Opening story is about someone who lost something of a value great enough to warrant a search for the item that seemed hopelessly lost. They did not find the item, but shared that it’s value was not in replacement costs or niceness of the item, but in the sacrifice of purchasing it in the first place and sentimental value.
Opening Questions
- What justifies this effort, time, and expense, invested into finding something that is lost?
- If you found an item of such value that was lost, what response did you give in return for that item?
Luke 15:3-7
Leading into opening verses
Luke 14
- Opening with the Pharisees looking for Jesus to heal on the Sabbath.
- Parable of the wedding feast.
- One of our favorites, the Parable of the great banquet - Look at my field!
- Cost of discipleship (far less than the cost of non-discipleship)
- Salt without taste is worthless
Luke 15
We start out with tax collectors and sinners being attracted to Jesus. The Pharisees and scribes take offense wondering why these people would be allowed to keep company with this man if he was truly who he said he is. After the messages they got in Luke 14, I think maybe they were triggered.
3 So he told them this parable: 4 “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? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 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.’ 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.
Read that twice more, once with the perspective of the shepherd and the second with the perspective of the sheep.
- Shepherd
When I lost my one sheep, it was 1% of my worth. That 1% had great value, because I have cared for that sheep, I have invested much into this sheep. I left the 99 in the safety of each other where they were safe in the meadow and I looked in the rocky hills where that one sheep has most likely wandered into. Time was of the essence, because my little sheep could get hurt traversing the terrain and there are predators there looking for an easy meal. When I found my one lost sheep, I was filled with joy! So much joy that I felt powerful enough to lift that weary sheep onto my shoulders and carried my cherished sheep back home. Then I was still filled with joy that I celebrated with my family and friends!
- Sheep
I wonder if the grass over there is greener. Life has been hard lately and that grass has never been pooped on by the other 99. Not to mention the smell and noises the other sheep make bother me. I must have wandered off more than I should have, because I cannot find my way back on my own. Maybe over this hill. Why was I only focused on just me? Now what am I going to do? I thought I was lonely in that crowd, but now I am truly lonely. It is getting dark and I am getting cold without my friends. It has to be this next hill, but I do not remember those rocks. Was that a wolf over there moving in the darkness? My Shepherd! Yes, you have found me. It is good to be found, but what happens now? Am I in trouble? He picked me up with a smile on his face and is carrying me back to the flock. My heart is filled with love and I will share my great story of what this great Shepherd has done for me!
Questions
- What stood out in this story?
- What spoke to your heart?
- Where do you feel a draw to go deeper into the story?
- Where do you need to be vulnerable to the Shepherd?
- Where do you need to repair secure attachment?
Extra Credit - Isaiah 53:6
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Romans 5:6-10
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
Major points
- We were weak - without strength - and Christ died for us, to save us from our iniquity. We are not able to save ourselves.
- Jesus did not come to save those who can save themselves. Now this cannot even happen (self-salvation through works), but not everyone is aware they fall short.
- Justified by the blood - the very blood Jesus shed for us, we are saved from the wrath of God.
- Before being saved, we were enemies with God.
Questions
- Who can save themselves?
- Where do you need to feel this love that Justifies and Reconciles?
- Who in your life needs the love of Jesus?
Clinton Frame Mission Statement
Making & Launching Disciples of Jesus to Transform our World
What is a disciple?
The answer is someone who is in the process of discipleship to Jesus Christ.
Discipleship is the process of repairing secure attachment
or
… the process of recovering innocence
or
… the process of restoring union
Questions
- Where do you need to experience repair of secure attachment?
- Where do you need to recover innocence?
- How can you enter into the process of restoring union with God?
Bonus Challenge
What do you value most in life? I am guessing it is relationships. In the lesson today, we read of God sending his Son to die for us, to restore relationships with us, because he loves us so much. We are his creation and he has made each one of us special. God longs for relationship with you. He has put that same longing in our hearts. Do you have friends or family who need to have a restored relationship? Maybe you are being called to reach out to someone today or maybe you need someone else to step in and help repair that relationship. What if you are the person who need to step in and build a relationship with someone who need to be restored. You might not see the fruit for many years and you do not need to hit a home run each time, but where are you willing to go to find lost sheep?
34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. Mark 6:34 ESV
Closing thoughts
- What is your mission in life?
- Who has God called you to be as he carries you home?
The opposite of Joy is selfishness. It is an emptiness or void that sucks life from the world around and makes us enemies with God. Joy is an overflowing of God’s love in our lives and is not affected by inputs of life and the world. The overflow of our hearts is compassion towards others and fruit. Kindness is shared joy, actions that give others joy and give us joy in return. Who do you need to show kindness to today?