Proper 19 (2)

The Joy of Recovery: Finding What Was Lost

Bible Passage: Luke 15:1–10

Introduction

In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 15, verses 1 through 10, Jesus sits among tax collectors and sinners—those whom society had declared unworthy or beyond redemption. The religious leaders grumbled, unable to grasp why Jesus, the Holy One, would dine with such people. In response, Jesus offered two parables: the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the lost coin. Each shares a truth that is both simple and profound: God’s love is relentless, His grace is extravagant, and His joy is complete when the lost are found.

If you love God, you cannot be at a loss for something to say to him, something for your hearts to pour out before him, which his grace has already put there.

Matthew Henry (Nonconformist Biblical Exegete)

The Parables: Lost Sheep and Lost Coin

Let us hear the words of Jesus:

Luke 15:1–10 “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.””

The pattern is unmistakable: something precious is lost, someone goes searching, and great joy fills the air when what was missing is recovered. Jesus concludes each story by proclaiming that there is rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents, over one soul that returns home.

One sunny afternoon, I lost my favorite pair of sunglasses while out at the park. I searched high and low among the picnic blankets and benches, showing an exaggerated sense of urgency, almost like I had misplaced the crown jewels! Finally, after what seemed like forever, I found them wedged between two rocks. The joy I felt was indescribable—much like the joy in heaven when one sinner repents! Sometimes, the things we misplace turn out to be the most valuable, just like that lost sheep in Luke 15:1-10.

Application: Remembering Grace, Reflecting Joy

The truth of these parables does not linger in distant history—it is alive for us today. Every believer, whether raised in faith or found in the farthest wilderness, has experienced the grace of being sought and found by God. We were all, at some point, the lost sheep or the misplaced coin. And just as heaven celebrated our return, so too must we celebrate the restoration of every soul.

Yet the challenge is clear: we are called not only to celebrate, but to seek. The heart of the Good Shepherd beats within us. Our neighborhoods, workplaces, and families are filled with those longing for hope, searching for meaning, yearning to be welcomed home. We must light our lamps, sweep the rooms, and traverse the valleys, extending friendship and compassion in pursuit of the lost.

Illustration: The Death of Charlie Kirk

Let me share a story—one that may be familiar to many. When Charlie Kirk passed away, it cast a shadow over his family, his friends, and the community that knew him. His death was not just a personal loss; it was a moment that made each of us reflect on the fragility of life and the importance of being found.

Charlie was once a man who felt distant from faith, uncertain about his place in the story of God. Yet, in his final years, something changed. Friends reached out, shared hope, and offered prayers. Charlie encountered the love of Christ—a love that did not judge, but welcomed; a love that did not abandon, but pursued. In those last days, Charlie discovered that he was not forgotten, not too far gone, not beyond the reach of grace.

The grief of his passing was met with the joy of knowing that Charlie had been found. His journey from lost to found was a testimony to God’s relentless pursuit. It reminds us that our calling is not just to mourn the lost, but to rejoice when even one returns to the fold.

Teaching: God’s Heart for the Lost

Luke 15 teaches that God’s heart is for those who wander—those on the margins, those who have strayed, those who feel invisible. The joy of recovery is not just a heavenly celebration; it is meant to be echoed in the earthly community of believers. We are invited to share in God’s delight, to rejoice alongside the angels when a soul finds its way home.

Christ Himself embodies this truth. He is the Good Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to seek the one. His sacrifice, His journey into the darkness, His embrace of the cross—all of it was for the sake of recovery and reconciliation. In Him, every lost soul finds hope, every exile finds welcome, every sinner finds forgiveness.

Pointing to Christ: The Ultimate Seeker

These parables do more than inspire—they point directly to Jesus. Christ is not only the storyteller; He is the fulfillment of the story. He is the one who searches the barren hills, who lights the lamp in the night, who calls out your name and mine. His pursuit is costly, His love is sacrificial, His victory is sure.

Through the New Covenant, Christ has made a way for reconciliation. No one is too far, no sin too deep, no life too broken. The arms of Christ are open wide to all who would be found.

Big Idea: Sharing in God’s Joy and Mission

Here is the big idea: God rejoices over every lost soul that returns to Him. As His followers, we are called to share in that joy—not only in celebration, but in action. We are called to be seekers, reconcilers, and bearers of hope. We must reflect the joy of heaven in our outreach efforts, remembering that each person we encounter is precious to God.

Let us never grow weary in seeking the lost. Let us never forget the joy of being found. And let us, like Christ, pursue those who wander, celebrating every step that leads home.

Conclusion

Let us renew our commitment to the mission of recovery. May our hearts beat in rhythm with the Good Shepherd. May our lives be lamps shining in the darkness. And may every soul found be a cause for rejoicing—in heaven, and on earth.

Merciful God, whose compassion knows no bounds, have mercy on me according to your steadfast love. Wash away every fault and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. For my transgressions rise before me and my heart aches with the weight of what I have done. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; you know the truth of my soul.

Purify me, O Lord, and I shall be clean; refresh my spirit and restore joy to my heart. Hide not your face from me, nor take your Spirit away. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Let your grace breathe new life into my soul, so that I may walk uprightly and rejoice in your salvation. Amen.