Sermon Tone Analysis

PRAYER

I will speak of our need to seek those who are lost.

Yes, we were the one lost who have since been rescued.

Yes, we have been in the 99 who are now among the rescued.

But then what?

Are we complacent in being in the 99 and live only to complain (like the Pharisees) when the focus turns to the one instead of "taking care of our (the 99's) needs"?!

As ones who were lost and now are found, it is our responsibility to also seek those were know are not yet found.

It is us "joining Jesus on His mission" to be out where the lost are; not just cozy in our church or situation.

What will we leave so that the lost are found?

What will we sacrifice?

In whom will we rejoice when they are found?

Would we eat with sinners?

Would we sit on a donkey for the sake of the lost?

would we suffer humiliation?

Would we endure hardship and beatings?

Would we humble ourselves to the point of death for the sake of these lost "sinners"?

If, knowing the mercy we have received (i.e., the answer to our cry of "Hosanna!")

we are not willing to join Jesus, then we should put our palm branches down and cease our cries.

Thanks be to God, however, that He did actively seek us out when we were lost, we have received His grace, His forgiveness, and His everlasting life!

Hosanna, Lord; and thank You!

PRAYER

“Lord Jesus Christ, as we celebrate your triumphal, yet peaceful, entry into Jerusalem, remind us that you entered Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday to seek us out and to create the way that leads to our salvation.

For we were lost in our sins, doomed to die eternally and assaulted by the attacks of the devil.

But now that we have been found by the Savior of the world, we are free to wave our palm branches in praise to you, the one who lifts us on your shoulders and carries us home.

Allow us, now, Lord, to join You on Your mission and help seek those - all of those - who are still lost!

HOSANNA, LORD!

In Jesus' name, amen.”

BREAKING THE ICE

What does it mean to be in the “in crowd?”

Why is it appealing?

How do those who are “in” usually think of those who are not?

What are the duties of the Shepherd in the story:

to the 1 lost sheep?

to the 99 remaining?

When did you become one of those in the “in crowd” of faith?

How did that happen?

Was it because of anything you did?

Why is that important?

Atheist apologist, Penn Jillette, of “Penn & Teller” fame, once said the following.

If that is true (and it is), what does that say about the Pharisees and scribes (and our!) attitude toward “the lost?” [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6md638smQd8]

“I’ve always said, I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize.

I don’t respect that at all.

If you believe there is a heaven and hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life or whatever, and you think it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward.

How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize?

How much do you have to hate someone to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?

If I believed, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you, and you didn’t believe it, that that truck was bearing down on you, there’s a certain point that I tackle you, and this is more important than that.”

“I’ve always said, I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize.

I don’t respect that at all.

If you believe there is a heaven and hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life or whatever, and you think it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward.

How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize?

How much do you have to hate someone to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?

If I believed, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you, and you didn’t believe it, that that truck was bearing down on you, there’s a certain point that I tackle you, and this is more important than that.”

FOR PALM SUNDAY: “HOSANNA” - Literally, "Save, we pray/entreat”, like in .

Over time, however, this became a form of praise and adoration.

What connection could we make to our parable today?

HOLY GOSPEL:

When they point out with disdain that He has the gall to eat with undesirable sinful people, Jesus puts the Pharisees and scribes in their place by telling a parable of a loving shepherd who loves His sheep...all of His sheep.

Now we, too, as sheep who have been found, get to "join Jesus" on His mission to seek those still lost.

(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.

DIGGING DEEPER

This parable has a parallel passage in .

However, the two following ones (“The Lost Coin” and “The Prodigal Son”) are only found in Luke.

The primary meaning and understanding of this parable is directing to the Pharisees and scribes God’s (and, therefore, what should be their’s) attitude and treatment of those those who were lost (or dead); “tax collectors and sinners.”

We can take much more from the parable and apply even more based on other teachings, but it is important not to diminish the chief understanding and purpose of these parables in doing so.

Please keep that in mind, even as we venture to some of those other applications.

Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees and scribes isn’t just this one parable, but three in a row!

Immediately following this one, Jesus tells the parables of “The Lost Coin” [] and “The Prodigal Son” [], so He makes quite a big deal about this topic.

All of this is directed in the text to the Pharisees and scribes.

It is vital that we understand in our study that the primary meaning and understanding of this parable is directed to the Pharisees and scribes.

Jesus is sharing what God’s attitude is toward Jews who were lost or dead (i.e., “tax collectors and sinners”) If that is God’s attitude, Jesus is saying that should be the attitude of the Pharisees and scribes, too.

We can take much more from the parable and apply even more based on other teachings, but it is important not to diminish the chief understanding and purpose of these parables in doing so.

Please keep that in mind, even as we venture to some of those other applications.

Verse 1: Why did “tax collectors and sinners” draw near to Jesus (generally)?

Why did Jesus allow it?

Verse 1: Why did “tax collectors and sinners” draw near to Jesus (generally)?

Why did Jesus allow it?

Verse 2: What is inherent in the grumbling?

What is their attitude toward the following and what makes their attitude wrong?

What should their attitude be?

What should ours be?

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Tax collectors & sinners

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Jesus

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Their fellow Pharisees and scribes

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Verse 4:

“What man of you…does not?” Jesus is stating what is the common understanding and practice.

This isn’t (or shouldn’t be) some foreign or radical new practice.

Jesus makes the connection to what they already would do in one situation with animals, but what they are seemingly not willing to do for their fellow Jews.

“until he finds it?”

So great is the love and concern for the lost sheep, the Shepherd doesn’t give up on the lost!

What should we make of the 99 who are left; and not only left, but left “in open country?”