Skip to main content

The Life of the Party


This past Sabbath I preached a message from Luke 15:17-32 called The Life of the Party.  In the story of the lost son we see a picture of a God who is the life of the party.  It was the father who was ready to celebrate, not the sons.  We see how God celebrates. He is extravagant. He brings out the best. He kills the fattened calf.  And we see what God celebrates. The father says to the older son, “It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.”  God celebrates transformed life!  We have the opportunity to join the festivities of a God who extravagantly celebrates life!


Here’s what I forgot to say….

Extravagance is impractical. 

I spent a year teaching at Nile Union Academy in Cairo, Egypt.  Among the many cultural differences that amazed me was their excessive hospitality.  I didn’t need continuous refills of tea. And it would have been more temperate of me to not eat every mystery meat and foreign dish that was brought to me.  It was unnatural for me to accept their generous gifts when visiting their simple homes.  But they just kept giving.

I visited Guatemala during Easter, or Semana Santa (Holy Week).  Their festivities are far more extravagant than colored eggs and pastel candies. They carpet their streets with colorful patterns made of flowers, sand, wood shavings, and fruit. There are musical parades in full costume. There are groups of young people carrying around stuffed representations of Judas. It is a week of excessive celebration.

I have seen people in my church spend days in preparation for special meals, like the Thanksgiving feast we had at the church a few weeks ago.  The food was not just tasty, it was attractive.  And there was way more than we could eat.  The tables were thoughtfully decorated. And the kids were given seasonally themed coloring activities. 

Decorations are not necessary. Art and parades are not efficient activities. I would survive just fine without being served tea.   All of this extravagance is impractical… and it flows right from the heart of God!  Extravagance is not a requirement; it is a desire.  God does not throw a party because it is something that must be done but because there is great joy to be experienced. He is the life of the party.  Join in the festivities of a God who extravagantly celebrates life! 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A New Living Faith in an Old Rugged Cross

This past Sabbath I preached a message from  Isaiah 43:14-21  entitled  A New Living Faith in an Old Rugged Cross .  I explored the tension between welcoming the new and holding onto the old.  Through the prophet Isaiah God called His people to “Remember  not the former things, neither consider the things of old” (Isaiah 43:18). Three chapters latter the same God called the same people to “Remember the former things of old” (Isaiah 46:9). Which is it?  Are we to run to the new or cling to the old? Well, both.  We are to welcome the new things that God leads us into while holding onto the unchangeable truth of who God is.  At the same time we are to run from the new things that will lead us away from God and from the old things that have kept us from Him. The point is not that it is new or that it is old but that it is God.  Here’s what I forgot to say…. God has promised to “make all things new”(Revelation 21:5). But He hasn’t promised to “make all new things”.  Th
1 comment
Read more

Deep Questions from Dark Places

This past Sabbath I preached a message from  Matthew 11:1-15  called  Deep Questions from Dark Places. When John the Baptist was in prison (a dark place) he sent disciples to ask if Jesus was the Messiah (a deep questions).   Our journey of faith passes through dark places and we need to be bold enough to take our deep questions to Jesus. I can relate to John’s experience, but I am amazed by Jesus’ response.   Jesus did not rebuke John for his questions but provided evidence that He, in fact, was doing the work of the Messiah. He reminded John of who He is. Jesus calls us to a trust that is based on knowing His Character and not all His reasons.   Then He affirmed who John was.   Even calling him the greatest ever born of women! Jesus shows how He   feels about doubters who seek Him for answers, He loves them.   Going through a dark time? Have deep questions? Take them to Jesus. He can handle your struggle. Here’s what I forgot to say…. In the sermon I explored the idea th
Post a Comment
Read more

Help My Unbelief

This past Sabbath I preached the first message of a 6 part series called The Certainty Box.   The message was from Mark 9:14-29 and it was called  Help My Unbelief .   Our faith experience includes both “I believe” and “help my unbelief”. We need to recognize the “help my unbelief” category in ourselves.   And when we recognize it we must resist the temptation to stuff it into our Certainty Box. We don’t ignore it, we get help with it.   And Jesus will help us with our unbelief. Faith is vital but faith is not certainty.   God is certain but certainty can become and idol. Our goal is not to be 100% certain that what we already believe is true but to follow the Holy Spirit into all truth. Our goal is not to know it all but to know God! Here’s what I forgot to say…. Well, there’s a lot.   I really got into this study. So I have about 6 pages of notes that I didn’t have time to share.   Here is one thought that intrigued me. Jesus was troubled by a “faithless generati
Post a Comment
Read more