June 9, 2024
The Pursuit of Lost Valuables
- Matt Nickoson
Sermon Notes
“What sets Christianity apart from every other religion? 'That’s easy. Grace!'” – C.S. Lewis
“Grace is the most extreme expression of God’s love when it comes face to face with sin. Grace is God’s willingness and desire to forgive and accept the sinner in spite of his sin, to give the sinner the very opposite of what he deserves.” - Jack Cottrell, The Faith Once For All
Luke 15:1-3 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.”
Then Jesus told them this parable:
Luke 15:4 NIV
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?”
Luke 15:8 NIV
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?”
Luke 15:11 NIV
Jesus continued: ‘There was a man who had two sons.’”
Son 1: Wishes dad was dead; is insubordinate, cruel, and profoundly wasteful. He loses everything of dad’s, and in his desperation, he returns to his father.
Luke 15:20 NIV
“So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”
Luke 15:22-24 NIV
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”
“The notion of God’s love coming to us free of charge, no strings attached, seems to go against every instinct of humanity. The Buddhist eightfold path, the Hindu doctrine of karma, the Jewish covenant, and Muslim code of law—each of these offers a way to earn approval. Only Christianity dares to make God’s love unconditional.” - Philip Yancey, What's So Amazing About Grace? Revised and Updated
Son 2: Is faithful, obedient, and hard-working. He always obeys the rules and pleases the Father. In his desperation, he rebukes his father.
Luke 15:28 NIV
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.”
“Neither son loved the father for himself. They both were using the father for their own self-centered ends rather than loving, enjoying, and serving him for his own sake. This means that you can rebel against God and be alienated from him either by breaking his rules or by keeping all of them diligently.” - Timothy Keller, The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith
What about you?
Will you come into the party?