Beyond the Weekend: Parables
The stories Jesus told and what they mean for your life today.
Why did Jesus teach in stories? Because the deepest truths about God are often found in the ordinary moments of life.
In the parables, Jesus takes everyday things, a lost sheep, a dinner party, a farmer planting seeds and uses them to show us what God is really like and what it means to follow him.
This summer, we’re spending seven weeks in the parables from Luke’s gospel. Whether you’ve heard these stories a hundred times or this is your first time, you’re invited to come and hear them fresh.
June 27/28–August 8/9
Rebellious Hearts
Read: Luke 15:1-2 | Listen: Luke 15
But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:2
As his ministry grows, Jesus responds to the religious leaders’ criticism with a parable. They believe they are better than everyone else because they keep the laws and commandments. Through this story, Jesus shows that both sons have hearts that are far from their father. The younger son rebels in obvious ways. The older son looks obedient on the outside, but his heart is filled with anger, jealousy, and resentment. One son runs away from the father. The other stays home but is just as distant in his heart.
We can see ourselves in both brothers. Sometimes our sin is obvious—reckless living, sexual sin, or greed. Other times it hides behind pride, entitlement, or a critical spirit. Whatever form it takes, sin always pulls us away from God. It promises life but leaves us empty. It offers freedom but leads to bondage. Our Father invites us to come home. He is watching, waiting, and ready to welcome every repentant sinner with open arms. This is the daily rhythm of the Christian life: confession and repentance. When we confess our sin and turn back to him, we find forgiveness instead of condemnation, grace instead of rejection, and the joy of being restored to our Father’s love. His grace doesn’t simply forgive our past; it changes our hearts, making us more like Christ as we learn to walk with him each day.
TODAY: Read Psalm 51 slowly. Confess your sins to God by naming them honestly. Then pray verse 10: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Ask God to help you turn away from sin and follow him.
