Luke
15:1-7 (New Living Translation) Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to
Jesus teach. 2 This made
the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating
with such sinful people—even eating with them! 3 So Jesus told them this story: 4 “If a man
has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave
the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is
lost until he finds it? 5 And when
he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. 6 When he
arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with
me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner
who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous
and haven’t strayed away!
Context: Church leaders are having a problem with Jesus hanging out with sinners. They have a narrow view of what it means to be the church (a haven of mercy and a place of grace); a misunderstanding of what kingdom building looks like (catching fish so they can be cleaned). So, Jesus tells a series of stories to correct their improper imposition on his ministry of meeting people where they are.
Introduction: Typically, people have the tendency of assuming, that where you are now in life is how things have always been. They start in verse 7 of your life, thinking that your life has always been party time.
Transition: The Christian life is not meant to be lived alone. It’s meant to be lived out in a community of others with like faith.
Here’s my sermon in short: I was lost but now I’m found!
Once the lost has been found, I love how the shepherd handles the situation. There’s a sense of care on display as well as being careful.
Here’s the point: Don’t allow your issues to keep you away from us. We’re family! We love you and just want to lift you up! The truth is that we’re just like you!
