'To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: "A man had two sons.

die: So his father agred to divide his weah be fen hissine. A bedays later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The

goud to him. ecto seage tim anything ode he in ty cing he piss lose he said to himself, 'At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, "Father, I

cave your on. Petase heme on yourad i ant log he retimef home to

is abring es tude of his sale return as i der brother was in y and wouldn't go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, 'All these

years I've slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me

'Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!'""

Luke 15:11-32 NLT|

Statement: "Fathers don't raise sons to be sons, fathers raise sons to be fathers."

1. A Father's Heart is always hopeful.

"Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, "That's how many descendants you will have!" And Abraham's faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah's womb. Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises."

Romans 4:18-21 NLT|

2. A Father's Heart dreams generationally.

prophe. Curu my spit pon l ople. Your sons and daughters will ae visions. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants—men and women alike."

Joel 2:28-29 NLT|

3. A Father's Heart leaves a Spiritual heritage. "We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders."

Psalms 78:4 NLT

4. A Father's Heart adopts children; it doesn't just greate them. 'There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.'

Galatians 3:28 NLT|

Closing: "He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.""

Luke 1:17 NLT|