Lost & Found

Sermon delivered by Pastor Finn Sunday, October 6, 2019 PENT 17

It’s a little harder to get lost these days, isn’t? We live in an age of smartphones and geo-positioning. Open Google maps and there’s always that little blue flashing dot showing your current position.

Every church or school I’ve ever been to has a lost and found box. My last congregation had theirs in the usher cabinet. It was an old swisher sweets box, and in it were all kinds of little odd and ends that people left at church. Things like broaches, sun glasses, a leather cigar holder. There were things in there no one ever claimed for years, things that were there when I got there ten years ago, and things that I’m sure will be there for ten more. Who knows. Lost things don’t always get found. And that’s the way it will stay because those lost items can’t do anything to get found by themselves. It might happen in animated Disney movie, but not in the real world.

Here in Jesus gets us thinking about lost and found. And one of the things we lear is that the Bible’s idea of being lost is different from our typical idea of being lost. For example, every time you were lost in your life, you knew it. A lot of us have had the experience as a child of getting lost in, say, a department store. There’s nothing more harrowing in that moment to a child when you’ve lost sight of mom in the grocery aisle or something like that. You knew when you were lost, and that fscary feeling didn’t go away until you were found.

just losing your cell phone, or your wallet, or your car in the parking lot. Lose your phone and you can just have someone ring it so you can hear it and track it down. When you can’t find your car in the parking lot, you just do that thing key remote to find it. Of course, that’s all fine and good as long as you parked in range of your remote, and as long as your phone still has a charge. Otherwise, you’re out of luck!

But what if you are lost?

But there’s a big difference between that and the kind of lost Jesus is talking about in the Gospel Lesson today. When it comes to the lostness of the coin and the sheep here in , it’s a spiritual kind of lostness that Jesus is teaching about today. And the thing is, that lost sheep has no idea about the danger he’s walking into—it’s kind of a blissful ignorance really as he wanders in a direction away from the safety of the flock and the Shepherd--the sheep doesn’t even realize he’s even lost to begin with—he just saunters off merrily on his way, not even aware of the danger that lies ahead, not even realizing what he’s getting himself into--something I might do, that he can’t get himself out of on his own.

He wanders off not knowing that he’s destroying himself, that he is wandering to a place from which he cant bring himself out,

does he—he wanders off not knowing that he’s destroying himself, that he is wandering to a place from which he cant bring himself out,

It’s like that but only worse with people. We, like sheep have gone away, the Bible says, each of us has turned his own way. And in the case of this spiritual lost ness, there’s a sort of calm, blissful ignorance to it—we wander from God and his word not even realizing that we’re headed toward a cliff and to our eternal destruction—we might’ve even gone over into complete unbelief and are headed down into the abyss, and we don’t even know it at the time--and that’s the way things will remain unless Christ himself rescues us—because lost stuff tends to stay lost until someone finds it. The scary part though, is not knowing you’re lost and not Knowing where you’re headed. Even the atheist who is so adamant about his unbelief really has no idea of the foolishness and hopelessness and how false it is—has no real idea what the devil knows full well, that we wander to our eternal judgement, something we’ll never be able to get ourselves out of once the curtain of God’s eternal judgment comes down upon us for the final time, and then it will be too late. And there they will remain in the place that the devil has been drawing them to all along.

Two airmen from Spangdahlem had no clue) or even that theyve already gone over the cliff and they're on their way down spiritually spiritually speaking.

That’s the picture Jesus wants to give of the people of the world who wander away from God and are headed to eternal destruction, and will remain that way unless Christ himself rescues him—even the atheist who is so adamant about his unbelief really has no idea of the foolishness and hopelessness and how false this is, and therefore really does not realize what the devil knows full well, that these people who are blissfully wandering in unbelief are going to wake up someday in a situation they will never be able to get out of because the curtain of eternal judgment will fall down before them and it will be too late. They will remain there in that place that the devil has bee drawing them to all along.

The wandering sheep has no way of finding his way back. In a similar way, the lost coin Jesus describes, too, can’t do a single thing for itself either to get itself “un-lost.” There’s a kind of inertness to the coin that reminds us of our complete inability to change our spiritual situation. And by nature, of course, that’s the situation we were in. We were lost in sin and unbelief without even realizing that the abyss is just ahead of us—maybe that’s where a family member or friend or neighbor of yours is at right now—they don’t even realize it, but spiritually, they’re lost, and that’s the way it will stay until someone goes to them with God’s Word to turn them around from sin back to Jesus again.

them or that they’ve already gone over and are on their way down into it.

And the thing about it is that in the case of the lost sheep it’s a kind of blissfully ignorant lostness—where the sheep doesn’t even realize it’s lost to begin with—it just wanders off on it’s own accord, not even aware of the danger that lies ahead. We find a parallel to this picture in spiritually lost people going merrily on their way toward their way to an eternity of lostness in hell—without even realizing that the abyss is just ahead of them or that they’ve already gone over the cliff and they're on their way down spiritually speaking.

These lost and found parables of Jesus carry both a warning and wonderful good news.

You really understand this is what Jesus We find a parallel to this picture in spiritually lost people going merrily on their way toward their way to an eternity of lostness in hell—without even realizing that the abyss is just ahead of them or that they’ve already gone over the cliff and they're on their way down spiritually speaking.

That’s the picture Jesus wants to give of the people of the world who wander away from God and are headed to eternal destruction, and will remain that way unless Christ himself rescues him—even the atheist who is so adamant about his unbelief really has no idea of the foolishness and hopelessness and false this is, and therefore really does not realize what the devil knows so well that these people who are blissfully wandering in unbelief are going to wake up someday in a situation they will never be able to get out of because the curtain of eternal judgment will fall down before them and it will be too late. They will remain there in that place that the devil has bee drawing them to all along.

The parables Jesus shares with us today get t what it's like to be lost.

I want you to note carefully the context for Jesus’ parables today—because its vital to understanding what Jesus is teaching us here. (vv.1-2) “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

(v.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.”

Apparrently there were some people the Pharisees completely wrote off, the tax collectors and “sinners.” The tax collecters are singled out because people really hated them. The tax system in those days was more like tax farming. You purchased the rights from the Roman government to collect taxes in a certain geographic area. And while there was always a certain amount you had to remit to them, after meeting that quota, you could continue to collect more and more for yourself, as much as the traffic would bear. It could become a very lucrative affair, which was why the Jews hated the tax collectors so much. Not only were you working for the Romans, BUT you were living off the blood, sweat and tears of your fellow countrymen. Any Jew who became a tax collector was immediately excommunicated from the local synagogue. So when Jesus began to associate with tax collectors, the Pharisees began to mutter to themselves, saying, “Look at the company he keeps! This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

God cares for the people that the Pharisees don't seem to care much about at all—overlook, reject and see as the lowest of the low and not worth saving—Jesus has a different view of them—he came to seek and to save the lost and wants them to know of his Father’s love—and Jesus has a hidden message for the Pharisees as well that may not be as obvious to us up front, and certainly wouldn't have been obvious to them but would've become inescapable on their part...

So when Jesus began to associate with tax collectors, the Pharisees began to mutter to themselves, saying, “Look at the company he keeps! This man receives sinners and eats with them.” The word Luke uses for “sinners” here suggests something that was well known--it was public, so not just the kinds of things we’re all known for—no, these sinners were professional sinners, notorious sinners, in the sense that it was public and people could say, “Oh yea, that person did this, this, this, this and this sin—that we all know about—THAT’S WHY the Pharisees aren’t pleased when Jesus comes and receives them and teaches them AND EVEN EATS WITH THEM! In the minds of the Pharisees that REALLY stepped over the line--to sit down at table with them was to give an affirmation of them and cast your lot with them, saying these are my people--the Pharisees questioned Jesus’ reputation and religion for that—surely if were a teacher sent from God he would know better for that!

some that no only weren’t and don't care that much about at all—overlook, reject and see as the lowest of the low and not worth saving—Jesus has a different view of them—he came to seek and to save the lost and wants them to know of his Father’s love—and Jesus has a hidden message for the Pharisees as well that may not be as obvious to us up front, and certainly wouldn't have been obvious to them but would've become inescapable on their part...

That’s the picture Jesus wants to give of the people of the world who wander away from God and are headed to eternal destruction, and will remain that way unless Christ himself rescues him—even the atheist who is so adamant about his unbelief really has no idea of the foolishness and hopelessness and false this is, and therefore really does not realize what the devil knows so well that these people who are blissfully wandering in unbelief are going to wake up someday in a situation they will never be able to get out of because the curtain of eternal judgment will fall down before them and it will be too late. They will remain there in that place that the devil has bee drawing them to all along.

The word Luke uses for “sinners” here suggests something that was well known--it was public, so not just the kinds of things we’re all known for—no, these sinners were professional sinners, notorious sinners, in the sense that it was public and people could say, “Oh yea, that person did this, this, this, this and this sin—that we all know about—THAT’S WHY the Pharisees aren’t pleased when Jesus comes and receives them and teaches them AND EVEN EATS WITH THEM! In the minds of the Pharisees that REALLY stepped over the line--to sit down at table with them was to give an affirmation of them and cast your lot with them, saying these are my people--the Pharisees questioned Jesus’ reputation and religion for that—surely if were a teacher sent from God he would know better for that!

Notice again the context for these two parables—because its really important to understanding why Jesus says what he says here--

Tax collecters

Sinners—things that were well known—people known for their public, notorious sins—sins of various kinds that were well-known—not just the kinds of things we’re all known for—public things where people could say that person has committed this, this, this and this sin—that we all know about—so at first that's why the Pharisees aren’t pleased when Jesus comes and receives them and teaches and even eats with them—to sit down at table with them is to give an affirmation of them and cast your lot with them and say these are my people--the Pharisees question Jesus’ religion for that—surely he should know better

Contrast that with the way God looks at us sinners. Oh, perhaps our sins aren’t out there in the paper for every to see, but they’re enough to leave us in the same boat in God’s eyes, and yet, how thankful we can be that he does not write us off, or disassociate himself from us, eternally. Jesus tells two parables to reinforce the truth that he came to seek and to save the lost sinners such as us—actually, it’s three parables in this chapter if you count the Parable of the Lost Son that comes right after this.

Anyway, Jesus says, “There is a man who has 100 sheep and one gets lost.” What does he do? He leaves the 99 and goes after the one lost sheep! We don't know if the man had other partners to watch the other 99—but that’s not the point of the parable—the point is that the man goes after that ONE LOST SHEEP—IT GETS HIS ENTIRE FOCUS—he doesn’t just cut his losses and say, “Oh well, that's the cost of doing business!—you're going to lose a few sheep—I’ve got to focus on the 99”—No! The shepherd goes after the one—and when he finds it he rejoices and carries it home—and then it s such a big deal that he gathers his friends and neighbors to celebrate with!

Notice the celebration that takes place, and the joy the shepherd feels over just that one sheep! hat God Himself takes great joy and interest in each member of his flock—Christ cares so much for each individual person that he rejoices when just one sheep is restored to the fold or is brought in for the first time.

And of course, all the while the tax collectors and sinners are seeing their need for a Savior, the religious leaders do not. They certainly see themselves as the ones Jesus says see themselves as needing no repentance—they know Jesus is talking about them like this too—

We realize that there is no person like that who needs no repentance—this is such an important point that Jesus tells two parables about the same thing in a row—three if you count the parable of the lost son right after this--

Then there’s the lost coin—a woman has ten coins and loses one—In the Greek the coin is a drachma; one of them was approximately the amount for a day's wages—for some this might not leave you teetering at the edge of financial ruin, but to this poor woman it is a big deal—and so she begins a sweep of the entire house—she lights a candle and begins an intense search for her one lost coin. And then like the shepherd, when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together to share in her joy—for she has found her lost coin!

because with a dirt floor like this, if you don’t find it now it very well may disappear forever! And like the shepherd, when she finds it…rejoices…(verse of the day!!)

one day’s wages—for some this might not bring you teetering to the edge of financial ruin, but to this woman it is a big deal—and so she begins a sweeping of the entire house—this is an intense search because with a dirt floor like this, if you don’t find it now it very well may disappear forever! And like the shepherd, when she finds it…rejoices…(verse of the day!!)

Again, don’t miss the main point of the parables—both the shepherd and the woman seek out somesthing that in their mind they can’t spare or do without—thats the way Jesus looks at lost sinners, too—the Pharisees would never have looked at the sinners this way--the way Jesus phrases the question reinforces this point--”What man of you..”. Or “What woman of you...”

Again, don’t miss the main point of the parables—both the shepherd and the woman seek out something that in their mind they can’t spare to do without—AND THAT DEAR FRIENDS IS WHAT JESUS WANTS US TO LEARN ABOUT GOD’S LOVE FOR SINNERS! How amazing is it to us that God would set out to conduct such a search for us—and that he would expend the effort to not only line things up in your life so that you would be brought to the font of Holy Baptism, there to claim you as his own, but that he would continue to seek after you, shining into your heart with the bright candlelight of his Word to turn you back again and again to himself in repentance and faith—think of the on-going effort in your life through your pastors who spoke law and gospel to you, and through your parents and elders--to keep you safely in his fold and headed to heaven!

such cost

Jesus wanted his hearers to know—your God cares for each and ever one of you! What a great comfort this mmust’ve been to these tax collectors and sinners! The ones the Pharisees would never have reached out to—the ones they had written off as a lost cost—God loved them and so Jesus loved them, too, and welcomed them—the way Jesus words it here shows how obvious that God would love sinners this way--looked again at how Jesus phrases the question here to reinforce this point—“What man of you…does not leave the ninety-nine and go looking,” or “‘What woman,’ does not look for that one lost coin?!” Jesus makes this so obvoious—Any one of you would do this—what man wouldn’t care for a sheep this way--what woman wouldn’t care about that one coin!”

thats the way Jesus looks at lost sinners, too—the Pharisees would never have looked at the sinners this way--the way Jesus phrases the question reinforces this point--”What man of you..”. Or “What woman of you...”

“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,

“What man of you..”. Or “What woman of you...”

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

JEsus makes this so obvoious…would…would…NO…what man wouldn’t....what woman wouldn't care about that one coin that was missing…the Pharisees would say, “No we wouldn’t”— well then you’re going against what is obvious to God—and he’s calling on us to look at the lost the same way—so earnest was God for the souls of the lost that he came all the way down from heaven to seek and to save us—we can surely make the effort to talk to our neighbor, or invite family and friends with a postcard or personal invite to church—we can use a new movers list or plan and participate in outreach events like Welcome Home and Trunk or Treat

If the Pharisees say, “No we wouldn’t”—Jesus would say, “Well then, you’re going against what’s obvious to God—and God’s calling on us today to have that same kind of love and desire to seek out the lost among us this way too.

Remember your position before he sought you out—we were that wandering sheep—or we were that lost coin—how we sheep love to wander in our thinking and how easyily we lose our way. Like that lost coin, sitting there in the dust, we can’t help ourselves in any way to be found—we can’t lift a finger to pick ourselves up out of that dust of sin and unbelief to make a relationship with God possible—by nature we lost that perfect image of God that Adam had but lost in the fall into sin—and that’s where we would have remained, had not God, first promised and sent his Son to bring us salvation, and then also, here in time, God individually sought each and every one of us out, and found us in our baptism. One of the salutary practices in churches at an infant’s baptism is to light a single candle, representing...

lit the candle of the gospel in word and sacrament

Jesus ate with sinners…think of the sacrament...

just losing your cell phone, or your wallet, or your car in the parking lot. Lose your phone and you can just have someone ring it so you can hear it and track it down. When you can’t find your car in the parking lot, you just do that thing key remote to find it. Of course, that’s all fine and good as long as you parked in range of your remote, and as long as your phone still has a charge. Otherwise, you’re out of luck!

But what if you are lost?

It’s a little harder to get lost these days, isn’t? We live in an age of smartphones and geo-positioning. Open Google maps and there’s always that little blue flashing dot showing your current position.

so earnest was God for the souls of the lost that he came all the way down from heaven to seek and to save us—we can surely make the effort to talk to our neighbor, or invite family and friends with a postcard or personal invite to church—we can use a new movers list or plan and participate in outreach events like Welcome Home and Trunk or Treat

We can send cradle roll materials to that unchurched couple who just became new parents—remember how you and I have received mercy from God and point others in that same direction for mercy and forgiveness too

It’s a little harder to get lost these days, isn’t? We live in an age of smartphones and geo-positioning. Open Google maps and there’s always that little blue flashing dot showing your current position.

Text: “Lost & Found”

In the name of Jesus, dear Christian friends.

We’re in Jesus gets us thinking about lost and found.

And one of the things we want to learn is that the Bible’s idea of being lost is different from our typical idea of being lost. For example, every time you were lost in your life, you knew it. Maybe you had the experience as a child of getting lost in a department store or something. There’s nothing more harrowing in that moment to a child when you’ve lost sight of mom in the grocery aisle or something like that. You knew when you were lost, and that scary feeling didn’t go away until you were found.

But there’s a big difference between that and the kind of lost Jesus is talking about in the Gospel Lesson today. When it comes to the lostness of the coin and the sheep here in , it’s a spiritual kind of lostness that Jesus is teaching about today. And the thing is, that lost sheep has no idea about the danger he’s walking into—it’s kind of a blissful ignorance really as he wanders in a direction away from the safety of the flock and the Shepherd--the sheep doesn’t even realize he’s even lost to begin with—he just saunters off merrily on his way, not even aware of the danger that lies ahead, not even realizing what he’s getting himself into--something I might do, that he can’t get himself out of on his own.

It’s like that but only worse with people. We, like sheep have gone away, the Bible says, each of us has turned his own way. And in the case of this spiritual lost ness, there’s a sort of calm, blissful ignorance to it—we wander from God and his word not even realizing that we’re headed toward a cliff and to our eternal destruction—we might’ve even gone over into complete unbelief and are headed down into the abyss, and we don’t even know it at the time--and that’s the way things will remain unless Christ himself rescues us—because lost stuff tends to stay lost until someone finds it. The scary part though, is not knowing you’re lost and not Knowing where you’re headed. Even the atheist who is so adamant about his unbelief really has no idea of the foolishness and hopelessness and how false it is—has no real idea what the devil knows full well, that we wander to our eternal judgement, something we’ll never be able to get ourselves out of once the curtain of God’s eternal judgment comes down upon us for the final time, and then it will be too late. And there they will remain in the place that the devil has been drawing them to all along.

The wandering sheep has no way of finding his way back. In a similar way, the lost coin Jesus describes, too, can’t do a single thing for itself either to get itself “un-lost.” There’s a kind of inertness to the coin that reminds us of our complete inability to change our spiritual situation. And by nature, of course, that’s the situation we were in. We were lost in sin and unbelief without even realizing that the abyss is just ahead of us—maybe that’s where a family member or friend or neighbor of yours is at right now—they don’t even realize it, but spiritually, they’re lost, and that’s the way it will stay until someone goes to them with God’s Word to turn them around from sin back to Jesus again.

I want you to note carefully the context for Jesus’ parables today—because its vital to understanding what Jesus is teaching us here. (vv.1-2) “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

Apparently, there were some people the Pharisees completely wrote off, the tax collectors and “sinners.” The tax collectors are singled out because people really hated them. The tax system in those days was more like tax farming. You purchased the rights from the Roman government to collect taxes in a certain geographic area. And while there was always a certain amount you had to remit to them, after meeting that quota, you could continue to collect more and more for yourself, as much as the traffic would bear. It could become a very lucrative affair, which was why the Jews hated the tax collectors so much. Not only were you working for the Romans, BUT you were living off the blood, sweat and tears of your fellow countrymen. Any Jew who became a tax collector was immediately excommunicated from the local synagogue. So when Jesus began to associate with tax collectors, the Pharisees began to mutter to themselves, saying, “Look at the company he keeps! This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

The word Luke uses for “sinners” here suggests something that was well known--it was public, so not just the kinds of things we’re all known for—no, these sinners were professional sinners, notorious sinners, in the sense that it was public and people could say, “Oh yea, that person did this, this, this, this and this sin—that we all know about—THAT’S WHY the Pharisees aren’t pleased when Jesus comes and receives them and teaches them AND EVEN EATS WITH THEM! In the minds of the Pharisees that REALLY stepped over the line--to sit down at table with them was to give an affirmation of them and cast your lot with them, saying these are my people--the Pharisees questioned Jesus’ reputation and religion for that—surely if were a teacher sent from God he would know better for that!

Contrast this with the way God sees and deals with us sinners. How thankful we can be that he does not write us off, or choose to disassociate himself from us eternally. No, he cares for us and uses his word to restore us to himself. Jesus teaches two parables to reinforce this truth—three if you count the other one about the Lost Son right after these two.

Anyway, Jesus says, (v.4) “Suppose [a man] has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.” “What does the man do?” Jesus askes. He leaves the 99 and goes after the one lost sheep! We don't know if the man in the parable has other partners to watch the other 99—but that’s not the point of the parable—the point is that the man goes after that ONE LOST SHEEP—IT GETS HIS ENTIRE FOCUS—he doesn’t just cut his losses and say, “Oh well, that's the cost of doing business!—you're going to lose a few sheep—I’ve got to focus on the 99”—No! The shepherd goes after the one—and when he finds it he rejoices and carries it home—and then it s such a big deal that he gathers his friends and neighbors to celebrate with!

Then there’s the lost coin—a woman has ten coins and loses one—In the Greek the coin is a drachma; one of them was approximately the amount for a day's wages—for some this might not leave you teetering at the edge of financial ruin, but to this poor woman it is a big deal—and so she begins a sweep of the entire house—she lights a candle and begins an intense search for her one lost coin. And then like the shepherd, when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together to share in her joy—for she has found her lost coin!

Again, don’t miss the main point of the parables—both the shepherd and the woman seek out something that in their mind they simply can’t do without—AND THAT’S THE BIG TAEK-AWAY FOR US THIS MORNING—the thought that God chooses not to be able to do without rescuing you!! How amazing that God would set out to search for us and not give up until we’re safely in his fold again. Here at the font of Holy Baptism He not only set everything up in your life so you’d make it here, but he also continues to seek after us by the clear light of his holy Word.

One of the salutary things we do in some of our churches at a baptism, is the practice of lighting a single candle every time an infant is baptized, reminding us all that it is the light of God’s Word in baptism that rescues us from our lost condition.

Remember your position before he sought you out—we were that wandering sheep—or we were that lost coin! Like that lost coin, sitting there in the dust, we couldn’t help ourselves in the least to change our lost condition--we couldn’t lift a finger to pick ourselves up out of the dust of sin and unbelief—by nature we lost the perfect image of God that Adam and Eve had, but lost in the fall into sin—and that’s how things would’ve stayed had not God promised and sent his Son to bring us salvation, and then too, here in time, God individually sought us out and placed his saving name upon us and renewed his holy and perfect image in us again that was lost in the fall.

That’s the lesson Jesus wants us to rejoice in together today. We were lost, but now we’re found! Notice how Jesus words it here in our text—to Jesus it’s obvious that God would love sinners this way and seek them out! Look again at how Jesus phrases it here--“What man of you…does not leave the ninety-nine and go looking for the lost sheep,” or “‘What woman,’ does not look for that one lost coin?!” To Jesus it’s obvious. He would say, “Any one of you would do this—what man wouldn’t care for a sheep this way--what woman wouldn’t care about that one coin!”

If the Pharisees say, “No we wouldn’t”—Jesus would say, “Well then, you’re the exact opposite of what God’s like”—the Bible says, () “God wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” Someone is lost and God’s looking for ways to find them through people and churches like ours.

So, which crowd are we in today? Are we among the crowd of Pharisees, muttering about how unseemly, or unsavory this or that sinner is because of their appearance, or their past, their lifestyle, or way of thinking; maybe it’s an addiction or their income level or race that we’re muttering about to ourselves and turning away from them? Or, instead, are we among that crowd of rejoicing neighbors and friends and are just plain happy that the lost was found?

It says here that not only did Jesus welcome sinners that came to listen to him, but he ate with sinners…Imagine yourself in that crowd for a moment…following after Jesus for a while now, but keeping a respectful distance, not getting too close ‘cuz others might start in ridiculing you for coming to the Teacher…could we really presume to come before God in this place apart from Christ, with our past and our sin? The psalmist once said, () “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?” By nature, none of us. “What right do we even have to recite God’s words or take his promises on our lips?” ( paraphrase)

But God, in his rich grace, does receive sinners such as us. And not only does he invite us in, but he pleased to dine with us. As you come to the sacrament today, think of Jesus as being so happy with our place with him by faith that he invites to the table with him and spreads out a heavenly meal before us—a meal at which Christ is both the host and the food—that really puts the exclamation point on it—that that not only is he delighted that he’s found you and you’re here with him by faith, but that he wants it to stay that way, too—and so he fills us up with good things—here in the sacrament he gives us personal assurance of our forgiveness and salvation through his true body and blood—what rejoicing there is in heaven as we daily repent of our sins and are kept close to God in this way—and what joy there is in heaven as we reach out and welcome sinners home, so they can gather around to hear Jesus and dine with him with us, too.

The church offers a divine foretaste of heaven in this way, as we continue to seek the lost and find them, and they are brought in by the Spirit’s power, and kept safe in faith, dining here at Christ’s banquet of salvation, singing with the angels in joy, until we do it forever in glory everlasting in heaven itself.

Amen.

home again, to

just losing your cell phone, or your wallet, or your car in the parking lot. Lose your phone and you can just have someone ring it so you can hear it and track it down. When you can’t find your car in the parking lot, you just do that thing key remote to find it. Of course, that’s all fine and good as long as you parked in range of your remote, and as long as your phone still has a charge. Otherwise, you’re out of luck!

But what if you are lost?

It’s a little harder to get lost these days, isn’t? We live in an age of smartphones and geo-positioning. Open Google maps and there’s always that little blue flashing dot showing your current position.

so earnest was God for the souls of the lost that he came all the way down from heaven to seek and to save us—we can surely make the effort to talk to our neighbor, or invite family and friends with a postcard or personal invite to church—we can use a new movers list or plan and participate in outreach events like Welcome Home and Trunk or Treat

We can send cradle roll materials to that unchurched couple who just became new parents—remember how you and I have received mercy from God and point others in that same direction for mercy and forgiveness too

It’s a little harder to get lost these days, isn’t? We live in an age of smartphones and geo-positioning. Open Google maps and there’s always that little blue flashing dot showing your current position.

Every church or school I’ve ever been to has a lost and found box. My last congregation had theirs in the usher cabinet. It was an old swisher sweets box, and in it were all kinds of little odd and ends that people left at church. Things like broaches, sunglasses, a leather cigar holder. There were things in there no one ever claimed for years, things that were there when I got there ten years ago, and things that I’m sure will be there for ten more. Who knows. Lost things don’t always get found. And that’s the way it will stay because those lost items can’t do anything to get found by themselves. It might happen in animated Disney movie, but not in the real world.