
Be like the older brother.
Be like the loving father.


We Need to Be Loving Fathers
1. Loving Fathers are preoccupied with whoever is missing.
• If you have three kids...one gets lost at the park, you don’t say..it’s ok I still have two.
• Don’t sit and think about who is sitting around the table, think about who is not there.
• It’s not about who we are trying to keep, but who we are reaching.
• Older brother more preoccupied by himself, not his little wayward brother.

2. Loving Fathers operate from a context of forgiveness
• We live in a generation who wants to feel better about doing bad stuff. As a church, we, then try to guilt them and make them feel bad about bad stuff.
• We need to help people know how to be forgiven.

3. Loving Fathers throw parties
• Put forgiveness and joy in all the experiences
• Older brother got Mad when he gets home. Would not celebrate.
• Older brothers throw fits.

4. Loving Fathers confront older brother's thinking.
• He tell him to come to the party.
• Expose people to the party.
• Step up and explain WHY you are throwing the party.

5. Loving Fathers keep the lights on for as long as it takes.
• Older brothers turn off the lights and shuts the door
• Our heart needs to be that of a loving father.

I am also live twittering observations from Orange.
Follow me at http://twitter.com/tspencer