252: Luke
15 – The Divine Seeker
Jesus, why do you receive sinners?
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all
drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying,
“This man receives sinners and eats with them.” LUKE 15:1-2 ESV
Seeking
a lost sheep
So he told them this parable:
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not
leave the ninety- nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost,
until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders,
rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his
neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was
lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will
be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety- nine
righteous persons who need no repentance.” LUKE 15:3-7 ESV
Seeking
a lost coin
“Or what woman, having ten silver
coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and
seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls
together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found
the coin.’” LUKE
15:8-9 ESV
Seeking
a lost son
But he was angry and refused to go
in. His father came out and entreated him… It was fitting to celebrate and be
glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found. LUKE 15:28,32 ESV
I
have God-given value because God himself seeks me
God seeks like a
shepherd
For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I
myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. EZEKIEL 34:11 ESV
Jesus
seeks as God’s shepherd
“For the Son of Man came to seek
and to save the lost.“ LUKE 19:10 ESV
If
God seeks people, all people have infinite value
Truly no man can ransom another,
or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly
and can never suffice, that he should live on forever and never see the
pit. … But God will ransom my soul from
the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. PSALMS
49:7-9, 12-15 ESV
Even as the Son of Man came not to
be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. MATTHEW 20:28 ESV
I
have a God-given purpose in life to seek others
Jesus invites the entire family into
seeking what is lost
You will be my witnesses in
Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. ACTS 1:8 ESV
Community Group Discussion Questions