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March 26, 2006

"Lost and Found!"

People Matter to God—Part 2
Luke 15:1-10

1. Lost—Have you ever lost something of great importance?

  • The sheep was lost because of foolishness.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
—Isaiah 53:6

"We either are, or were, lost sheep."

  • The coin was lost because of carelessness of another.

Question: What does it mean to be lost?

Being lost means (simply) lost (out of place).

2. Found—Have you ever found something of importance that you had lost?

Question: What does it mean to be found?

To be found means that you are back in the right place.

"God actually goes out to look for the lost!"

God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
—John 3:17-18

All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'" But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
—Luke 19:7-10

"Lost people are more apt to recognize they are lost."

3. Celebrate—Is there a greater celebration than when you find what was lost?

  • The shepherd is so delighted he wants to celebrate.

And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.'
—Luke 15:5-6

  • The woman who found her coin calls friends to celebrate.

And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.'
—Luke 15:9

  • God and all of heaven celebrates.

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
—Luke 15:7

"Joy is the serious business of heaven."
—C.S. Lewis

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
—1 Peter 2:24-25

Invitation: God is seeking you, wherever you are, whatever you have lost! The Great Shepherd addresses your fear, your fear to be lost. God says,

I will search for the lost and bring back the strays, I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak...
—Ezekiel 34:16

Lost and Found!
Personal and Small Group Study

Getting Started

  1. What is the most valuable thing you have ever lost? How did you feel when you realized it was missing? Did you ever find it again? If so, who was the first person you told?
  2. What is the best thing you have every found? What did you do with it? Who did you tell about your discovery?

Digging Deeper: Read Luke 15:1-10

  1. To whom is Jesus speaking? How do the different ones in His audience respond to Him?
  2. How does Jesus' parable of the lost sheep relate to the accusations of the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law? What is Jesus' point to them? How does Isaiah 53:6 relate to Jesus' response to these religious leaders?
  3. Why does Jesus share the fact that there is more rejoicing in heaven over one lost sinner who repents than 99 righteous persons who do not need to repent? What does Paul say about man's righteousness in Romans 3:10-11?
  4. How does the parable of the lost sheep relate to the tax-collectors and sinners? What is Jesus' point to them?
  5. Why was the money so important to the lady? (Extra credit—How much was the money worth?) How do you picture his search? What is Jesus' point to the parable of the lost coin?
  6. Clarification—Do these two parables speak of Christians who have wandered from the faith or people who have never yet come to faith? Can they apply to both?

Applying It To My Life

  1. When did Jesus find you? How did you feel after being found? Have you ever wandered from the faith? How did Jesus find you and bring you back?
  2. How do these stories make you feel about God? How do these stories make you feel about your value to God?
  3. How could these stories affect your relationships with those who are spiritually lost? How could these stores affect your relationships with those who have wandered from the faith?