How would you respond to John Piper's Sermon, A Tender Word to Pharisees, based on Luke 15 v. 25-31 (ESV), or to the article he wrote summarizing his sermon?
Both, the sermon and the article, are available at DesiringGod.org.
Do we live our Christian lives focused on service and obedience to a master ?
Considering each our own life, where do we believe we stand with regards to the following quote from Piper's article: "O how many people stay in the church, but do not have hearts that are with the father. He is not their treasure. They are just as worldly as the prodigal was, but the church is a cover"?
Piper concludes his article with these words: "The message of the parable ends with tenderness to both brothers: Come in from the foreign country of misery, and come in from the porch of hard-earned merit. Both are deadly. But inside is the banquet of grace, and forgiveness, and fellowship with an all-satisfying Father."
Do we treat those around us we consider to be pharisees with the same tenderness Jesus expressed to the brother who had stayed home to serve and obey his Master? What should change in our attitude towards such persons?
How do we tend to turn our Father to son relationship with God into a Master to slave relationship?
Do we approach Christianity as if we were God's helpers or as being amongst those needing help from God?
When we see ugly sin happening, do we feel mainly disgusted, or mainly compassionate?
Do we better understanding what relating to God as servants means than what relating to God as sons means?
