Sychronizing With God's Perspective on Restoration

Text: Luke 15:1-10

Luke 15:1–10 ESV

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.” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “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, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

CIT: Does God have the same perspective as the Pharisees? Heaven rejoices as the lost are saved while the pharisees grumble.

CIS: Let’s sync our perspective with God’s attitude on restoration.

SO: Apply- Learn to balance our “holiness” with our service. Care with our best behavior/attitude for the lost. Remember God’s value of a soul and make it your own.

Intro:

Black Panther Scene: You are wrong!

Trans: Today lets look at what Jesus’ parables teach about the perspective of heaven. God rejoices at the restoration of the sinner.

Pray

Luke 15:1–10 ESV

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.” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “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, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Context

Gospel

Story of Jesus life on Earth

His mission to gather in the lost sheep of Israel

Luke

Author of Luke-Acts

1st Century Judaism

Different Sects : Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribe, Essene

Pharisees: Party of the people: wished for political but were not the party in power, emphasized the oral law for cleanliness and holiness to the law

Believed that their abandonment of the law was the reason why they were in captivity in the first place.

Strictly followed rules of the OT and additional laws added later to prevent any sort of failure of the law.

Tax-Collectors

Worked for the Roman captors and tended to charge more taxes than required, keep the profits

Hated and Unclean.

Content

Balance your “Holiness” with your Service

Luke 15:1–2 ESV

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.”

Exp:

Luke’s original audience were familiar with the Old Testament and might have remembered a time in the people’s life when they did a lot of “grumbling.”

There were plenty of biblical reasons why one should set boundaries for themselves so that they do not end up in sin.

But the Pharisees are not recognizing the direction of influence that Jesus had with the people.

The Pharisees don’t have anything to nit-pick him on other than him eating with them. So it probable that all other aspects of the law are in order.

Ill:

It is not wise to put yourself in places where you will be tempted to sin.

If everyone is telling you you shouldn’t be doing that you probably shouldn’t be doing that.

Akon - Don’t Matter

But Jesus changes things when he shows up!

App

The Pharisees were missing God right in front of them for the status quo.

We need to be careful of falling into this trap ourselves.

God calls us to holiness of life and fellowship

But God also calls us to serve others.

Since we are not Jesus, it is safest to serve God together, so that we are not tempted beyond we can bear alone.

But we must not allow our rules to prevent us being a servant of God for his will.

We must sync our perspective with God’s purpose to restore souls to himself.

Care on your Best Behavior/Attitude

Luke 15:3–7 ESV

3 So he told them this parable: 4 “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, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Exp

God wants us to be restored.

He celebrates with us when restoration come

But are we in the position of the seeker of restoration or the Pharisee.

We always have a responsibility to care on our Best behavior/attitude

It’s not just our actions that need saving, but our very heart motivations.

Our personal restoration will be hastened as we are used by God to restore those around us.

Ill:

Telling AJ to be on his best behavior at T-ball

App:

God celebrates when the lost our restored.

Let’s care for the lost among us with the on our best behavior and with our best attitudes fueled by Chirst.

Make God’s Evaluation of Restoration your own

Luke 15:8–10 ESV

8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Exp:

Note the three parables, 100:1, 10:1, 2:1

God has the means, power, and will to seek out all.

There is not one who is not worth it to God.

The value of silver coin was a days wages. When you live life day by day, that’s a percious amount of resouces.

The homes of the day would have floors that would develop cracks.

She’s sweeping the floor and listening for sound of the coin in the earth.

God seeks restoration with the lost and celebrates when the lost are found.

Ill

Melissa’s story about silver dollars and tooth fairies

App

Sometimes we fail to realize who important things are to those we love.

When we recognize this and take it to heart, it may cause us to care more deeply.

God care deeply about the lost and seeks restoration.

Let’s remember God’s value of the lost soul and make it our own.

Response