Values 2019: Jesus Is Our Message

Illust: Me as a child getting lost in a grocery store

Illust: Losing Neriah at Sports Authority

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 spotted 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! Every story demonstrates the depths of God’s love for His children and the extent that He will go to find His own.

Title:

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

He also said: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets to them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living. 14 After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing. 15 Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to eat his fill from the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything. 17 When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.”’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

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.” (It’s bad enough that he associates himself with them, but to share a meal 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 and a rabbi.

Jesus responds to their grumbling with a series of stories. Otherwise known as parables. -> A parable is a simple story with a spiritual purpose. And Jesus was a master at telling parables.

Application: Keep the mission the main thing!

Jesus does not isolate himself or stay huddled around the religious people, He pursues the sinner, He cares for the broken, He loves the lost!

Let’s look at how Jesus responds to the Pharisees grumbling about why he eats 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. Just a frame of reference just in case you were wondering, yes, we are the sheep in this story. Illust: Losing My Goats

Story 2: Next He tells of a woman who had 10 coins but lost 1. The coin was valued at roughly 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 but 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 two sons. The first two stories dealt with livestock and money, this story gets more personal and is about a father and his sons.

1. The Lost Son

   1. He also said: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets to them.

      1. The son is very disrespectful of his Father and the tradition of the times. He was not only disrespectful to the father, but he was also careless in regards to his future.

      2. 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 his heart was intent on self destruction.

         2. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living.

      3. This is where we get the name prodigal son. The word prodigal actually means “spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant:”

      4. I remember reading this story as a young man and thinking “What is he thinking?!” He had a good thing going, and then he blew it!
      5. 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.
      6. The problem was that I couldn’t relate. The weight of grace hadn’t impacted my life the way my mom understood it.

      7. It’s possible that many of you can relate. Maybe you’ve felt the same way about the prodigal son.

         3. 14 After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing. 15 Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to eat his fill from the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything.

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

      9. 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.

      10. Jesus doesn’t title your identity around your circumstances.

          4. “When he came to his senses…”

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

      12. 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? Also known as a wake up call or rock bottom.
      13. Question: Have you ever had a wake up call?
      14. It may not look like feeding pigs, but it might be loneliness, addiction, tragedy, abuse, or anxiety.

      15. Illust: Testimony: I’ve never had the “rock bottom” moment, but that doesn’t make my sin any less real or heavy.

          5. ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.”

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

      17. I’m sure doubt began to 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?”

      18. The Father

          1. 20 So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him.

      19. Who found who? Who was looking for who? Who ran to who? JESUS!

      20. God’s sovereignty and people’s responsibility. God does the saving, but faith and repentance are necessary for salvation.
      21. Men in this day didn’t run. It was shameful for a man to run, nevertheless, he lifts his gown to show his knees. He took the shame himself and RAN to His son!
      22. This Father wasn’t taken by surprise; he was looking for his son. And when he saw him, he ran!
      23. The song is “When God Ran” by Benny Hester and John Parenti.
      24. 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 son’s 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.”
      25. Question: Can you start to feel the weight of grace?

      26. What I couldn’t see as a young boy I see so clearly now. I’m the lost son! I’m the one who was lost and alone. But God ran to me.

          2. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

      27. The father didn’t even let him finish his speech. He had rehearsed this probably 50 times, but he was cut off when his Father called for the servants.

      28. He’s not listening to your presentation; He already knows your posture.
      29. 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!
      30. He rejoiced over the lost one. His son was lost and now he is found. He was dead and now he is alive.
      31. The Older Son

Question: Which do you relate to most? Elder or younger brother?

Older = Self Righteous

Younger = Self Destructive

If the younger, come to Jesus and find healing and restoration

If the older, celebrate the lost being found and live for the mission

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
2. Receive the Father’s gift of grace
3. Find healing in the Father's arms

Let’s pray.