The Lost One Sermon

THE LOST ONE

Question: Is it worth it for just one? (Say it slow)

Illust: If we’re talking about Oreos… then I’m gonna have to say right out of the gate the answer is no. It’s not worth it. If I can’t attack a whole row in one sitting with an ice cold cup of milk then it’s not worth my time, effort, or calories. Just NOT. WORTH. IT.

Can I get a witness to that here in God's house tonight?

But what if we are talking about something that has great value?

Illust: Yesterday I was at Play It Again Sports with my kids doing some shopping and browsing. Mind you, I have four kids. So I’m constantly living in the uber high blood pressure zone worried that I’m going to lose one of my kids…

So I turn my back for a second to look at a pair of ski pants and then when I turn back around I see Ryan and Cory, but no Neriah. I’m pretty calm in these situations, but I started walking around the store calling her name and NOTHING. I don’t see her down any of the aisles. She’s not calling back to me, and I start to get a little nervous. I check the front and back of the store, I go to the bathroom, I check the parking lot, NOTHING.

At this point I have totally left my other two kids on their own and I’m in full blown Neriah pursuit. Just before I go to full blown panic dad mode, I spot her behind some clothes trying on sunglasses.

If something in our lives has value then we pursue it. If something in our lives has deep value, then we pursue it with everything we got! Even if it means we have to leave something or someone else we love, so that we can bring back the lost one.

Big Idea: Jesus tells us three different stories, three different ways, to illustrate one main point… Jesus is pursuing you!

For some of you tonight, the story we’re going to unpack may seem a bit odd. It may not make sense at first, but I want us to lean in to the message tonight and consider the love that Jesus has for you and for me.

Title: The Lost One

Passage: Luke 15:11-24 (Say it 3x)

Pray: (Pause 3-5 seconds)

Background: Jesus speaking to the tax collectors and sinners, this would be the “well known” sinners of the time. The Pharisees and Scribes were around as well and they were grumbling… because how dare Jesus hang out with sinners!

Luke 15: 1-2

“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.”

Jesus responds to their grumbling with a series of stories. Otherwise known as parables. (Say it slow) -> A parable is a simple story with a spiritual purpose. The Pharisees and scribes challenged Jesus by saying “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

The religious people were not merely confused by Jesus’ actions, they were outraged. If he is sitting with them then he must also be condoning their behavior right? Or else maybe He is one of them? They could not comprehend this kind of behavior from someone that is religious.

Application: I want to pause for a minute before moving into the story and share a simple application point from this text, especially as we’re working through this series titled “In Every Space”.

If we’re going to be a people that shine the light of Jesus in every space, then we’re going to be a people that are friends of sinners!

Jesus was a friend of sinners.

Jesus didn’t just associate with sinners, He ran to them!

Theme: The main theme of the three stories I’m about to share is a response to these first two verses. The question is “Why does Jesus hang out with sinners?”

First Two Stories:

Story 1: Jesus starts off by telling the story of a man that has 100 sheep. If he lost 1 sheep wouldn’t he leave the 99 to go find the 1. And when he finds it, he brings it home and throws a huge party to celebrate.

Story 2: Next He tells of a woman who had 10 coins but lost 1. These coins must have been valuable. Probably consisting of a day’s wage. Wouldn’t she stop everything she is doing to find the one coin? She’s flipping all the lights on, looking under couch cushions, in the dirty clothes pile, she looks frantically for this 1 coin. SIMILAR TO OUR HOUSEHOLD LOOKING FOR ONE OF CORY’S SHOES AS WE’RE LEAVING THE HOUSE… EVERY TIME! And when she finds it, she invites her neighbors over and throws a big party.

Both Stories: Both stories end by saying “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The person that found the 1 sheep and the 1 coin rejoiced greatly and threw a massive party to celebrate this thing that was once lost is now found.

These two stories set the stage for what is to be the climax of the series of parables. It’s the story that speaks of a Father and His son. The first two stories dealt with livestock and money, this story is a person. The first was 100 sheep, the second 10 coins, now let’s look at the story of 1 son. The stakes are higher in this final parable.

Passage: Luke 15:11-24 (Back to the Text)

The Parable of the Prodigal Son:

1. 11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’

   1. The son is very disrespectful of his Father and the tradition of the times. He could have been stoned for this type of behavior. Or at the least completely cut off from the community.
   2. “Give me my shares!” The Father could have said “No.”, but in his mercy he says yes and allows his son to run away with his inheritance. Knowing full well that this is not going to end well for his youngest son.

   3. And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.

   4. Aka, the prodigal son.

   5. The word prodigal actually means “spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant:”
   6. I remember reading this story as a young man and thinking “What an idiot!” He had a good thing going, and then he blew it!
   7. This was always my mom’s favorite story and she would get emotional and start to cry when she talked about it and I never understood her compassion on the younger son. Why have compassion on this guy? He’s making terrible decisions.
   8. The problem was that I couldn’t relate. The weight of grace hadn’t impacted my life the way my mom understood it.
   9. It’s possible that many of you can relate. Maybe you’ve felt the same way about the prodigal son.

   10. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

   11. Now here’s the twist in the story. The boy is finally getting what he deserves. He is reaping what he sowed.

   12. I could imagine at this point in the story the Pharisees and Scribes were nodding their heads thinking, “Get em Jesus.” Tell everyone what a sinner this younger son really is. But Jesus doesn’t do that.

   13. 17 “But when he came to himself,

   14. He “came to his senses”. The son had the ah-ha moment!

   15. There seems to be a revelation in the lowest point of the younger son’s life. Sometimes these are the moments that hit us the hardest right?
   16. Also known as a wake up call or rock bottom.
   17. Question: Have you ever had a wake up call?
   18. It may not look like feeding pigs, but it might be loneliness, addiction, adultery, tragedy, abuse, or anxiety.
   19. Illust: Stop pretending like everything is ok.

   20. he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’

   21. You know he began rehearsing this speech. I have to get it just right.

   22. I’m sure doubt began to even creep in. Questions of whether or not this is even going to work. “Will he even accept me?” “Does he still love me?” “Am I going to feel this guilt and shame for the rest of my life?”

   23. And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

   24. Who found who? Who was looking for who? Who ran to who? JESUS! It’s always Jesus. John 3:16 “for God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

   25. Men in this day didn’t run. It was shameful for a man to run, much less lift his gown to show his knees. He took the shame himself and RAN to His son!
   26. Illust:
   27. This Father wasn’t taken by surprise; he was looking for his son. And when he saw him, he ran!
   28. The song is “When God Ran” by Benny Hester and John Parenti.
   29. There’s a song that I love that says “Then he ran to me, he took me in his arms and held my head to his chest. Said my sons come home again. He lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes, with forgiveness in his voice he said “Son, do you know I still love you.” He caught me by surprise, and he brought me to my knees, when God ran.”
   30. This was scandalous! This was extravagant! This type of love doesn’t make sense!
   31. Question: Can you start to feel the weight of grace?
   32. What I couldn’t see as a young boy I see so clearly now. I’m the prodigal son! I’m the one who was lost and alone. But God ran to me.

   33. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants,

   34. The father didn’t even let him finish his speech.

   35. He had rehearsed this probably 50 times, but he was cut off when his Father called for the servants.
   36. We think we’re approaching God with a nice prayer, rehearsed speech, but God is looking on the inside!
   37. He’s not listening to your presentation; He already knows your posture.
   38. He’s not concerned with the exterior of your life, cause it’s what’s on the inside that counts.
   39. He didn’t say “Go clean yourself up, get a job, prove to me that you can make it on your own, then come back and try again!” NO!!!! He showed reckless, full abandon, extravagant, UNDESERVED LOVE!

   40. ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

   41. He rejoiced over the lost one. His son was lost and now he is found. He was dead and now he is alive.

Question: Is it worth it for just one? Yes. It’s not only worth the pursuit, but it’s worthy of a huge celebration.

It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ - Luke 15:32

Walking Point:

1. Come to Jesus just as you are

   1. Rom 5:8

   2. Receive the Father’s gift of grace

   3. Eph 2:8-9

   4. Find healing in the Father's arms

   5. Illust: My mom’s prayer -> Jesus holding her in His arms.

Let’s pray.