Interlude: Jesus, Seeking the Lost

Interlude: Jesus, Seeking the Lost

Interlude: Jesus, Seeking the Lost
A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church

I.        ACT ONE: LOST SHEEP

A.        LOST

1.         CIRCUMSTANCES

Luke 15:3-4a So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them . . “

2.         CONDUCT

Luke 15:4b “ . . does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?”

B.        FOUND

1.         CELEBRATION

Luke 15:5-6 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.’

2.         CONSEQUENCE

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.

II.       ACT TWO: LOST COIN

A.        LOST

1.         CIRCUMSTANCES

Luke 15:8a “Or what woman, having ten silver drachma, if she loses one coin,

2.         CONDUCT

Luke 15:8b does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?

B.        FOUND

1.         CELEBRATION

Luke 15:9 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.’

2.         CONSEQUENCE

Luke 15:10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in front of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

III.      ACT THREE: LOST SON (voted best-loved story in NT)

A.        LOST

1.         CIRCUMSTANCES

Luke 15:11-16 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.

And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and became a servant of a Gentile who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the carob that the pigs ate, and no one gave him any.

 

Inheritance

Waste

Despair

2.         CONDUCT (SON)

Luke 15:17-20a “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father.

Disillusionment

Repentance (Mind/Heart)

Response

Confession

3.         CONDUCT (FATHER)

Luke 15:20a-24 But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Watching

Receiving

Psalm 103:13 “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him”

Confessing

Father, give me (Luke 15:12)

Father, make me like one of your hired servants (Luke 15:19)

Gifts

B.        FOUND

1.         CELEBRATION

Luke 15:25-31 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’

But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have slaved for you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’

And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.

2.         CONSEQUENCES

Luke 15:32 It was necessary to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and now is found.’”

Each “act” in this single parable illustrates a different aspect of God’s work.

  • The Son seeks the lost as the Good Shepherd
  • The holy Spirit seeks the lost with searching illumination
  • The Father in seeks the lost with open arms upon return

Each “act” illustrates an increasing severity of loss.

  • Of the sheep 1% were lost
  • Of the coins 10% were lost
  • Of the sons 50% were lost

Each “act” illustrates a different way of being lost.

  • The sheep was lost by foolish wandering, and so are many people today.
  • The coin was lost by what someone else did, and we can say that we are lost because of what Adam did.
  • The son was lost because of rebellion, and a rebellious departure required a submissive return by the lost one