Easter 2017: The Trinity, the Urgency & the Party
Scripture References: Luke 15:1-32; John 10:11; Isaiah 53:4-6
Intro: Welcome. Every week we gather to lift up Jesus. Today, we explore Luke 15, often read as separate parables (Lost Sheep, Coin, Son), but best understood as one three-part story – a trilogy. Jesus told this story to answer the religious leaders' criticism: "Why does this man welcome sinners and eat with them?" This reveals profound truths about our condition and God's heart.
Key Points:
- Our Lost Condition: This trilogy shows different ways we are lost without God:
- Like Sheep: Wandering, vulnerable, unable to return on our own, needing a Shepherd.
- Like a Coin: Lost and unaware of being lost, needing someone to search diligently.
- Like the Younger Son: Lost through willful rebellion and squandered living.
- Like the Elder Son: Lost while physically present; outwardly dutiful but inwardly resentful, bitter, disconnected from the Father's heart. We are all helpless and hopeless without intervention.
- The Seeking Trinity: The parable reveals the Triune God's passionate pursuit:
- Jesus (The Shepherd): Leaves the 99, actively seeks the one lost sheep, carries its weight, and restores it (John 10:11, Isa 53). He finds us.
- Holy Spirit (The Woman): Diligently lights a lamp, sweeps, and searches persistently until the lost coin is found. The Spirit illuminates and reveals truth.
- The Father (The Father): Waits eagerly, sees from afar, runs with compassion, embraces fully, restores honour, and celebrates extravagantly.
- God's Urgent Heart: The increasing value/percentage of what's lost (1/100, 1/10, 1/2) highlights God's urgency. He's not content with any loss. His pursuit isn't casual outreach but a passionate mission: "They're mine, and I want them back."
- Heaven's Extravagant Party: Each recovery ends in celebration. Significantly, God Himself rejoices passionately "in the presence of the angels" over one repenting sinner. Finding the lost sparks immense joy in God's heart.
Conclusion: Jesus hangs out with sinners because they belong to Him, and the entire Godhead is urgently, passionately invested in seeking, finding, restoring, and celebrating every lost one. This parable reveals our desperate need and God's overwhelming, pursuing love.
Call to Action:
- Recognize your own need for the seeking God, no matter how you feel "lost."
- Stop running or hiding; surrender to the Father who is running towards you with open arms.
- If you feel found, join the party! Celebrate God's heart by welcoming others home.
- Respond today if God is speaking to you about returning to Him or taking a step like baptism.
*Summaries and transcripts are generated using AI.
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