4650 Flat Shoals Parkway Decatur, GA 30034Dr. E. Dewey Smith, Pastor/Teacher

2017 is the Year of T.I.M.E.CONVERSATION: CAN WE TALK?

Son, Can We Talk?Luke 15:25-32

Introduction:Communication is absolutely vital to human existence. God desires for us to communicate with each other in a way that will ___________ problems, ___________ relationships, and bring ___________ to Him.

What is Healthy Communication?: Healthy communication is the sharing of meaning. One person sends a

certain message and the other ______________ that message. It goes beyond just talking and listening.

Communication experts point out that when you talk with another person, there are six messages that can come through. 

1. What you mean to say. 2. What you actually say. 3. What the other person hears. 4. What the other person thinks they hear. 5. What the other person says about what you said. 6. What you think the other person said about what you said.

In our text, we see: The family unit - Prodigal son, the father, and the older brother.  The family mess - Once the prodigal son returns home, the older brother

became the real issue and created mess.

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The House of Hope Atlanta

o He was selfish - His entire conversation was all about “me, myself and I.”

o He was stubborn - He refused to come in the house when his younger brother came home.

o He was self-righteous - He talked about how good he’d been. He was arrogant.

o He was scornful - He was angry; he even labeled his younger brother, “your son.”

How Did The Father Deal With All This Mess?I. There Must Be Face To Face ___________ - Luke 15:28a, “But he was

angry and would not go in; therefore, the father CAME OUT and begged him.”A. Sometimes we don’t get through drama because we never confront the

problem.B. You will never fix what you’re too afraid to face. 

We often contact people who have ___________ to do with the problem.

We will often have to step out our ___________ zones. The father left the party and came out to face his son.

II. There Must Clear __________________ - Luke 15:28, “The father came out and BEGGED him.” A. In order to deal with some conflicts, you’re going to have

to__________through communication.B. How bad do you want it? 

III. There Must Be Careful ________________ Luke 15:29-30

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A. The contemplation in the text is revealed from the father. Even though the older brother was talking crazy, the father never ________________him. 

B. Why do you always have to have the last word? 

IV. There Must Be Authentic ________________ - Luke 15:31 NLT, “His father said to him, “Look dear son.”A. We need to get in the habit of saying more ________ things than

NEGATIVE things.B. “You catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar.”

V. There Must Be Proper _______________ Luke 15:32 A. The father never hit him or cursed him, but he took the time to

___________ to him why they did what they did.B. Some issues are a matter of misunderstanding, and clarity needs to be

made. 

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