70s a new kind of church started - seeker sensitive or attractional
Model that changed things in order to entertain or entice people into a relationship with God
Has produced some good fruit and brought many people to faith
But I one of the things that we see in our text is that it’s not the lost who are seeking God, but rather God who is seeking the lost.
God called on Noah
God called Abram
If you’re a believer, God called you, he found you and you responded.
Open to Luke 15.
Background
Jesus raised the bar on discipleship, and yet crowds of people still wanted to hear him. There was something in his message that resonated with them, even if He was calling them to make Him THE priority in their lives.
As we open to chapter 15 of Luke’s gospel, we find that Jesus has some motivations beyond just making life more challenging. He is seeking peace and joy for his listeners.
In the process he is providing a not-so-subtle rebuke for his detractors.
Luke 15:1–10 ESV
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
So he told them this parable: “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? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 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.’ 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.
“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? 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.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Overview
three parables that are very similar and yet ever so slightly different.
two this week (the ones that we just read), one next week
Notice the setting - tax collectors and sinners drawing near to hear; Pharisees and scribes grumbling. This will be key in understanding all three of the parables.
as we reflect on these two parables, we’ll consider:
some characteristics of seekers (those who are looking for lost things)
the condition of lost things
and the consequences of being found.
So, in response to the eager listening of the crowds and the grumbling of the religious leaders, Jesus tells these parables about some people seeking things that are lost - specifically a sheep and a coin.
Let’s begin by considering the…
Characteristics of seekers
In the parables, the seekers are represented by the man/shepherd and the woman. There are several characteristics that these seekers have in common.
First of all, they…
Value lost things
This careful man/shepherd was obeying the wisdom of Proverbs 27:23–24 “Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds, for riches do not last forever; and does a crown endure to all generations?” While not a large herd (that would have been over 300 in their day (Bock)), a flock of a hundred sheep was not insignificant. And yet, he was only missing one - just one percent of his flock.
In our day of number crunching and cost/benefit ratios, we may overlook a loss of one, but not this shepherd. He valued the life of this lamb.
The woman also valued lost things. This one coin out of ten represented a day’s wage for an average worker. It was certainly 10% of her current supply, but it also represented a full day’s worth of work.
Now, Jesus is using the metaphors of sheep and coins as representative of people in order to help his listeners hear Him specifically. I think He was helping them to see how God sees people - lost people who are far from Him.
I guess the question for us is, do we value the lost around us? Do we see them as image bearers of God who need to know the depth of His love for them?
In 2023, the North American Mission board sent me a statistical report of our area. It talked about population, ethnicities, religions, wealth. At that time, within a one mile radius of our location there are:
3,899 people. Now you may have heard recently that our town eked over the 6000 mark in the last census. One mile from where we are does not cover all of town.
Of the people who responded to questions about attending church regularly (which - begs the question, what is regularly? - is it weekly, once a month, twice a month, once a quarter, twice a year (CEO)?):
Less than 1/3rd agree somewhat or completely
over 2/3rds disagree - indicating that they don’t go to church regularly or at all..
Now, church attendance is only one factor in determining if someone is saved. Is it possible to be a Christian and not go to church? yes, but it’s not likely. Is it possible to go to church and not be saved? yes.
Given that information, of the 1/3 who “somewhat” or “completely” agree that they go to church regularly, I would guess that less than that number are truly believers!
If we do value them, what are we doing to reach them?
I do think that these parables not only speak to God’s love for lost people who are far from Him, but they also speak to God’s deep love for those people who are His who are straying from Him. Maybe it’s people who are feeling hurt or abandoned. Maybe it’s those who are wrestling with sin. Consider that both the coin and the lost sheep were part of a whole - almost like members in a church. God loves and values each member of His family, each of His covenant children. If you’re feeling like one who is growing more distant or struggling with sin or wrestlings with thoughts of uselessness - know that God loves you and seeks after you! He saved you and will not let you go.
While we do have a call in the great commission to reach the lost (Matt. 28:19-20), we also have a call to care for (Rom. 12:12-16, 15:1-2) and love one another (Romans 12:10). To restore those who are struggling. To strengthen the weak.
Colossians 3:12–14 “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
What are we doing to reach those who have been a part of the church but have wandered away?
Which brings us to the second characteristic of the seekers in these parables. They…
Overcome obstacles for lost things
The shepherd left the rest of his flock in the “open country” in order to go find this one. He put the majority of his flock at risk in order to find this one!
For the woman, she practically turned over her house and carefully examined every corner until she found the coin that was missing.
What obstacles to do we need to overcome for the lost around us? Is it comfort, or reputation, or fear? Whether it’s those who have drifted from our fellowship or those who are far from Jesus, I need to work on overcoming fear. I should be more fearful of their eternal destination than I am of their opinion of me!
There is a third characteristic that I see in the seekers of Jesus’ parable.
Rejoicing
Both the man and the woman call others together to rejoice with them in the lost thing being found. Good news is limited and bad news spreads quickly! So this rejoicing not only celebrated this returned lost thing, but it encouraged others in the process!
On Monday evening, a few of us went over to Olney Baptist for the Montgomery Baptist association revival. While our job was to lead in worship, we got to rejoice with several of the speakers as they shared the good news of God’s work around them. In fact the preacher that night shared the encouragement of seeing several hundred people be baptized over the last few years in their church - including his mom, who had been firmly resistant to the gospel. What a celebration! What an encouragement and inspiration for the rest of us!
Frankly, it was a bit convicting too!
If you’ve come to faith in Christ but have not yet gone public by being baptized, let me encourage you to take that step of obedience. Your public profession of faith will start a party in heaven and will cause so many around you to rejoice with you!
So these seekers had a few characteristics in common as they sought their lost things.
Which brings us to the second thing that we need to consider, that is…
Condition of lost things
We don’t know how the lamb lost it’s way or how the coin got misplaced. Frankly it can happen any number of ways.
Maybe the lamb was led astray by another animal or human. Maybe it simply wandered off in search of better grass. Maybe it got distracted as the rest of the flock moved on to greener pastures. Whatever the case, it was lost.
For something inanimate like a coin, it has no will or volition by which to move on it’s own - no matter what movies like Toy Story might tell us. Things like coins are lost by no fault of their own. They get bumped off a table, mishandled coming out of a pocket or purse, placed in the wrong location. It could even be devious means by which it was lost - maybe someone else moved it!
When it comes to lost humans, there are also a variety of ways that we get ourselves lost.
Ignorance - never having the opportunity to hear the good news
Deceit - being pulled away by other people, deceived
Hurt - sometimes the pain of our past makes us run away.
But, when it comes to people who are part of the flock, members who are drifting away, Jeremie Rinne suggests five “species of straying sheep.”
Sinning - those who have stepped into blatant sin/rebellion
Wandering - those who are getting distracted by other activities or interests - maybe sports, hobbies, TV, books, the couch…
Limping - these are people who have been hurt in someway - maybe it’s by a loved one or by another church member. Maybe it’s by just the difficulties of life - economic challenges, storms, sickness, etc.
Fighting - these are the people who have unresolved conflict with others.
Biting - these are the people who simply won’t be happy unless things are done their way.
One of our jobs as Elders or Under-shepherds is to run after those who are straying - frankly I know I can do a much better job in this! I think there is a role for all of us too - to reach out to those that God brings to our minds. Send a text, call, visit.
I’ve been so encouraged by those who have reached out and visited those who are hurting - bound to a hospital bed - specifically Priscilla Yator. She is home now, still needs some physical therapy, but home nonetheless.
Thirdly, I think that we see in the chapter the…
Consequences of being found
Whether it’s the sheep that is returned to it’s rightful place in the flock or the coin that is returned to the purse, there are a couple of consequences or benefits of being found. One is…
Community
These parables don’t talk much about the community element of being found - but it’s there, plain to see. When the sheep is out of the herd and the coin is away from the purse, the community is diminished, fellowship is broken. But when these are found and restored to the place there is community there is wholeness, there is completeness.
fellowship restored
contact re-engaged
the family intact.
Secondly, there is…
Joy
In heaven and on earth. The seekers not only got to experience the joy of the finding, but they included others in the process. What’s more, Jesus says that even those who are in heaven rejoice. There is a party in heaven when lost people are found. There is a celebration on earth when lost people are restored.
But notice how this happens -
Repentance
Jesus said:
Luke 15:7 “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.”
Luke 15:10 “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
So often, we think of repentance as a simple turning a 180 degree turn. Coming to faith - and it is that.
K. Edward Copeland (no relation to Chuck as far as I know) recently described repentance as a reorientation. It’s re-orienting our thoughts, actions, affections, intentions from our ways to God’s ways. It maybe drastic - like coming to Christ for salvation - a 180 degree turn from running away from God to running toward God.
But for all of us as Christians - it may be those minor adjustments - those places where we must take little idols off of the shelves of our souls and throw them away or destroy them. It may be repenting of that secret sin, and truly giving it up. It may be adjusting that scrolling habit that leads to temptation or changing what we listen to in order to hear the Holy Spirit more clearly. Repentance or reorientation will be a bit different for each of us. It may even be a daily adjustment.
Like a sail boat out on an ocean or a lake, it is difficult to sail in a truly strait line. The wind may shift in the sail and the waves may batter against the hull. The person at the helm or the rudder may be easily distracted by any number of things around, causing even the slightest misalignment with the charted course. Redirection is a regular and constant activity. Reorientation is needed from time to time.
So too in our lives. As we read God’s Word, we may find those small things in our lives that need reorienting. Repenting may involve simply confessing that to God and asking for His Spirit’s help with that reorientation. It may involve writing or journaling about a way of thinking that needs shifting. It may involve reaching out to a brother or sister and asking them for help.
There is a balance - while repentance is reorientation - realigning our lives in obedience - but the balance is a sense of resting in the forgiveness that Jesus offers.
Mike McKinley - Friendship with God - which is a reflection on a book by the puritan John Owen - recommends a daily process of reflecting in our communion:
Hearing Jesus call to come to Him in our sin
Convinced of His love, place our sin in his capable hands
“Take hold of his love and holiness that Jesus purchased for [us].” (89)
Closing thoughts
Non-believers
You may feel like you’re of little value, lost, alone - but consider all of the things that God is doing to bring you here - tugging on your heart, waking you up to his movement and his word, surrounding you by his people. Maybe it’s a loving spouse who is praying for you. Maybe it’s this financial turmoil with the shutdown that is a tool He is using to make you see that life is more than wealth and possessions. He is seeking you out and will go to great lengths to “find” you. Being found by him means recognizing your need for him and responding to his gracious call.
Acts 3:19–20 “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,”
Brothers and sisters in Christ
As Jesus people - we should rejoice that we have been found, but we should not rest in complacency of our being found. There are many people that are still lost around us. People who need to be found, to respond.
Romans 10:13–15 “For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
does the gospel season our conversations?
are we intentional in our witnessing and our invitations?
are we reading the word with others? (One to One discipleship - helm - Mark).
Halloween is coming - how can we redeem that? - can we talk about the hope of the true resurrection that Jesus promises
What’s more - where do we need reorient our lives? Where do we need to make minor adjustments in our thoughts, actions, words, interactions in order to walk in alignment with Jesus?
Let’s pray.
Benediction
Matthew 28:19–20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
Questions for reflection and discussion:
Read Luke 15:1-10
As a child, when was a time you got lost from your family or a group?
What were the Pharisees and teachers of the law doing? (15:2)
Why were the Pharisees and teachers of the law grumbling? (15:2)
What does a conscientious shepherd do when one of the flock is lost? (15:4)
How does a shepherd bring a lost sheep home? (15:5)
In what ways do we go astray?
How does heaven react when a sinner repents? (15:7)
What kind of people do not need to repent? (15:7)
How do we know that the woman lost something valuable? (15:8)
What steps did the woman take to find her lost coin? (15:8)
What did the woman do when she finally found the lost coin? (15:9) Whom did she call?
How is a repentant sinner like a found coin?
Why does God care so much about repentant sinners?
In what ways does God’s value of people differ from ours?
How does it make you feel to reflect on the truth that God sought you out to rescue you?
How does it make you feel that when you first repented, heaven resounded to sounds of joy?
What will it look like for your passion and your joy to be aligned with God’s?
Sources:
Anyabwile, Thabiti. Exalting Jesus in Luke. Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2018.
Bock, Darrell L. Luke 9:51-24:53. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999.
Packer, and D. J. Wiseman. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996.
Martin, John A. “Luke.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
Liefeld, Walter L. “Luke.” In The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, edited by Frank E. Gaebelein, Vol. 8. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984.
McKinley, Mike. Friendship with God: A Path to Deeper Fellowship with the Father, Son, and Spirit. Wheaton, IL. Crossway, 2023.
McKinley, Mike. Luke 12-24 for You. Edited by Carl Laferton. God’s Word for You. The Good Book Company, 2016.
Stein, Robert H. Luke. Vol. 24. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992.
The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible. Biblical Studies Press, 2005. Print.
Wilcock, Michael. The Savior of the World: The Message of Luke’s Gospel. The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1979.
