For those NOT enthusiastic about Evangelism (God Specializes in Reclaiming Lost Stuff)
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Christian and non-Christians agree on one thing … they both dislike evangelism. The word itself conjures up images of in your face confrontation. Therefore Christians usually avoid gospel showdowns and most non-Christians are relieved they do. When evangelism is attempted it rarely begins with any kind of empathy … or sense of it being natural.
If we really understood lost people our outreach might be less of a high pressure sales pitch and more natural.
Most of us DON’T understand lost people nor do we understand How God see’s lost people
WE hear and understand
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
I want to make two statements before we dig into
When we say a person is lost we are saying first of all that they have purpose … There is someplace they need to be … and they are not there! WE are created to be in relationship with God … and we are not there. This indicates that the lost person is lost from God.
When we say a person is lost we are saying that they have value … If no one cares where you are that’s one thing … By describing people as lost we recognize that Jesus declares that He Cares … that lost people have spiritual value. God cares that we are not where we should be.
Now Lets look at … first
The Setting - Verses 1-2
The Setting - Verses 1-2
The setting is that those responding to the call of Jesus are the Tax Collectors and Sinners
Tax Collectors … were not exactly like CRA (Although some would debate) - They were despised and incredibly dishonest. They were typically Jews … who collected taxes and tolls for the occupying Roman Empire. They would collect what was necessary and pocket their overcharge for themselves.
Sinners - This was a catch all term for those who had forfeited relationship in the religious community by their flagrant disregard for the Law of God.
* Ryken - The word “sinners” was a catchall for people who had a notorious reputation for bad behavior—thieves, drunkards, prostitutes, and anyone else who refused to conform to the holy habits of the religious community.
These people were flocking to Jesus to Hear Him
v:2 - The Pharisees and other Jewish Leaders were faulting Jesus for socializing with these dregs of society
These ritually and morally unclean people
They were GRUMBLING - Idea of word is murmuring and complaining
These were the people … the lost … who were coming to Jesus … he cared … the Pharisees didn't care for them … in fact they would distance themselves from them.
Luke, Volumes 1 & 2 Three Parables in One
Members of the religious establishment stayed as far away from such people as they could, believing that any contact would contaminate them. As far as the scribes and Pharisees were concerned, sinners and tax collectors were outside of Israel, outside of the faith, and outside of God. People in the church sometimes have the same attitude today
Luke, Volumes 1 & 2 Three Parables in One
The word “sinners” was a catchall for people who had a notorious reputation for bad behavior—thieves, drunkards, prostitutes, and anyone else who refused to conform to the holy habits of the religious community. Sinners and the tax collectors were people who almost never went to worship and never seemed to have any interest in following God.
Jesus was aware of this Prejudice … so what did He Do … He Welcomes Such people and invited them to eat with him (fellowship with Him)
v
In Response to this Kerfuffle Jesus teaches
So he told them this parable:
Note … Chapter 15 is a Parable … a story related to current life that teaches a spiritual lesson
Chapter 15 is ONE parable … all teaching the same lesson … but with Three Parts
Big Picture Overview
Big Picture Overview
The Lost … Tax Collectors and Sinners … pictured as Lost Sheep, a Lost Coin and a Lost Son - Each one hopelessly lost without God’s Intervention and Acceptance - THis is the condition of every lost person without Christ
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.
Note the break down in the passage - The Ratio is 1 out of 100 (vv:3-7); 1 Out of Ten (vv:8-10); One out of 2 (vv:11-32)
Every lost item has value/significance and purpose - The sheep mattered to the farmer (Shepherding was a family business - This was a fairly decent size herd … couldn't just afford to loose one) - the Shepherd’s attitude was NOT well you win some you loose some!
The lady in vv:8-10 only had ten coins … big loss for her to loose 10%
And to loose one son … well the stakes have just risen
Note how God is Pictured in the text … the primary players in the text represent God - Each one addresses prejudices of the Pharisees
Note God is Pictured as a Shepherd for the Pharisees - Shepherds were low end of the caste system (Right there with Tax Collectors)
God is also pictured as a Woman - Pharisees opinion of Women was low as well - They were considered property … only sources of defilement and temptation.
God is also pictured as a father … but wait … a forgiving father - The Pharisees would have said to that Father … You should never forgive that boy … He would have been DEAD to them
Jesus is addressing their prejudices
Note the use of the word Rejoice, Joy or Celebrate … vv: 5,6, 7, 9, 23, 24 - This is God’s Reaction when a lost person repents
Now Lets Look at the Parable
The Lost Sheep - 15:3-7
The Lost Sheep - 15:3-7
This shepherd lost one sheep …
Left to itself … that sheep wasn't going to be found
Without a seeking shepherd … that sheep would wander into coyote country and be fresh meat
Eat till there was no more food left … then lay down and starve to death
Can I say this without hurting your feelings?
Little Bo Peep was Wrong!!!!!!!
Remember the Little Bo Peep Advice?
“LBP has lost her sheep and didn't know where to find them. Leave them alone and they’ll come home, wagging their tails behind them.”
That Little Peep Girl is still waiting!
Look at what the SHEPHERD did.
He left the 99 in the open country (Desert) … assumed with other shepherds
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Luke 9:51–24:53 i. Parable (15:4–6)
The point is that the lost sheep receives special attention over those that are safe and sound.
Luke Explanation of the Text
The original Palestinian audience would not need to be told that the shepherd had others in the wilderness to watch over the sheep, and he could leave the ninety-nine with them as he went to look for the lost one.
Imagery here of God’s protective care and concern for the LOST
He Seeks them
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Luke 9:51–24:53 i. Parable (15:4–6)
The point of comparison is that God rejoices at a sinner who is led back to him by Jesus’ ministry (or by his disciples’ ministry). Even though the shepherd pictures God’s desire, disciples are to share this attitude. In addition, the joy that accompanies such a return should match the joy of heaven and should be present in all who see it happen. Even the discovery of one such person is a cause for joy. Such is God’s heart for the lost. This attitude stands in contrast to the leadership’s complaint. God’s people should always seek to find more of the lost.
15:6 The shepherd does not rejoice privately. He calls his friends and neighbors. They are to share in the joy of the rediscovered sheep. The picture is a simple one: a great celebration at the recovery of a lost sinner.
The Lost Coin - 15:8-10
The Lost Coin - 15:8-10
The value and significance is upped … before 1 out of 100; Now it’s one out of ten
The coin was Drachma - A Roman silver coin worth approximately a days wage.
She turned the house upside down … swept out dust bunnies …
Where would you look first for a lost coin?
Under the couch cushions (Maybe she did)
When she found it … there was a gigantic shin-dig (or a hootenanny)
There was joy and rejoicing … she invited her friends to celebrate
The Lost Son - 15:11-32
The Lost Son - 15:11-32
This one gets real personal
This one gets real personal
Popularly called the parable of the Prodigal Son (From Latin Vulgate)
I prefer the Title “The Parable of the Forgiving Father”
The Centre of the Parable is the Father’s reaction
It is HIS reaction to the son’s repentance … … Here we see in picture form God’s Grace and Compassion
And he said, “There was a man who had two sons.
And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.
Luke 15:1
--- A Certain man …
The young son requests what will eventually be his when Dad dies … it would have been close to 1/3 of the Fathers estate
There could be no further claims to the inheritance
the Son’s request severed ties with Dad
This request was a subtle way of wishing the Dad to die
So … dad grants him his request
“This suggests the heavenly father letting the sinner go his own way.”
Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.
“Took all he had” Liquidated his assets into cash
Went to a far country
“there he squandered his property in reckless living”
Squandered - To scatter or throw in many directions - Toss possessions and cash into the wind.
Reckless Living - Spending spree for stuff o no value (We dont know what … but we can assume) - Idea of Profligacy
And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.
He spent everything he had … broke
A Severe famine … Not only no money to buy food … but no food!
Double Whammy
He began to be in need … He was busted
So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
Hired himself out - Interesting Phrase denotes that he forced himself on one of the citizens of the country
EXPLAIN - Boy: “He mister i need a job”; Citizen: “Sorry Kid, Im not hiring”; Boy: “Come on I’ll do anything”; Citizen, “Sorry Kid, IM not hiring, get lost” Boy: “Look I’ll do anything you want … I’ll even feed you Pigs. Pay me what you can.” Thats the idea
Feed pigs … Degrading for Jews
And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
Longing - a hunger that wouldn't go away
Pods were Carob Pods - the usual pig feed … get the image in your mind of pig slop
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’
Luke 15:17
Came to himself - came to his senses … something inside Him awakened
He realized that dad’s hired help fared better - Irony
He formulates a plan
Not in manipulation … but rather in humility and contrition
he is going to act quickly and humbly
He recognizes that He has sinned against God and his dad
he has forfeited His rights to sonship
He will cast Himself on the mercy of his father … He will return to be one of dad’s hired servants
And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
Luke 15:
He arose - No turning back now
The Father may have let him go … but in compassion He never stopped looking for Him
Father Saw him a long way off
Father initiates the action … and broke all customary protocol for men of His age and Standing … He Ran (The Pharisees would never run ...
Especially for this scoundrel.
same verb used in - Peter Ran to the Empty Tomb of Jesus
But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.
He embraced HIm … Lit. Fell on his neck
He Kissed him … with affection
His Kid Still reeking of pig manure
The Son begins the speech he had no-doubt rehearsed …
Dad Interrupts
But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
The son is received back with Full privileges of Sonship
Reminds me of:
And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
The father welcomes him home … not as a slave … but as a son
* Quickly
The Best Robe - Identified again with the Father’s household
Ring - may have had family seal on it
The Shoes - This bedraggled hog stinking lost son now is Home - he now has Shoes (Image of wealth and security)
BTW - The fatted calf (The only one in this story so far not Rejoicing) was typically saved for the Day of Atonement
Let the Celebration Begin!!!!!
Now we have … Major Wet Blanket (BTW - Jesus was aiming at the Religious Leaders/Pharisees)
The Elder Brother
The Elder Brother
Luke 15:252
“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”
Verse 25 He returns … the DJ was already hard at work
Verse 26 - He asks one of the servants: “Whats the shin-dig all about?” Or was it a hootenanny?
Verse 27 - The answer he never wanted to hear … Brother is Back and they are CELEBRATING
Verse 28 - Brother not happy - He was Unmoved … maybe even Grumbled (verse 2)
Verse 29 - dad comes out and - Takes initiative again … He is pleading with the elder son to come home (See he had always been there but NOT REALLY)
Verse 30 - Older son breaks out a bottle of WHINE … more like sour grapes
Note - This son of Yours!
Here is self-righteousness at it’s worst
This son of yours … devoured your property with prostitutes
Verse 31 - Father addresses this son tenderly
the celebration is available for HIm as well
Verse 32 - This return … this coming from death to life is Cause for celebration
Reminds me of:
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Ephesians 2:
There is a Principle here for those of you less than enthusiastic about evangelism:
Principle: God CELEBRATES over every repentant sinner FOUND
Principle: God CELEBRATES over every repentant sinner FOUND
So …
So …
Don’t ever GIVE UP
Don’t ever GIVE UP
Share HIS JOY
Share HIS JOY
God Values the Lost
Share His Values
Hold precious what He Does
Consider God’s Joy when you share your faith
Commit to being SEEKERS
Commit to being SEEKERS
Seekers of the Lost
Seekers are Leavers (Comfort)
Seekers are Finders
Seekers are Bearers
Seekers are rejoicers
COME HOME
COME HOME
Isaiah
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.
Luke 19:10
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
“For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 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. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.
“As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord God: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and male goats. Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet? And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have muddied with your feet?
“Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad, I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken.
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and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
Young son
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
,
2 Chron. 6:
“Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for the sake of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm, when he comes and prays toward this house, hear from heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name.