Visionary leader Kirbyjon Caldwell continued unpacking the powerful story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. He reminded us that this parable isn’t just about a rebellious boy—it’s about the heart of a compassionate father, which mirrors the heart of God.
The undertone of this message was compassion.
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What triggered the kingdom kiss? Compassion.
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What signaled compassion? Confession.
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And what caused confession? He came to himself.
Sometimes you just have to act like you have some sense—and when you do, it leads you to repentance and apology.
Why Was the Father Looking for Him?
Throughout the sermon, the question kept coming up:
“Pops, why are you looking for him? He’s not worth looking for. Why look for a dead man?”
But the father’s actions tell us the answer:
“I’m looking for my son because I have compassion. God has compassion on me, so I have compassion on my son.”
What Is Compassion According to Scripture?
Compassion is a spiritual quality that mirrors God’s character.
The Lord is gracious. He is full of grace and shares it. He is full of compassion. (Psalm 145:8)
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Compassion is womb love—it protects and nurtures.
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Compassion is not pity. It enters another person’s suffering and acts to relieve it.
Matthew 9:36 — Jesus had compassion on the crowds.
Matthew 14:14 — Compassion moved Him to heal.
Matthew 15:32 — Compassion led Him to feed the hungry.
True compassion doesn’t just feel—it acts.
Compassion and Hope
We need believers who have compassion like Jesus. Because compassion fuels hope.
Just because the son didn’t come home yesterday doesn’t mean he won’t come today. That’s hope—expecting the Word of God to do its work.
1 Peter 3:8-9 reminds us to have compassion for one another. Don’t repay evil with evil. Instead, bless those who deserve your anger. That’s how believers live differently.
The Father’s Risky Love
In Jewish culture, men didn’t run in public. But this father ran, lifted his robe, and humbled himself before the crowd. Why?
“Because if my boy is down, I’m down with him.”
The father risked shame because compassion moved him.
Then came the kiss.
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A kiss on the hand is civil.
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A kiss on the mouth is romance.
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A kiss on the cheek is social.
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But a kiss on the neck is kingdom.
That neck kiss was the highest expression of affection, restoration, and belonging. The father kissed his son not without risk.
And when he kissed him, he smelled three things:
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Sex (v.30) — a reminder of what the son had done. But God loves us beyond what we do. You are more than your mistakes or your accomplishments. Don’t let what you’ve done—good or bad—define you. God has greater things in store.
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Swine (v.15–16) — a reminder of where he had been. The smell of the pigpen was still on him. But Psalm 139 reminds us: there is nowhere we can go to escape the presence of God.
Even on “hell road,” God is with you. And when you see the exit, take it! Don’t stay on hell road longer than you have to.
And just like that, visionary leader Kirbyjon Caldwell closed the message saying:
“Come back next week for number 3…and Part 3.”
