Sermon Tone Analysis

Christian and non-Christians agree on one thing … they both dislike evangelism.

The word itself conjures up images of in your face confrontation.

Therefore Christians usually avoid gospel showdowns and most non-Christians are relieved they do.

When evangelism is attempted it rarely begins with any kind of empathy … or sense of it being natural.

If we really understood lost people our outreach might be less of a high pressure sales pitch and more natural.

Most of us DON’T understand lost people nor do we understand How God see’s lost people

WE hear and understand

I want to make two statements before we dig into

When we say a person is lost we are saying first of all that they have purpose … There is someplace they need to be … and they are not there!

WE are created to be in relationship with God … and we are not there.

This indicates that the lost person is lost from God.

When we say a person is lost we are saying that they have value … If no one cares where you are that’s one thing … By describing people as lost we recognize that Jesus declares that He Cares … that lost people have spiritual value.

God cares that we are not where we should be.

Now Lets look at … first

The Setting - Verses 1-2

The setting is that those responding to the call of Jesus are the Tax Collectors and Sinners

Tax Collectors … were not exactly like CRA (Although some would debate) - They were despised and incredibly dishonest.

They were typically Jews … who collected taxes and tolls for the occupying Roman Empire.

They would collect what was necessary and pocket their overcharge for themselves.

Sinners - This was a catch all term for those who had forfeited relationship in the religious community by their flagrant disregard for the Law of God.

* Ryken - The word “sinners” was a catchall for people who had a notorious reputation for bad behavior—thieves, drunkards, prostitutes, and anyone else who refused to conform to the holy habits of the religious community.

These people were flocking to Jesus to Hear Him

v:2 - The Pharisees and other Jewish Leaders were faulting Jesus for socializing with these dregs of society

These ritually and morally unclean people

They were GRUMBLING - Idea of word is murmuring and complaining

These were the people … the lost … who were coming to Jesus … he cared … the Pharisees didn't care for them … in fact they would distance themselves from them.

Members of the religious establishment stayed as far away from such people as they could, believing that any contact would contaminate them.

As far as the scribes and Pharisees were concerned, sinners and tax collectors were outside of Israel, outside of the faith, and outside of God.

People in the church sometimes have the same attitude today

The word “sinners” was a catchall for people who had a notorious reputation for bad behavior—thieves, drunkards, prostitutes, and anyone else who refused to conform to the holy habits of the religious community.

Sinners and the tax collectors were people who almost never went to worship and never seemed to have any interest in following God.

Jesus was aware of this Prejudice … so what did He Do … He Welcomes Such people and invited them to eat with him (fellowship with Him)

v

In Response to this Kerfuffle Jesus teaches

Note … Chapter 15 is a Parable … a story related to current life that teaches a spiritual lesson

Chapter 15 is ONE parable … all teaching the same lesson … but with Three Parts

Big Picture Overview

The Lost … Tax Collectors and Sinners … pictured as Lost Sheep, a Lost Coin and a Lost Son - Each one hopelessly lost without God’s Intervention and Acceptance - THis is the condition of every lost person without Christ

Note the break down in the passage - The Ratio is 1 out of 100 (vv:3-7); 1 Out of Ten (vv:8-10); One out of 2 (vv:11-32)

Every lost item has value/significance and purpose - The sheep mattered to the farmer (Shepherding was a family business - This was a fairly decent size herd … couldn't just afford to loose one) - the Shepherd’s attitude was NOT well you win some you loose some!

The lady in vv:8-10 only had ten coins … big loss for her to loose 10%

And to loose one son … well the stakes have just risen

Note how God is Pictured in the text … the primary players in the text represent God - Each one addresses prejudices of the Pharisees

Note God is Pictured as a Shepherd for the Pharisees - Shepherds were low end of the caste system (Right there with Tax Collectors)

God is also pictured as a Woman - Pharisees opinion of Women was low as well - They were considered property … only sources of defilement and temptation.

God is also pictured as a father … but wait … a forgiving father - The Pharisees would have said to that Father … You should never forgive that boy … He would have been DEAD to them

Jesus is addressing their prejudices

Note the use of the word Rejoice, Joy or Celebrate … vv: 5,6, 7, 9, 23, 24 - This is God’s Reaction when a lost person repents

Now Lets Look at the Parable

The Lost Sheep - 15:3-7

This shepherd lost one sheep …

Left to itself … that sheep wasn't going to be found

Without a seeking shepherd … that sheep would wander into coyote country and be fresh meat

Eat till there was no more food left … then lay down and starve to death

Can I say this without hurting your feelings?

Little Bo Peep was Wrong!!!!!!!

Remember the Little Bo Peep Advice?

“LBP has lost her sheep and didn't know where to find them.

Leave them alone and they’ll come home, wagging their tails behind them.”

That Little Peep Girl is still waiting!

Look at what the SHEPHERD did.

He left the 99 in the open country (Desert) … assumed with other shepherds

The point is that the lost sheep receives special attention over those that are safe and sound.

The original Palestinian audience would not need to be told that the shepherd had others in the wilderness to watch over the sheep, and he could leave the ninety-nine with them as he went to look for the lost one.

Imagery here of God’s protective care and concern for the LOST

He Seeks them

The point of comparison is that God rejoices at a sinner who is led back to him by Jesus’ ministry (or by his disciples’ ministry).

Even though the shepherd pictures God’s desire, disciples are to share this attitude.

In addition, the joy that accompanies such a return should match the joy of heaven and should be present in all who see it happen.

Even the discovery of one such person is a cause for joy.

Such is God’s heart for the lost.

This attitude stands in contrast to the leadership’s complaint.

God’s people should always seek to find more of the lost.

15:6 The shepherd does not rejoice privately.

He calls his friends and neighbors.

They are to share in the joy of the rediscovered sheep.

The picture is a simple one: a great celebration at the recovery of a lost sinner.

The Lost Coin - 15:8-10

The value and significance is upped … before 1 out of 100; Now it’s one out of ten

The coin was Drachma - A Roman silver coin worth approximately a days wage.

She turned the house upside down … swept out dust bunnies …

Where would you look first for a lost coin?

Under the couch cushions (Maybe she did)

When she found it … there was a gigantic shin-dig (or a hootenanny)

There was joy and rejoicing … she invited her friends to celebrate

The Lost Son - 15:11-32

This one gets real personal

Popularly called the parable of the Prodigal Son (From Latin Vulgate)

I prefer the Title “The Parable of the Forgiving Father”

The Centre of the Parable is the Father’s reaction

It is HIS reaction to the son’s repentance … … Here we see in picture form God’s Grace and Compassion

Luke 15:1

--- A Certain man …

The young son requests what will eventually be his when Dad dies … it would have been close to 1/3 of the Fathers estate

There could be no further claims to the inheritance

the Son’s request severed ties with Dad

This request was a subtle way of wishing the Dad to die

So … dad grants him his request

“This suggests the heavenly father letting the sinner go his own way.”

“Took all he had” Liquidated his assets into cash