It's A Coin Toss! Series

1. The boss of a big company needed to call one of his employees about an urgent problem with one of the main computers. He dialed the employees home telephone number and was greeted with a child’s whispered, "Hello?"

The boss asked, "Is your Daddy home?"

"Yes," whispered the small voice.

"May I talk with him?" the man asked.

To the boss’ surprise, the small voice whispered, "No."

The boss persisted, "Is your Mommy there?"

"Yes," came the answer.

"May I talk with her?"

Again, the small voice whispered, "No."

“Well, is there someone else there I might talk to?" the boss asked the child.

"Yes," whispered the child, "a policeman."

"Well then, may I speak with the policeman?"

"No,” whispered the child “he is busy"

"Busy doing what?" asked the boss.

"Talking to Daddy and Mommy and the Fireman," came the whispered answer.

Now the boss was growing concerned and just then he heard what sounded like a helicopter through the ear piece on the phone, the boss asked, "What is that noise?"

"A hello-copper," answered the whispering voice.

Alarmed, the boss nearly shouted: "What is going on there?"

In an awed whispering voice, the child answered, "The search team just landed the hello-copper!"

"Why are they there?"

There was a muffled giggle as the child said, "They are looking for me!"

2. Two sides to a similar problem:

a. Forgetfulness – “The Great Here-After” – we are sitting in one room, remember something we need in another, go into the room and say, “What am I here after?”

b. Chronic misplacement of things

3. Luke 15.8-10

a. Background – Yeshua’s (Jesus’) critics are offended with the company he keeps

b. He uses “Lost & Found” stories to help them understand his purpose – to seek and save the lost (Luke 19.10; Ezekiel 34)

c. The first story – a sheep is lost from its shepherd and the shepherd goes into the wilderness after it

d. This story – a woman loses a coin and searches until she finds it

I. The Object of the Quest

A. The Pursuit of People (Luke 19.10; Ezekiel 34)

1. Created by in the image of God – image on coin?

2. Value expressed – lost sheep; lost coin

a. May have represented 1 of 10 coins on a woman’s wedding attire – never to be taken from her; similar to wedding rings and diamond sets; sentimental value?

Does a young woman forget her jewelry,

a bride her wedding ornaments?

Yet my people have forgotten me,

days without number. Jeremiah 2.32

b. May have represented a day’s wages – survival (daily bread)/10 days’ savings; this is evidence of stewardship if the woman, entrusted with this money as the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31;

B. The Prominence of the Words of God (Proverbs 2.1-5)

1 My son, if you receive my words

and treasure up my commandments with you,

2making your ear attentive to wisdom

and inclining your heart to understanding;

3yes, if you call out for insight

and raise your voice for understanding,

4if you seek it like silver

and search for it as for hidden treasures,

5then you will understand the fear of the LORD

and find the knowledge of God.

1. We seek earthly things – silver & gold; Of how much more value is the eternal – God’s word?

2. These critics needed to do some Torah-searching for themselves – they were forgetting such things as “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19.18)

a. In dealing with sinners there is the temptation to avoid them so as not to fall into temptation

b. In dealing with sinners there is the duty to restore them

c. Then again, who isn’t a sinner? – Luke 15.7 (humor of Yeshua)

II. The Effort of the Quest

A. There was a Cost – lit lamp; used oil and wicks – significant to the poor

B. There was Exertion – sweeping straw/dirt/stone floor – basalt in Capernaum

Lay bare the floor

Open selves to God

C. There was Diligence – Not an Easy Task

1. Dark Houses (stone/small or no windows – required lamps)

2. Small Houses – 1 car garage

3. Tireless love of God

[Henry Lauder was a comedian, & during World War II his 2 sons were drafted into the army. Both of them died in combat. After the war was over Henry Lauder was near a nervous breakdown. He went to his doctor, who recommended complete rest & relaxation. So he went to the seashore & walked along the beach. He spent his time reading & meditating & relaxing.

He made a few new friends, & one of them was a small boy. One night Henry Lauder & this small boy were walking along the beach as the sun was going down. They listened to the waves, & looked at the scenery around them.