Lost | Sheep and Treasure

Date: 10.05.02 Speaker: Kris Martens Texts: Luke 15:1-10 Title: Lost | Sheep & Treasure We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. - re: Jesus, Isaiah 53:6 Luke 15 contains three of the most famous and profoundly Gospel-centred stories Jesus tells in Luke's account: lost sheep, lost treasure, and lost sons. Over the next 3 weeks we'll look at the idea of being LOST and of being FOUND, and we'll explore the character of the Pursuer and the pursued. In the first section (vv.1-10), Jesus teaches on lost sheep and a lost coin, but the key factor is His audience - consisting of sinners, tax collectors, pharisees and scribes. Their presence and cultural significance in the 1st century have profound implications to our own walk as spiritual seekers and sojourners. That this conversation happens should push us to rethink our life, purpose and meaning. My prayer is that, as we become the audience, Jesus would destroy any categories or assumptions we have regarding sin, the Gospel, salvation and the Kingdom of God - and that we would see Jesus as the Great Shepherd, and as the Forgiving Father who searches for lost sinners and throws extravagant parties when they're found. May we see ourselves as sheep, treasure and prodigals, and may we see God as the Ultimate Prodigal; recklessly extravagant - having spent everything for us.