This Sunday, we began a four-part series on reconciliation, a value important to Mennonites, but also one that can be understood in many differing ways and often times misused. Tim offers up our first sermon in the series with a discussion of reconciliation with God, where he discusses the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) and the reconciliation that God offers us and the world. In particular, we imagine reconciliation through the picture of this father, who does not demand retributive punishment, the satisfaction of legal demands, or substitutionary atonement. It is not a reconciliation that forgoes judgment, but one that re-imagines just-ness in common life together and calls us to seek reconciliation within the world.
Questions for group discussion:
What is character of God that is seen in the parable?
What is the reconciliation that you hope for?
How does it fit the image of God that you carry?
How might we shape our understanding of God to look more like this?
See yourself here, that God loves you this much—and that you are rejoiced over, celebrated.
Hear the audio as Tim details this transformative love of God.
Article art on home page: Detail from mural, Across La Tierra, muralist: Layqa Nuna Yawar, Collaboration with United we Dream, Immigrant youth-led network.
Pasadena Mennonite Church 