The Lost Coin - The Priority Of Evangelism Series

“THE LOST COIN”

“The Priority of Evangelism”

Luke 15:8-10

Fr. Christopher M. Nerreau

One of the lessons I will never forget from my day’s as a Protestant is a passion for Evangelism. Evangelism is not a suggestion but a command.

• Matthew 28:19 - “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”

Illustration: When I was in school as a child, we had a lost and found box. Very often as I would pass by the box I would witness a child finding his lunch box, a book or even a toy. As I think about it now, it is funny to consider how excited they would get over something as simple as a lunch box or book. I realize now that the simple fact that something is lost evokes in us a more active interest in it. This is very similar to our parable (earthly story to tell a heavenly truth) today. This parable is sandwiched between two other parables, each one illustrating the active interest of God in the lost soul. THE VERY CIRCUMSTANCE THAT WE HAVE STRAYED FROM GOD EVOKES IN GOD A MORE ACTIVE INTEREST IN OUR CONDITION.

Proposition: God is infinitely concerned about each and every lost soul and so should we be.

Interrogative sentence: Does your heart for evangelism reflect the heart of God?

Sermon Preview: In our passage today, Jesus (addressing sinner’s see v.1) is going to reveal the heart of God toward lost sinners:

1. THE SUFFERING HEART OF GOD (v.8a)

2. THE SEARCHING HEART OF GOD (v.8b)

3. THE CELEBRATING HEART OF GOD (v.9-10)

Transitional Sentence: Let’s begin by looking at...

I. THE SUFFERING HEART OF GOD (v.8a)

Explanation: THE BIBLE SAYS: Luke 15:8 “Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin…”

It is important to understand that GOD SUFFERS LOSS IN EVERY SINNER THAT DEPARTS FROM HIM.

• Consider the parable of the Prodigal Son and the hurt the Father must have experienced as His son departed. (Luke 15)

• This is the image we find in our parable today:

o “Woman” (v.8) – In that day woman were charged with keeping the home. The man would bring home the money and they would usually hide it somewhere in the house.

o “Ten Silver Coins” (v.8) – The drachma was a Greek coin roughly equivalent in value to the Roman denarius, a day’s wages. It was typical for a woman to wear a crown of 10 coins on her head to signify marriage.

o “Loses One Coin” (v8) – Imagine the fear, heartache of losing a day’s wages and a coin from you crown. This anguish captures the suffering heart of God. The day is nearly over and the coin is lost.

Illustration: I can remember not too long ago my daughter getting off of the school bus and just falling into my arms crying. I held her tightly and asked – “what is wrong.” It seems some girl was picking on her. Her broken heart had a profound effect upon me. But what about the broken heart of God for His Children? Does that affect us? Do we even hear it?

Application: The woman in this parable captures the frustration and broken heartedness of God for the lost soul!

• Today we can no longer be silent to it. This is what must drive our evangelical appetite. Not our desire to score points but God’s desire to save souls.

Transitional Sentence: So we have seen the Suffering Heart of God, but Secondly, let’s look at…

II. THE SEARCHING HEART OF GOD (v.8b)

Explanation: God does not sit on the sidelines sulking but rather searches diligently for the lost soul.

THE BIBLE SAYS (v.8) - “does not LIGHT A LAMP and SWEEP THE HOUSE and SEARCH CAREFULLY until she finds it.”

o “Light a lamp” (v.8) – In those days most houses did not have windows. As such it was very dark inside the house and easy to lose things. The story say’s that she – Lights a lamp to help find the coin.

 In a similar way we are called to light up this dark world with the word of God. (Psalm 119:105) – “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”

o “Sweep the House” (v.8) – To avoid missing anything the woman sweeps through the nooks and crannies of her home. Normally straw would cover the floors.

 This illustrates both God’s Holy Spirit working everywhere scouring the entire Earth and our responsibility to cooperate with Him. (Jer. 23:24 Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.

o “Searches Carefully” (v8) – The straw is shaken out carefully, handful by handful. The light is carried to every corner of the house.