Introducing the Lost Parables
Luke 15
February 8th, 2009
INTRODUCTION
Well told stores of lost things have a way of pulling at our heart.
One fine day in 1941, Violet Bailey and her fiancé Samuel Booth were strolling through the English countryside, deeply in love and engaged to be married. A diamond engagement ring sparkled on Violet’s finger—her most treasured possession.
Their romantic bliss suddenly ended. One of them said something that hurt the other. An argument ensued, then escalated. At its worst point, Violet became so angry she pulled the diamond engagement ring from her finger, drew back her arm, and hurled the treasured possession with all her might into the field.
The ring sailed through the air, fell to the ground, and nestled under the grass in such a way that it was impossible to see. Violet and Samuel kissed and made up. Then they walked and walked through that field hunting for the lost ring. They never found it.
They were married two months later. They had a child and eventually a grandson. Part of their family lore was the story of the lost engagement ring. Imagine the times of regreat the times o sorrow that accompanied every anniversary, every remembrance of the ring that was lost.
Violet and Samuel grew old together, and in 1993 Samuel died. Fifteen years passed, but the ring was not forgotten. One day Violet’s grandson got an idea. Perhaps he could find his grandmother’s ring with a metal detector. He bought one and went to the field where Violet had hurled her treasured possession 67 years earlier. He turned on his metal detector and began to crisscross the field, waving the detector over the grass. After two hours of searching, he found what he was looking for. Later, filled with joy and pride, he placed the diamond ring into the hand of his astonished grandmother Violet. The treasured possession had come home.
(Craig Brian Larson, editor of PreachingToday.com; source: "It wasn’t all bad," The Week (2-15-08), p. 4)
LOST THINGS MATTER. LOST PEOPLE MATTER TO GOD.
Transition: After all it was for the Lost that the Forgiver came.
Luke 19:10
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." NIV
Transistion: In Luke 15 Jesus tells three stories that help us understand how he sees the kingdom.
I. The Parables
—stories designed to teach—collectively referred to as the “Lost Parables.”
A Lost Sheep, A Lost Coin, A Lost Son
These parables reveal the heart of God and challenge us to become people to whom the Lost matter.
A. There are common elements in each parable
- Each story focused on someone or something “lost.”
- Each parable highlights the action of the owner.
- Each parable end with a recovery and rejoicing.
B. There is a difference in approach between lost sheep, coins, and sons
- The father does not go looking for the lost son.
- Each story highlights a slightly different aspect of the owners “search.”
II. Lostness what it means.
Luke 19:10
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." NIV
• Lost to connection with the owner.
If something is lost it means in no longer connected, physically, figuratively to the owner. When a man loses his wallet, he is declaring he has no immediate connect to it. He doesn’t know where it is or what has happened to it.
If a child is lost the parents are not in immediate contact with the child they don’t know where he is, or what has happened to him.
To be lost is to be separated for the owner.
• Lost to usefulness to the owner.
If you lose your car keys they are no use to you. You can’t drive your car. you cannot use the item as it was intended to be used. Lost things cannot fulfill their purpose.
To be lost is to have no useful purpose for the owner.
• Lost to protection of the owner.
When you house cat slips out and wanders away. You are no longer able to protect it and the cat is in danger of neighborhood cars, dogs and other animals.
To be lost is to be separated from the protection and safekeeping of the owner.
• Lostness is correctable.
One of the most basic principles of lostness is that it can reversed. Lost things can be fond.
• Lostness can be tragic.
Lost things can be forever lost. Never recovered, forever separated for the their connection to the owner, their purpose unfulfilled, separated for the safekeeping of the owner.
III. The Setting
15:1 Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
Spiritually hungry tax collectors, sinners and Pharisees and teachers of the law were coming near Him to listen to him.
‘spiritually elite’
‘spiritually deplete’
Jesus received them, welcomed them, accepted them and even sought to connect with them. To receive was to draw someone into your circle, cherish, accept, or anxiously wait.
Eating a meal together in that culture was a sign of acceptance, hospitality and fellowship.
The response of the religious leaders was not what we might expect from godly men.
The Pharisees and Scribes had a man-made perception of sin. In their mind there were two categories of people. Religious people. Sinners. Separated themselves in the mind of God from the sinner
They fancied themselves as the holy gatekeepers commissioned to protect the kingdom from all undesirables and sinners.
They verbalized their disapproval.
Jesus tells the three parables in response to their grumbling.
Listen to the Forgiver
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
4"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ’Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ’Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
The Parable of the Lost Son
11Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, ’Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17"When he came to his senses, he said, ’How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ 20So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21"The son said to him, ’Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22"But the father said to his servants, ’Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27’Your brother has come,’ he replied, ’and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, ’Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31" ’My son,’ the father said, ’you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ "
Transition: Over the Next two weeks we will explore God’s heart looking at these three stories. Next week wee will talk about the lost sheep and the lost coin. Then we’ll look at the lost son.
But as we close I want you too notice just a few things.
Notice:
• That religious people stumble over the truth the lost people matter to God.
• That Jesus doesn’t openly condemn the religious elite, he simply believes that when they understand a few things their hearts will change.
• That he shares the story to both the religious elite and spiritually deplete.
• That they have no response.
CHALLENGE:
Over the next week, read again Luke 15 and ask yourself this question. “Lord Jesus, when I look at my life is it apparent that Lost people matter to me?”
We’re headed toward his heart. Prepare yourself for all he has to teach you and me about how much lost people matter.
Stand and prayer with me:
Jesus, forgiver of my soul, seek of the lost, I was one of your lost ones, now found, teach me the how your heart beats for the lost and may I be forever changed by it. AMEN
