What Makes God Happy?

So hi. My name is Matt. I'm one of the leaders here and I wanted to start today by just asking you a question of quantitative question cuz I'm a numbers. He sort of guy. I wanted to know what portions you think all parents lives is spend looking for small lost objects. What what portion of parents light 40% or 70% What would you think it's linked? It's Madness right this week Rachel and I were hunting for a tiny piece of Lego that are our daughter Elizabeth the lost from her new set. I was missing she really needed it back to finish the next step of the bill. We suggested we said why don't we just move on and it's missing something else is broadly similar that you can put in the same spot, but it would not do nothing. Nothing except for the piece we're looking for could possibly We began to hunt wolfine. It's on the table. It's on the table. Where were building. Maybe it's on the floor. Maybe it's under the chairs. It was not to be found. So we decided it was time to you look through our other at Lego to see if we can find out if you ever been to our house are we have quite a sizable quantity of other Lego. So there's a good chance that we will be able to find it in there somewhere. The good news is I've been to Elisabeth Shue when she said I found it. She put it on the model somewhere else randomly before we gone to the bottom of every box on earth and the other was much rejoicing from her and much rejoicing and an opportunity for her parents to grow in Grace, which was good. But do you know what it's like to have something go missing? I do know what it's like to have something precious to you. Go missing something. You know, it is somewhere I can just disappear but it's not where it should be. It's not where it belongs you spend searching for that, you know the photo that you know, is there somewhere in your iPhone million Fighters write the song that you know must be paired somewhere in the house that crucial piece of paper. You need to complete the form and to get out of jail the homework that you mislaid for tomorrow. Well, Jesus knows what it's like to be missing something have to be missing something precious and we've been working our way through the Gospel of Luke that is Luke's biography of Jesus lyrics telling of Jesus's story for over a year here. Now, we're taking it bit by bit. So we really get a chance to think about each section and what it has to teach us we get to consider who this G. This is that is showing to us and today we come to a section where Jesus is getting hassle for hanging out with the wrong sort of people at least according to his goody-goody critics a grumbling in. He responds with three stories. I'm talking about just how much. Once that is wrong sort of people back. How happy is when he gets them? I'm going to take on the first two other stories today because they're really really similar got a lot in common. They give us two chances to see the same one thing. We'll look it up there one next week because in that one Jesus introduces new elements and shows us more things. The first two stories tell us about things we aren't where they belong there lost but someone misses them enough to go after them and when they found and brought safe home everyone gathers to rejoice Was I have to say to us what today will read first and then we'll take it and see in Rachel's going to refresh this morning. And where in the Book of Luke and if you have one of these I'm blue bibles are around here. We're on page 1048 were in chapter 15 of chapters. Like the big number in here to look for a big 15 on page 1048 Luke 15 and verse one that suck. The first number one. They never put the number one in your just meant to know it's not there. I'm but then you get the number one is not there so big 15 invisible small one.

Now the tax collectors and sinners will Gathering round to head Jesus for the Pharisees and the teachers of the law of ma said this man welcome centers 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 TV the 99 in the Open Country until after the lost sheep until he finds it when he finds it. He joyfully puts his 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. They'll be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents the 99 righteous people who do not need to repent. What's the purpose of women has 10 silver coins and loses one doesn't she like two lamp sweep the house and such Catholic until she finds it of 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

Before we dive into these parable of these two short stories. Jesus uses to make his point. I want to look at the cast of characters around and let us meet them when he speaks that one group Gathering to hear Jesus is the tax collectors and sinners tax collectors and sinners is a kind of people that will show up a few times in Lutz telling their taxes are never popular right now in Jesus's time and place that was pretty much no one despise than tax collector working for the invading oppressors. They squeeze money to pay the enemy and they get rich in the process. You can see what people wouldn't like that sort of thing. Centers for youth. Measure up to moral standards or don't measure up to religious standards. No Breakers baddies religiously kind of polarized and loaded time failing to keep the rules whether it was delivered or just cuz you didn't know what they were made you an outsider it made you one of these Tennessee's tax collectors and sinners gathering around Jesus that he was teaching there probably considering following him because if you were with us last week, Jesus was talking about what it will cost if you truly decide to follow him says probably what's on their mind cuz I'm not going to go after this Jesus. Am I going to make his way my way he's warned them count the cost first so set against those bad days. We've got these Pharisees and teachers of the law and Pharisees Ultra Goody Goody Two-Shoes of the day. They keep every religious rule to Perfection. They know their Bibles back to front front to back in in. Sideout utterly committed to their religion their whole life is about doing it all. There's seriously impressive the well-respected in the culture 2 and these teachers of the law. They are going to strives experts in religious matters. Particularly. The Jewish religious writings was their kind of focus on the people who know, what's what and wants to know people who know, what's right and what's wrong Sobieski here. We got goodies versus baddies. That's basically what was going on and the goodies are mixed cuz Jesus hangs out with the baddies. I just doesn't compute right you should be hanging out with please like us with nice people with the right sort of people. What's he doing spending this time with those people instead and you got a feel for them a bit. So Jesus tell these three stories lost sheep lost coin and one more for next week Cliffhanger. So you'll have to come back. How's that for a hook one more for next week. We're going to the lost sheep and a lost coin. What's the first thing we should notice in these stories? Something is lost. It's not where it should be. It's not where it belongs. But actually it's more than that. You see something is missed. You could lose one of your hundred sheep Shirley and just write it off. I want percent loss. I mean it's not so bad right you could please just one sheep and don't worry about it showing always did have a bit of a limp. He was a bit scrawny. I wasn't looking forward to eating in. Anyway, let's just let him go. I don't really care.

You could at least want to change coins into struggle. Well, looks like I'll have to work another day that we just a day's wages. The one used valuable things that got to just work another day. It's not just that something is lost. I lost find a lost sheep as something is missed. We know the shepherd misses the sheet. We know that because he goes after it. And he doesn't just go after he goes after it until he finds it the text as the woman misses the Lost coin. We know that because she likes a lamp and sweets the house. We know it because carefully until she finds it. In both cases Jesus speaks the way he's Spoken Here in his Parables is there was a complete no-brainer. He says he says it's an automatic. It's an obvious response to the situation. You can see that in for an inverse 8 supposed to do when you miss something precious you go looking for it. That's just what happens right? That's just the way it is says the first thing for you missed these things are missed second thing. We should notice these stories are stories of restoration. What's lost and was missed is returned. The the lost sheep is Fannin is brokeback is particular. When was talking about sheep. We get the detail in verse 5 finding the lost sheep. It's joyfully voice sounds the shoulders and carried home all the way home do you want?

Presley just didn't have quad bikes and trailers and it was just the only option president of sheepdogs in those days for that matter and give himself lost Ones maybe just wasn't willing to trust it to not get itself lost against like I've got your legs now, you're not going anywhere. Maybe it was just unable to walk injured or Paralyzed by Tara. Jesus doesn't tell us tell us they picks it up and Carries how many sheep you've carried on your shoulders to the quick. So it's hard right there. This is not a lime uses a different word for them. This is a sheep to put a whole sheep on his shoulders and sheep are not known notably for their hygiene, you know, their personal attention to bodily fluids. I'm so it's not necessarily the nicest jump-scares. He he picks it up and walk all the way up.

Just around the corner, but it's it's some distance with the Lost coin. We don't get the same detail on the restoration. What we do is we get the detail in the search. She likes the land. She sweeps the floor She searched his She searches carefully the next to the word and then she searches carefully for it, but in both cases what's lost and was missed is restored and return then you got this restoration at a constant Mists second thing return third thing you'll be glad to know final thing. These are stories of rejoicing when was lost amidst is found and restored there is rejoicing inside this time. The snow of joy is fully one of the strongest themes in this passage the word comes up and it's called Nate's it kind of related words again. And again in this section. We're looking at their Joy finding a sheep is gathering the community for Joy. There is rejoicing In Heaven There Gathering to Rejoice of a lost coin and then join in having a gun. That's a lot for just a few verses is a happy time. We just noticed who's rejoicing who's rejoicing here primarily as the actor at the Centre of the story that Stephanie was going on. Bruce fine jewelry heist in a smelly she wants your shoulder 6 and verse 9 both the man and the woman at the Centre of the story called her neighbors to Rejoice with them. So they Rejoice ignite the golden to Rejoice with them. So the one doing the searching in the restoring that one is rejoicing that makes complete sense, but this is striking thing here in both of these stories. Does an audience is rejoicing as well and both destroys the actor once their friends and neighbors to Rejoice with them? one sheep 1% of somebody else's flawed. They want their neighbors to Rejoice with them one coin and it's hey everyone come and celebrate time for a party.

Why that know if communal celebration for what's going on. Jesus is primary audience. The people that he's first talked into are these goody-goody is gathered around him The Parables address specifically to them see that in verse 3. It says Jesus told them them this Parable. He tells his critics he tells them this Parable and then he introduces them into it and verse for suppose. One of you he says he tells them this probably so I suppose one of you does this they're messing around with the wrong sort of people. He tells the man what's lost and Miss is found and returned. There is rejoicing not just rejoicing everyone is called called to join the celebration every when he when he says that

What is this doing with his Parables you casting the baddies that are listening intently to him as the thing that's lost as a thing. That's missed as the thing that's going to be restored. He's the one doing the hunting in the searching. His big point is that heaven rejoices when just one of them is found and restored just one and there's a party in heaven. That's why Jesus is keeping such wrong company twice hanging out with these wrong people.

The one searching and finding calls his friends and neighbors his community to Rejoice with him when it happens. He doesn't want them grumbling like these guys are she just wants together Community to Rejoice Just Like Heaven rejoices when the Lost are found, even these wrong sort of Lost. I have to say to us here today. What you think of yourself as part of Jesus's Community as part of his church, then he calls you here just to join him in rejoicing when the Lost are found not to Grumble when he goes mix in with the wrong type of people.

If you don't like the company Jesus keeps then he really is speaking to you directly through this Parable. So please do listen. Honestly, I expect many of you will be thinking with the course she rejoice when one of them was lost is found when one of those missing children is broheim, of course you rejoice for that. I expect many of you will be totally happy to see Jesus Rescue all sorts of different people. Undesirables Outsiders. Let's face it people a bit like while you and me as it turns out at least in theory until they start showing up at your church. I want us to think about two more audiences there hearing Jesus speak this morning before done. These goodies. Are there listen to Jesus? He sends them like this is why I'm hanging out with the wrong people. And this is why you should join me and rejoicing but also also there are Jesus's disciples his followers the ones you chosen to leave everything to go after him. Delete everything to learn from him. It was in bed listening to her overhearing and I think he's challenging them. Bratz you today you think of yourself as one of Jesus's disciples? Maybe that's a label you'd be happy to wear. And what did he stories mean to you? What would have meant for Jesus's first disciples as they heard them. It shows just how much God misses his children. It shows just how committed he is to go in after his lost children to actively too earnestly pursuing them. They explain why Jesus is conduct himself as he is in his mission time on Earth all those years ago. Why does he go to that store people?

And the challenges to join him?

Now we started our daughter Elizabeth lost a piece of Lego. She was missing something and so we as our parents who who love her and care about her we joined her and seeking it that makes sense and we rejoiced with her when it was found. What do you love God? Do you care? What pleases gone?

What causes him to recharge you see? He's missing things that are precious to him. He's still missing things today. They're precious to him much more precious than a piece of Lego. He's missing his own living breathing children. I Made In His Image treasured by him. He's missing him enough that he would give everything to come after the men selfish shows us his heart. He goes all the way to death even death on a cross. What does it say? If you don't care that he's missing his treasures.

I wouldn't say if you don't join him in seeking what's lost?

What does it say if what is so important to him? Just can't quite make the cut in your life cuz you're too busy with other stuff.

Jesus explains to his first disciples what he's doing he explains why he's doing it in these Parables. He takes them with him as he pushes on in this search. Throw Jesus is life the disciples walk with him as he goes after these missing children and seeks to bring them back home. His disciples woke with him all the way to the death. And then he passes on the Urgent commission to them straight from the Father's Heart as the father has sent me says so also I am sending you John 20:21. So if you would call yourself a disciple here today, I think the message from this Parable is Cher goes heart no go seek with him. I can't tell what that means for your dinner with that really could look like to join in God's search for his missing children. I got a suggestion for you. I'm come join us this evening. Give us a bit more of your day today. In our evening Gatherings among the things we do we dedicate some time each week. Just a thinking through. How does this searching for the gods missing children really work out in our ordinary everyday life. Then we challenge one another let's go and do this, right? We want to be followers of Jesus. So let's help each other actually do this back. Are you going to do with it? Anyway Netflix Netflix, this is John. This is his passion. This is his priority.

One more audience. Jesus is speaking to here. You think about he's there with him? Is the baddies these tax collectors and sinners these outcasts these undesirables these ones their unwanted everyone would have seen as being far far far from God. Maybe just maybe that's you here today.

Maybe people would say I'm that you're the wrong so a person for church.

Melissa you the wrong. So a person for. Maybe you yourself cannot imagine that God would have anything to do with somebody like you. Maybe there's good reason for that even.

Jesus speaks this Parable in front of these tax collectors in front of these Sinners and you know what he says to them and he says to you he says someone misses you.

Someone misses you enough to come after you. Someone cares about you. I just want among so many. I'm just somebody preps unremarkable seeming unimportant. You might seem somebody cares about you enough to pursue you enough to pursue you with intensity enough to see you with persistent enough to go through difficulty enough to pay no matter what the cost. Someone is coming to find you.

perhaps That's exactly what's happening right here. And right now

Presidents Day can you feel that God loves you? Can you feel as he's throwing the air when you look back down your life? Can you see that he has been pursuing you?

And right now he's here. I was just telling you that he's come for you. He's come to pick you up. He's come to carry you home.

Maybe you're the one who's going to be broke.

And if that's the case, then all these people will rejoice.

Effects you what should you do? Uno is how Jesus explains this year and explain both Parables he repeats exactly the same description of what is causing all this rejoicing he says is one sinner who repents one sinner who repents It's old-fashioned language, but it tells you exactly what you need to do right now. If you want to respond it is repent. What does that mean? It means change your mind. I means change your path. It means you were going when we will now it's time to turn around and start going another way. It means you're going the wrong way and you accept what Jesus has to say about it. He's taking care of that he's died in your place. So you don't have to he put an end to all the wrong that was hanging over you and you need to commit to starting to go his way and with his help cuz it's not going to be easy repentance that turning around is the road home.

I wrote to walk with the one who loves you now maybe that's too much and too fast. I'm for you right now this morning in that case. Why not talk to the person you came with or come and talk to me. I'd love to help you think this through. But if Jesus is Calling you home today if he's searched for you if he's finding you right now. When I got home with him. Time is it? so

mist

Missed my God Treasure by him sword. He came after you restored bro all the way back. Practice like you've never been gone. and rejoicing I'm going to pray and then I want to give you just one minute right after this talk to reflect. What is Jesus saying to you today by his Spirit through his word. Let me pray.

Battle of the seems almost time too good to be true.

Hard to believe that God of the universe could miss us.

I can't miss us enough to come after us. I know just forget about us miss us enough to you come after us and pursue us and find us and take us home. Despite the great cost.

Now we believe what Jesus is saying to us today?

Thank you that you rescue the lost and I pray that you would call us to see your heart on your sleeve here. And to share it. So we went with you. I'll pursue those you miss so much. I just one minute. What is Jesus saying to you today?