The Prodigal Christian

Today we continue our series on the overcoming Christian – on what it means to run the race as a Christian, to achieve victory in our lives devoted to Christ. This week we will also have a time in which we remember the Lord through the sharing of the bread and cup, and we will have what we call a “sharing time,” where we gather in a big circle and where anyone who desires may share what the Lord has been teaching them.

But in preparation for our time of worship remembering the Lord with the bread and cup, I want to talk about what it means to be a prodigal Christian. What is a prodigal? According to the dictionary, a prodigal is a recklessly extravagant consumer. Synonyms include squanderer and waster. So what do I mean by prodigal? As no doubt you can guess, I am referring to the parable Jesus told of the prodigal son. We will turn to this parable shortly.

The Kneeling Christian

We began this week with a clip from the movie version of Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maude Montgomery. The scene is early in the movie where Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert are permitting the teenage Anne Shirley to live with them “on a trial basis.” It is nighttime, and Marilla comes into Anne’s bedroom as Anne climbs into bed. The following conversation ensues.

Marilla: Have you said your prayers?

Anne: I never say any prayers.

Marilla: What do you mean? Haven’t you been taught to say your prayers?

Anne: Since Mrs. Hammond told me that God made my hair red on purpose, I haven’t cared for Him since.

The Reluctant Christian

Right off the bat, you’ve got to be thinking, what does being reluctant have to do with being an overcoming Christian? It’s like the old Sesame Street short: “One of these kids is not like the others…”

This is my message to myself. I apologize if it doesn’t meet you where you are, but it’s chock full of Scripture, and the word of the Lord does not return void.

A while back, Carl mentioned that we would have a topical series based on the overcoming Christian from Revelation. Then, as time grew closer he asked if I would consider giving a message. Then, a few weeks ago, he asked if I had thought of a title to go in the program. I had some ideas, but not really a title. I think I said the Trepidatious Christian, then the Hesitant Christian, and then out popped the Reluctant Christian.

The Logical Christian

We have been going through a series on what it means to be an overcoming Christian. This week’s message title is “The Logical Christian.” This message today has two parts. The first part is a bit of a theology lesson. In order to talk about what it means to be a logical Christian, I want to talk about the Logos, the Greek word from which we get our word “logical.” We will see that this will help us understand the source of becoming overcoming Christians in the area of logic and reason. In the second part of this message I want to focus on some practical aspects of incorporating logic into your relationship with Christ.

Today we are going to look at a number of passages, but especially I want to look at the very beginning of the book of John.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. – John 1:1-1:5