Thanks for joining us again.

We are working through some audio issues on Pastor John's Inn, so thank you for your

patience with us as we figure out some connection issues that we're facing.

We open the week with an email from a listener named Daniel, who writes, Hello Pastor John,

I recently watched your sermon about the prodigal son, a tender word to Pharisees.

There you mentioned the one flaw of the older brother was that he had a broken view of

his father.

The older brother saw the father as a master and viewed him as a law giver.

But there are some verses in the scripture that point to Jesus as our Lord, or our master.

So how can we see God as our loving, gracious father, but also take him as our king and

Lord and all for our joy, Pastor John, what would you say?

That question goes right to the heart of what it means to be a Christian and how to live

the Christian life.

How do we relate to God and the Lord Jesus as a slave master, as a friend, as a counselor,

as a shepherd, as an employer, as a doctor, as a savior, as a redeemer, a helper, a servant

of us?

This is a huge question about who God and Jesus are for us and how hour by hour we do

our Christian living in relation to them and how they relate to us.

Now the parable of the prodigal son was spoken by Jesus in response to the criticism of

the Pharisees that he was eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners.

Luke 15, too.

The younger brother squandering his life and possessions in debauchery represents the

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