The Three Parables From Luke 15

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2. Finding The Lost The Three Parables From Luke 15

3. Finding The Lost The Three Parables From Luke 15 The Lost Sheep vv. 4-7 • By nature, sheep are wayward, defenseless • They are in constant need of supervision • The Bible often portrays men as “sheep” in both the O.T. & N.T. cp. Psa 23:1 100:3 Mt 9:36 25:32

4. Finding The Lost The Three Parables From Luke 15 The Lost Sheep vv. 4-7 • The shepherd who went out to find & rescue the stray sheep = selfless • The sheep’s value = its need for guidance, protection • Christ is the “Good Shepherd”… He gave His life for His sheep cp. Jn 10:11

5. Finding The Lost The Three Parables From Luke 15 The Lost Coin vv. 8-10 • The coin used = Greek drachma • Equivalent to wages for 1 day’s labor • To most, this coin would be insignificant • After all, the woman had 9 others • However, the owner saw it as important as the 9 she hadn’t lost • She left nothing unturned to find it v. 8

6. Finding The Lost The Three Parables From Luke 15 The Lost Coin vv. 8-10 • When lost, the coin was useless • Yet, while lost, it was still valuable • It still bore the image stamped upon it • It never stopped being a coin • It is the same re: lost people • Precious souls still bear the “image” of their Creator Lk 20:24-25 Gen 1:26

7. Finding The Lost The Three Parables From Luke 15 The Lost Son vv. 11-32 • The youngest of 2 sons cannot wait for his share of the inheritance • Upon squandering his estate, he finds himself in the “far country” vv. 13-14 • What he wanted…trusted in is gone • This is the sinner “afar off from God” cp. Eph 2:13

8. Finding The Lost The Three Parables From Luke 15 The Lost Son vv. 11-32 • He knew things could not be like they were if he returned home • He would ask to be made a “hired servant” • Working 1 day at a time, no guarantee of a job the next day and living on “poverty’s edge”

9. Finding The Lost The Three Parables From Luke 15 The Lost Son vv. 11-32 • What a contrast!! • He left home a prince…he came back a pauper • Such it is with sin…it “bankrupts us” Mt 5:3 • The 1 thing he didn’t foresee or couldn’t even imagine…grace & mercy from his father

10. Finding The Lost The Three Parables From Luke 15 The Lost Son vv. 11-32 • Even when gone, he remained valuable • His life may have been in shambles • But he always had potential in his father’s eyes • He was still loved & thought of often Rom 5:6-8

11. Finding The Lost The Three Parables From Luke 15 Applications • There are different ways people become lost • Sometimes, men are lost like sheep • Sheep are senseless, careless…wanderers • They do not know when they are lost • There are myriads of people lost this way • They have not openly rebelled…they have simply drifted away Heb 2:1

12. Finding The Lost The Three Parables From Luke 15 Applications • There are different ways people become lost • Sometimes, men are lost like the coin • The coin did not lose itself…it was lost through the efforts of someone else • This doesnot remove personal accountability • Jesus warns of causing others to be lost through our efforts Mt 18:3-7

13. Finding The Lost The Three Parables From Luke 15 Applications • There are different ways people become lost • Sometimes, men are lost like the young son • The son was not lost through carelessness, nor through the carelessness of others • He was open, defiant, willful re: his desires Heb 10:26-27 • This is the veryessence of sin

14. Finding The Lost The Three Parables From Luke 15 Conclusion • The lessons of these 3 parables is not that man is lost • The focus is God’s attitude toward the lost • There is a search • There is joy upon finding the lost vv. 7, 10

15. Finding The Lost The Three Parables From Luke 15 Conclusion • God misses everyone that is lost • No true father can rest until all his children have come home safely • Even more so re: our heavenly Father • God desires that all would come home to Him 1 Tim 2:4 2 Pet 3:9

16. Finding The Lost The Three Parables From Luke 15 Won’t you be found today?

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