The God Who Goes Looking

Sermon 1: The God Who Goes Looking

Series: Sent & Rooted: Living the Gospel Together Primary Text: Luke 15:1–7

Introduction

Most people assume evangelism starts with guilt, pressure, or obligation. But Jesus tells this story to make something very clear:

Evangelism begins not with us trying harder or doing better—but with loving as God loves.

Luke 15 opens with an uncomfortable scene.

The wrong people are close to Jesus, and the right people are irritated by it.

And instead of correcting the sinners, Jesus tells a story to correct the religious elite.

Luke 15:1–7 ESV

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “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? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 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.’ 7 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.

Big Idea

Evangelism is not something we do—it is something we join. We pursue the lost because God did, does, is.

I. God’s Heart Is Toward the Lost.

Luke 15:1–3 “1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable:”

Jesus is approachable to broken people—and offensive to self-righteous ones.

Key Observations

Jesus does not avoid sinners; He welcomes / attracts them!

The Pharisees complain, not because sinners are present—but because Jesus welcomes them

Jesus responds by revealing God’s heart, not by defending His behavior

The Shepherd’s Choice

Leaving the ninety-nine is not recklessness—it is love.

The shepherd:

Knows the sheep personally

Notices one is missing

Refuses to accept loss as normal / inevitable

Cross References

Genesis 3:9 “9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?””

Genesis 12:1–3 “1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.””

Ezekiel 34:11–12 “11 “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.”

Romans 5:8 “8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Matthew 9:12–13 “12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.””

Illustration

A parent doesn’t count the children safely asleep and decide one missing child is “acceptable loss.” Love notices absence.

II. The Lost Matter More Than Comfort.

Luke 15:4–5 “4 “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? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders…

Jesus confronts our assumptions:

That safety is more important than salvation

That the found should always come first

That ministry should stay neat and predictable

The shepherd’s action disrupts comfort for the sake of rescue.

Key Truth

The church often prioritizes maintenance over mission—but Jesus never does!

Cross References

Lost Coin Lk 15:8-10

Prodigal Son Lk 15:11-32

John 10:11 “11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Philippians 2:6–8 “6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Jonah…

Illustration

Lighthouses aren’t built for ships already safe in harbor. They exist for storms, rocks, and darkness.

III. Heaven Rejoices Over Just One.

Jesus ends the parable not with guilt—but with joy.

Luke 15:6–7 “6 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.’ 7 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.”

What This Means

Heaven celebrates repentance, not religious performance

One transformed life matters deeply to God

Evangelism is a joy-filled partnership, not a grim duty

This joy reveals something essential:

God is not reluctant to save—He is eager.

Cross References

Zephaniah 3:17 “17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”

James 5:19–20 “19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”

2 Peter 3:9 “9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

Revelation 7:9–10 “9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!””

Illustration

Heaven doesn’t throw parties for church growth charts—it celebrates changed lives / saved souls!

IV. What This Means for You/Me/Us.

Personal Application

Who is your “one”?

When was the last time you noticed who was missing?

Do you reflect God’s joy over repentance—or His patience only for the faithful?

Corporate Application

Are we structured for comfort or for mission?

Do sinners feel welcome before they change?

Is our church known more for what we protect—or who we pursue?

Is our church known at all?

Series Tie-In

This sermon sets the foundation:

Week 1: God’s heart for the lost

Week 2: Our identity as sent people

Weeks 3–6: How disciples are formed and grown

Weeks 7–8: How a rooted church bears lasting fruit together

You cannot disciple someone you refuse to pursue.

Closing Invitation

The story leaves us with a question, not an answer:

Will we rejoice with heaven—or grumble with the crowd?

Jesus is still seeking. The lost are still listening. The only question is whether we will join Him or not.

Matthew 4:19 ESV

19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Small Group Questions

What stands out to you most in Luke 15:1–7, and why do you think Jesus told this parable in response to the Pharisees’ complaint?

How does this passage challenge common assumptions about evangelism, church, or “who belongs”?

The Pharisees grumbled because Jesus welcomed sinners. What modern church behaviors might communicate similar resistance today?

Why do you think Jesus emphasizes the shepherd going after the lost sheep rather than waiting for it to return?

The sermon said, “Evangelism is something we join, not something we do.” What does that change about how you view sharing your faith?

In what ways can comfort, routine, or safety subtly become more important to us than mission?

Who might be your “one”—someone God may be inviting you to notice, pursue, or pray for intentionally?

How does the image of heaven rejoicing over one repentant sinner shape your understanding of God’s heart?

What would it look like for our church (or group) to be structured more for mission than maintenance?

Where do you most see yourself in this story right now: the shepherd, the lost sheep, the ninety-nine, or the grumbling crowd—and why?