Sermon Tone Analysis

(NIV)

(NIV)

Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.

And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”

So He spoke this parable to them, saying: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?

And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’

I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?

And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’

Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.

And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’

So he divided to them his livelihood.

And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “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?

5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home.

Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’

7 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.

8 “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?

9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” 11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.

12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’

So he divided his property between them.

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “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?

5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home.

Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’

7 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.

8 “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?

9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

There was an incident in Newton Falls where a boy was left home alone.

So as Children do, he wandered off.

He wandered to the front door.

Then he wandered outside in the front yard.

Then he wandered onto the sidewalk.

Then he wandered down the street.

Then wandered down another street.

He did this until he realized that he didn’t know where he was and didn’t know how to get home.

He was lost!

Now, if you have ever been lost, then you know how scary and terrifying it can be or if you lost something that you considered valuable then that can be just as much scary and terrifying.

Now, if you have ever been lost, then you know how scary and terrifying it can be or if you lost something that you considered valuable then that can be just as much scary and terrifying.

In this chapter we have three parables, representing three conditions of the lost, and showing three persons seeking the lost.

These parables were spoken to the Pharisees and Scribes, who murmured, saying, “This man hangs out with sinners.”

We observe this...

In this chapter we have three parables, representing three conditions of the lost, and showing three persons seeking the lost.

These parables were spoken to the Pharisees and Scribes, who murmured, saying, “This man receiveth sinners.”

They show the kind of sinners He does receive, and how He does receive them.

We observe—

I.

A Threefold Aspect of the Lost.

The—

1. LOST SHEEP—representing those who are lost to safety.

Outside the fold means outside the count.

There were ninety and nine—the lost one was not counted.

The lost sheep was in danger, exposed and helpless, typical of those who are thoughtlessly lost, unconscious of their condition.

2. LOST MONEY—representing those lost to usefulness.

As long as this piece of silver was lost, it was unfit to be used—good for nothing.

It was not lost out in the desert, but in the house.

It is possible to be in the house of God and yet lost to usefulness, like the Scribes and Pharisees, to whom these words were spoken.

It is possible to have a saved soul and yet have a lost life.

To be out of the hand of Him to whom we belong as redeemed ones, is to be in a condition of uselessness.

When a piece of money is lost it is not only the base metal that’s lost, but all the good that money might do.

3. LOST SON—representing lost fellowship.

Out of communion with the Father: a condition of degradation and dishonour brought about by a deliberate choice and wilful separation from His presence.

Thus is the backslider lost to fellowship with God through his love of the world.

II.

A Threefold Salvation.

In these three parables we may see the desires and longings of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit toward the lost ones.

1. THE SHEPHERD SEEKS THE LOST SHEEP TO SAVE IT.

Here we have the work of the Son revealed.

He goes after the lost, leaving His all behind, in order that He might find it.

At great sacrifice He seeks to save.

2. THE WOMAN SEEKS THE LOST SILVER TO USE IT.

This suggests the mission of the Holy Spirit.

The money is lost in the house.

She lights a candle and sweeps the house.

Dust and darkness usually are the causes why the Holy Ghost cannot get hold of our lives to use them.

The light of the truth has to be brought from without, and the dust of inward corruption stirred up within, that confession and surrender may be made.

The unsaved one has just to be outside the fold to be a lost soul; the saved one has just to be outside the control and touch of the Holy Spirit to be a lost life.

He, like this woman, seeks to save those lost to a life of service for God.

3. THE FATHER SEEKS HIS LOST SON TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM.

The Father does not go forth to seek; He waits and longs for the coming prodigal.

The loss of love is a great loss.

He calls on the backsliding ones to return, and promises healing to such.

It is sad to find Christians in this terrible plight—out of fellowship with God.

For such two things are needed: (1) To come to themselves.

(2) To come back to their Father.

III.

A Threefold Rejoicing.

There is joy in Heaven over the salvation of—

1.

A LOST SOUL.

The value is unspeakable, the joy is never-ending.

2. A LOST SERVANT.

Grieve not the Holy Spirit.

Yield yourselves unto God.

Ye are bought with a price.