Luke 15 - Parables Luke 15 – three parables Parables are stories that carry a message When Jesus tells a story, He is making a specific point, without finger-pointing When Jesus tells a story, He is getting His listeners to think it through for themselves When Jesus tells a story, He wants you and me to apply the message to our own lives Why does Jesus talk in parables? He is not after people who simply obey rules, He is not after compliant, obedient robots. He could have created us like that if He had wanted. He has created us to be able to make choices so that we can have a real relationship with Him, one that has value because it is real, genuine and free But our choices are key; they matter; and they have consequences for us We have to take His messages seriously, listen carefully and not let them wash over us Don’t just not at me, or whoever’s preaching, and then go away and do what you will for the rest of the week. Honour God, honour each other - each of us knows when we are or are not doing that!

Luke 15 – three lost parables Three parables about lost things First, a lost sheep Second, a lost coin Third, a lost son Similar stories, but not the same message three times over Jesus wants us to think them through, and apply the messages to our own situations When we read Jesus’ parables, there is always a point to them. Something to apply in our own lives.

Why parables about lost things? Luke 15 opens by setting the context for the three parables Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: These parables are told In a context, in a setting. He is talking among a crowd of tax collectors (BOO!) and sinners (BOO!) And the Pharisees (HURRAH!) and teachers of the Law (HURRAH!) were complaining So He is talking to the lost But He is also speaking to those who are complaining that He is among that sort of person – the ones that the self-righteous people would have ignored The ones who, unlike them, were not pleasing to God Tax-collectors – aiding and abetting the hated Romans and the despotic Herod Sinners – all kinds of people who kept the law loosely, who did not keep every bit of God’s rules, which had been greatly increased over the centuries so that Israel could be “faithful”

Parable 1 – the lost sheep 4 “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? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. When we go our own way, it’s easy to get separated from the flock. We are not good on our own. Fellowship is vital to us, for encouragement, discipleship and strengthening – and safety A hundred sheep is a lot of sheep – but we are not lost in the crowd, and our Shepherd knows every one of us. It’s good that He does – but there is no hiding place

The lost sheep The shepherd knows the sheep is lost, and makes that sheep His priority The sheep knows it is lost – separated from the flock – but doesn’t know what to do about it The sheep cannot make it back on its own The shepherd will rescue the lost sheep Jesus says think, and apply it to your own life “We all like sheep have gone astray” – remember Isaiah’s prophetic word from God? Isa 53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,     each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him     the iniquity of us all. 1 Peter 2:25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

Parable 2 – the lost coin 8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The lost coin Similar story to the lost sheep – but different The coin is also part of something bigger The coin is also valuable to its owner, the widow The sheep knows it is lost, the coin doesn’t Jesus wants us to apply this to ourselves; to know God’s heart for those that do not even know Him, men and women who don’t even know they need rescuing, men and women in Redhouse, and across Swindon

Parable 3 – the lost, prodigal, son 11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.” The son knows that he is a son; he knows his father; but he wants to go his own way, and his father is kind and lets him follow his own choices – free will. It does not go well for the young man’s adventure. But when he repents, in humility, he is fully restored. He recognises the folly of his wrongdoing. We are left to consider how relationships work out! We considered this parable in detail last week, just remember a few points in relation to the other two parables

Three parables, three messages Some people know they are lost, need rescuing, but cannot rescue themselves; God is seeking them out. Some people are lost and don’t even know it; they are precious to God, and He wants to restore them to Himself. Some people don’t start out lost, but tell God to “Get lost”! Sometimes, we all have said, “Get lost!” God welcomes us back when we repent. (Think about this – what if they don’t repent?)

Three parables, three messages for us The Church – this church – is part of leading people back into the fold. God cares for them. The Church – this church – is part of reaching out to those who don’t know God. God cares for them. The Church – this church – is full of time-after-time prodigal sons and daughters, with our bad behaviour and bad attitudes; repent, with humility. God cares for us. Think on these points, take them out with you this week, relate them to your own lives and what this church is about. Next time round, I am going to go in to look at Luke 14, where Jesus is not with the “tax collectors and sinners” (BOO!), but with the Pharisees and teachers of the law (HURRAH!) Another key passage containing teachings of Jesus; the parable of the Great Banquet, and the cost of being a disciple. (Pray) I want to invite Bramwell to come up now to give us his testimony, which is very much in keeping with what Jesus had to say in these three parables, and especially perhaps the last of them.