THE PHARISEES CONDEMNED JESUS FOR BEING WITH SINNERS; HERE HE DEFENDS HIS INVOLVEMENT

• This most touching chapter of the Bible shows why Jesus healed on Sabbath, and helped sinners
• The world, and Pharisees, casts out the sinner, but takes up and revels in sin- socially acceptable
• Jesus in this passage shows three kinds of sin, and how God deals with the sinner -

This passage ought to touch our hearts to the right kind of involvement with God-

LOST BECAUSE OF IGNORANCE - THE SHEEP  Luke 15:3-7

This story asked the Pharisees which of them would not sympathetically search for the sheep

WHY WAS THE SHEEP LOST?  THE DUMB THING JUST DID NOT KNOW ANY BETTER

• The reason is simple- "just because" - this is what sheep naturally do at any opportunity
• Isa 53:6  "All we like sheep" - this is also the natural state of every man- naturally lost!
• Note that it was a sheep that went astray- not a lamb!  Youth concerns us- but adults condemn us

HOW WAS THE SHEEP FOUND?  BY THE SHEPHERD GOING OUT AND SEEKING IT!  GOD'S SEEKING LOVE!  v.4b

• Matt 18:11 tells us that the Lord came to seek and to save the lost!  Where is He now?
• God is looking for some good shepherds today!  Maybe some good sheep dogs, too!  Will you help?
• The sheep must be sought- he will not come; sought in wilderness- running away, hiding, kicking

A SHEEP THAT IS NOT FOUND PERISHES, BUT THIS ONE HERE HAS A HAPPY ENDING- v. 5-7

• There is no anger, no beating the sheep, no cursing it for the shepherd's discomfort - our shame
• The shepherd called everyone - to rejoice!  If you cannot rejoice, or help hunt- you are wicked
• There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents - would you help make heaven happy?

If you are a lost sheep - let me point you to Jesus; if you are saved, who have you sought?

LOST BECAUSE OF CARELESSNESS - THE COIN  Luke 15:8-10

Here the attention is focused on the search, the hard, dirty, clean up to search-

WHY WAS THE COIN LOST?  IT WAS A VICTIM OF GRAVITY AND CARELESSNESS, NO FAULT OF ITS OWN

• Some would call it an accident- but accidents are caused by carelessness- some take work
• The world, flesh, devil, all pull against souls, and we are as helpless as the hard coin
• This coin- one of 10, was very precious!  Her wedding coins- necklace- found before husband returned home.

HOW WAS THE COIN FOUND? AND UNLESS WE TAKE GREAT CARE IN THIS WE MISS OUR COIN.

• She lit a candle- we need the light of God's word full force to chase away darkness
• She swept the dirt- if Christians' houses were not so dirty, more coins would be found today
• She sought diligently till she found it!  Soulwinning takes persistence- hard work

THE COIN THAT IS NOT FOUND IS WASTED, BUT THIS ONE IS AGAIN A PART OF THE WOMAN'S PURPOSE

• Don't blame the coin for being lost, blame the careless, lazy housewife - but she got busy
• When it was found- she got excited - took blame for it being lost, sewed it back into her necklace
• Her friends rejoiced with her, the angels in heaven rejoiced, too- we need this joy today.

The coin is incapable of feeling, but you have feeling.  Is a soul valuable as a dowry?

LOST BECAUSE OF DELIBERATE WILL - SON  Luke 15:11-32

Here the attention is on the restoration- the joyful forgiveness, restoration of sonship.

WHY WAS THIS SON LOST?  YOUNG, FOOLISH, REBELLIOUS, DEMANDING A MOMENT'S PLEASURE

• But this was deliberate, willful, rebellious, desertion of a God-provided home for adventure
• The son took what was his- before his time, demanding his rights- right now!  Father not happy
• No doubt he had false counsellors, as many today have- not friends- but exploiters!

WHY DID THE SON COME TO HIMSELF?  HIS POVERTY, HARDSHIP, HEARTACHE, HUNGER, BROUGHT SORROW!

• Satan wants all that we have, but he has no love, only death and destruction for us!
• Having lost all, this boy had time to reflect v.17.  He came to his real self - will changed
• This son repented, even though he was in a hog pen - the other son did not repent at all!

HOW WAS THE SON RECEIVED?  JOYFULLY, WITH OPEN ARMS, NOT WITH SPITE, BUT FORGIVENESS!

• He felt he had no rights, came to plead to be as a servant- not demanding, he took first step
• The father did not wait for him to say his canned speech - v.18,19 - forgave and rejoiced!
• But the elder brother is a picture of the Pharisees - then and now!  Cold hearted - are you?

There was nothing the father could do until the son changed his will- will you?

WHICH PARABLE FITS YOU?  IF YOU ARE LOST, IS IT IGNORANCE, CARELESSNESS, OR DELIBERATE?

• Since you are here, you cannot plead ignorance, or helplessness- come to Jesus now!
• If you are lost, get up and come to God- He will honor your free will, so come NOW
• If you are a Christian, don't be the elder brother, but search and help win the lost!