The Father Still Waits

Sermon Messages from Ascension Lutheran Church

Speaker: Rev. Raleigh Sims

Scripture Focus: Isaiah 12:1–6, 2 Corinthians 5:16–21, & Luke 15:1–3, 11b-32

Service Summary: No parable more fully describes the profound character of God’s mercy than the prodigal son and the waiting father. We are the rebels who begin to think we deserve our heavenly Father’s kindness and who demand from Him what is not our right to claim. But instead of disowning us, He meets us with joy, welcomes us with His forgiveness, restores our tattered righteousness with the robe of Christ’s holiness, and sets His Table before us. This is what happens every Sunday as the Lord reclaims us from our sins, restores joy to our heavy hearts, reminds us of His baptismal promise, and feeds our body and soul with the body and blood of His Son. This is the source of our holy joy and this is the peace that passes all understanding.