Homeward Bound Becoming Lost March 19, 2006 Speaker: Randal Myers

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How does one become lost? - Three examples in Luke 15

Parable 1 - The Lost Sheep

Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 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 15:3-6

• Sheep are lost by their own carelessness.
  • People get lost the same way by carelessly wandering into a life away from God.
• The shepherd seeks the lost sheep.
  • People who wander away may be the last to realize where they are.
    • Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. - Galatians 6:1

Parable 2 - The Lost Coin

"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.'" - Luke 15:8-9

• The coin was lost due to circumstance.
  • People are sometimes lost because they were brought up in a family situation that didn't know Christ or teach his values.
• Jesus felt compassion for these lost souls and spent his time with them.

Parable 3 - The Lost Son

Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living..." - Luke 15:11-13

• The son was lost by rebellion.
  • People walk away and deliberately turn their backs on God.
• There is no search for him.
  • When someone makes a clear decision to quit God, he must make an equally clear decision to come home.

Conclusion

The parables are all about Jesus seeking the lost.

• Jesus wants the lost to be found; the wanderer to come home; the rebellious to have a change of heart.

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