Lost and Found

I am distracted this morning…in a bad mood. Why? I lost something I really like and I cant find it. I think maybe someone hear is just playing a trick on me because they like to see me stress out. So, here’s what I lost. It is a fidget spinner. I am a fidgety person, so I need my fidget spinner. It’s brand new. Can ya’ll just take a look around you, on the ground, in other people’s pockets or purses.

Then take a minute to celebrate

Introduction

records 3 stories Jesus told back to back. They were all about lost things that were found: The lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son.

I heard someone say the other day that this is one of the passages that got Jesus killed. Jesus deconstructed the elitism of the religious leaders and reconstructed a message of love and grace.

One of the most famous stories (parables) Jesus told is known as “The Prodigal Son” …about a lost son. The story is found in the Gospel of Luke chapter 15. I heard someone say the other day that this is one of the passages that got Jesus killed.

Why is that? Because Jesus didn’t pull any punches. He spoke the truth and acted upon that truth. Let’s look at the beginning of the passage

Luke 15:1–2 NIV

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

In that culture the eldest son would inherit the father’s estate. But in this story the younger brother broke all the rules and said, “Father, I want my inheritance now.” This would have been 1/3 of the estate. The father gave the younger son what he asked for. It says that this young buck gathered his stuff and his inheritance and traveled to a “far country (Vegas)” and blew all that money. He probably drank and partied it all away. He had lots of friends, until the money ran out. When he ran out of money the only place he could find work was a pig farm. He used to be the privileged son of a well-respected man — now he was a Jewish boy feeding pigs. He couldn’t get any lower than that…he was low.

The story of the Prodigal son is actually about two sons. In that culture the eldest son would inherit the fathers estate. But in this story the younger brother broke all the rules and said, “Father, I want my inheritance now.” This would have been 1/3 of the estate. Perhaps you are famiar with the story. The father gave the younger son what he asked for. It says that this young buck gathered his stuff and his ineritance and traveled to a “far country (Vegas)” and blew his ineritance. He probably drank and partied it all away. I’m sure that he had lots of friends, until the money ran out. When he ran out of money the only place he could find work was a pig farm. He used to be the priviledged son of a well-respected man — now he was a Jewish boy feeding pigs. He couldn’t get any lower than that…he was low.

Maybe you can relate in some way — maybe you’ve hit a wall. You might feel alone, lost…struggling to have hope.

Here’s what we need to latch onto today:

Big Idea: Jesus constantly reaches out to lost people; when they reach out to Him, Jesus immediatly embraces them with His grace and love.

Transition a: In the story of the Prodigal Son, the father did not give up - he watched and waited for his lost boy. That father is a picture of Christ and how He feels about us.

Transition a: In the story of the Prodigal Son, his father did not give up - he saw him from a distance — he had been watching and waithing. That father is a picture of Christ and how He feels about us.

Transition b: Listen…we are all lost children, but Jesus is calling us to come to Him — but there is hope because Jesus came to turn the lost into the found.

Lost

Knowingly Lost

This kid was as lost as he could get…he knew good and well it was because of his own foolishness. He knew the day he left home that he was doing something wrong…but he didn’t care at the time.

This kids was as lost as he could get…and he knew good and well it was because of his own foolishness and his sinful heart. He knew the day he left home that he was doing something wrong…but he didn’t care.

When the money and the friends were gone, he was forced to face his harsh reality. Jesus tells us that this lost son came to his senses…eventually

It says in that this lost son came to his senses when he was at the point of wanting to eat pig slop, or starve

“I have nothing to lose. I am going back to dad’s place. His servants are treated well and they never go hungry. I’ll say “Father, I have sinned and I don’t deserve to be your son. I’ll just be a hired hand, if you will let me.”

Proverbs 28:14 NIV

Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.

Prov 2814

This son left home with an arrogant and selfish heart — now he comes back with a different outlook

Unknowingly Lost

Proverbs 28:14 NIV

Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.

Some people are lost but they don’t know it…or at least they have convinced themselves that they are not lost because they do all the right things and follow all the rules.

Unknowingly Lost

The younger brother was a scoundrel…he rebelled against everything he had ever known…but eventually he repented and came back home. In the meantime, his older brother worked his tail off to keep things together.

Here’s what happened

When the father saw his younger son coming down the driveway, he ran to meet him.

Picture this: the son was trying to give his speech to dad, but dad didn’t hear it. His son that was lost is was now found! He put a new robe on him, and put a ring on his finger (a sign of family). He threw a big party, sparing no expense, to celebrate the return of his younger son.

As the older brother was coming in from the fields, he hears the sound of a party. And what a party!

Sidenote: it was a great party — expand

When the older brother found out that his younger brother was back and that the party was for him, he became very angry. And why not? Wouldn’t you?

When dad tried to calm him he said “No, Father, I have never left you. I always work hard to take care of your lands and businesses. You never threw me a party.”

This elder brother was also lost…but he didn’t know it.

He figured, “This kid waltzes in here and gets the royal treatment. I am a good guy, he is a bad guy. There’s something wrong with this picture“

The father says, “Son, you I always have with me and everything I have is But

Luke 15:31–32 NIV

“ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”

This is the kind of love the Heavenly Father has for you. Others might judge or assume the worst about you…but Jesus loves you unconditionally.

Conclusion — music

Jesus told those parables to point out how much He loves us. We are all prodigals....lost, without Jesus. But He loved us so much that He allowed His own blood to be poured out at foot of the Cross, so that we could come just as we are to Him

Maybe you can relate to the Prodigal son: What do you do if you are in that position?

Just like the Father embraced His wayward son and celebrated his return, Jesus desires to embrace you with His grace and love

How do you get there?

Repent

Say “Lord, I receive you. I believe that you died for my sins. I want to follow you”

You may say why now and why here in public?

Every person Jesus called, He called them publically

When he called the disciples, they turned away from their current lives and followed Him

Repenting is like that — turning from your old ways and following in the path of Jesus.

You may feel a bit lost…but in Jesus you can be found today!

“Christ is enough” — no matter what is missing in your life — no matter how bad you think you are — no matter how good you think you are — Jesus is the answer…He is the only one that can fill the void in your life.

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