The Seeking and Celebrating Church

From Galilee to Jerusalem

Consists mostly of teachings in the form of parables

Learning as you go.

Seeking and Celebrating (The Parables)

The tension of the Lost and the found

For Jesus, sinners are most important. And he is calling his disciples to understand their importance too.

He is speaking to sinners and tax collectors

Comfort

…but it also points to the reality of the lost.

Two Parables

The Lost Sheep

Searching and rejoicing

God’s desire to find sinners and bring back into the fold

The prospect of such joy keeps Jesus associating with sinners.

The Lost Coin

Drachma = Day’s wage

Disciples should diligently engage in the search for sinners on behalf of the master they serve.

Finding the lost is the priority of the disciple and the Church.

Seeking and Celebrating (The Mission)

The reality of the lost

You Do you Culture

The Hound Of Heaven (Francis Thompson)

I FLED Him, down the nights and down the days;  I fled Him, down the arches of the years;

I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways    Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears

I hid from Him, and under running laughter.       

Up vistaed hopes I sped;      

And shot, precipitated,

Adown Titanic glooms of chasmèd fears,  

From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.      

But with unhurrying chase,     

And unperturbèd pace,

Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,      

They beat—and a Voice beat      

More instant than the Feet—

‘All things betray thee, who betrayest Me.’  

The passion of seeking

God’s Pursuit

Luther

Luther

Wesley

Lewis

The Joy of celebrating

Story of John Henry and me making phone calls