Found (Luke 15:1-10)
Gary McManus, 03/14/2021Part of the New Life series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
March 14, 2021 “Found!” Luke 15:1-10
Lost coin
I believe that many of you are familiar with the program “Indiana unclaimed”;
a program of the Attorney General’s Office, Indiana Unclaimed. Unclaimed property now stands at 110 million dollars worth.
Find it at https://www.indianaunclaimed.gov/
or on Facebook.
Pastor really appreciates one of their television commercials. Come to find out, finding money goes all the way back to the ancient world—hence, Jesus’ parable.
Jesus’ three stories of lost: sheep, coin, person (“Prodigal son”)
Are church people misusing the term “lost”?
No one knows they are lost, except God. Right?
Jesus will mention “lost sheep of Israel.”
The shepherds lost them. (Matthew 23:13)
Why not spend more time on telling how Jesus
FOUND YOU?
Jesus emphasized the “found”.
Jesus had to come find us!
[John 1:9, John 1:43, John 13:1, John 14:28-31,
Acts 9:3-9, Romans 8:29-30, Philippians 2:6-7, Ephesians 1:4]
Jesus paid for his efforts with his life.
Are we all TOO sophisticated to celebrate our finds?
Luke 15:7! Does or does not Jesus know what Jesus is talking about? Angelic celebrations!
Remember Luke 15:24. . .
“So they began to celebrate.”
The older brother is ANGERED.
Shouldn’t his younger brother be punished instead of celebrated?
Many Christians behave as if that would be a better ending to Jesus’ story.
All the blessings belong to older son.
(Whether he works hard or not.)
Americans will celebrate their pets!
Churches, will you celebrate a found brother/sister?
All the characters in Jesus’ story say,
“Rejoice WITH ME.”
Our Lord came to earth to get you/find you.
Our Lord believes you are worth it.
Don’t you want to come to the party?
Amen.
Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
---|---|---|
« How Low Can You Go | None | If You Are Willing . . .I Am » |