The Gospel of Luke: Lost and Found - Video

Sermon notes: 3/8/26 Luke 15: 1-10 'Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” ' . Two questions: 1) Who does God seek after? 2) How does he pursue those He seeks after? . Through the previous verses, we see Jesus bouncing back and forth over people who God doesn’t seek after. And He ends those parables, saying “Those who have ears, let them hear.” And this chapter starts with “the tax collectors and sinners (habitualy crooked people - rule benders, and rule abandoners) have decided to follow Christ - to “hear.” But pharisees and scribes who were in the crowd who heard Jesus’ jarring message about discipleship, and were not happy about this message. They saw the sinners and tax collectors as reprehensible, but also viewed themselves above. They don’t see themselves as equals in sin as the sinners. Jesus seeks after everyone, but those who can’t see their own lost-ness and aren’t humble about their condition will miss the glory of God. Jesus invites everyone to be restored at His table. . God goes after us “diligently” and “relentlessly,” and God is not content to let us stay lost. The lost often find themselves in many situations - lostness is equated with darkness. We’re not just IN the darkness. We WERE the darkness. If Jesus doesn’t come for us, our situation is hopeless. A lost sheep’s situation is hopeless without the shepherd coming for them. Thank God we serve a God who is a good shepherd! And when He finds us, He is joyful! This parable says that He carries the sheep back to the herd on His shoulders. This is the image of a sheep that is too weak, injured, or empty. Our lord carries the burden that we are too weak to carry ourselves. . The Pharisees and Scribes in this verse think that they are strong enough to carry their own burdens. None of us can carry the burdens of our sin. When God brings us home, there is a celebration in heaven over the return of a soul. And thank God that the Lord spends more on the party than the cost of the sheep or coin that is returned. . The joy of the Lord carries no price tag. Now look at the other souls the way God looks at us. We are all precious in his sight. Let this joy inform the way we look at those around us!