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The "Lost' Parables
Contributed by Keith Butler on Aug 24, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: Why did the Pharisees receive these parables from Jesus? Because they did not rejoice over the lost being found.
THE “LOST” PARABLES
Luke 15:1-32
Key Verse and Theme: “But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” (Luke 15:32)
1. Who was Jesus addressing?
A. The tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him.
B. The Pharisees and teachers of the law muttered.
C. Jesus addresses these three parables to the mutterers.
2. Something is lost…
A. Something precious is lost. (A sheep, a coin, and a son.)
B. The lost items belong to the owners.
C. There is concern for the lost.
3. Something is found…
A. The shepherd goes out to find his sheep.
B. The woman cleans her house to find her coin.
C. The father waits for his son.
4. And there is rejoicing afterwards.
A. The shepherd called his neighbors to rejoice.
B. The woman called her friends to rejoice.
C. The father threw a party for his son.
5. What should we do with this parable?
A. We need to be a church open to “sinners”.
B. We need to seek the lost.
C. We need to show them the way home.
D. We need to rejoice when the lost come home.