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May 19, 2019

Luke 15: 11-32 - Parables of the Lost: Part II


Text: Luke 15:11-32
11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.
12 “And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.
13 “And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.
14 “But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.
15 “Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 “And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 ‘I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,
19 “and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’
20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.
21 “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.
23 ‘And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;
24 ‘for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 “So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.
27 “And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’
28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.
29 “So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.
30 ‘But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.
32 ‘It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”


Main Topics/Questions

Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:

 1. The parable of the lost sheep, a lost coin and the lost son (prodigal son) all compare the relationship between two or three of the entities found in Luke 15:1-2 - Jesus Christ the seeker; scribes and Pharisees who think they are righteous and people who know they are lost sinners. What kind of a relationship do you have with Jesus? Are you counting on your own good works or your own self-righteousness to save you? Or do you realize that you are hopelessly lost in your sins and you need Jesus to come find and save you?
 2. Luke 15:11: What was the purpose of the "right of the first born" (Deuteronomy 21:17) and how does it relate to the story? What can we surmise from this passage about the attitudes of the two sons? How did the father respond to the disrespect shown by the younger son?
 3. Luke 15:13: What constitutes prodigal living?
 4. Luke 15: 14-16: Why would feeding pigs be humiliating? Why did he consider eating what he was feeding the pigs? What was it that they were probably feeding the pigs during the famine?
 5. Luke 15: 17-19: Who does the younger son say he sinned against first? When we sin, who is the primary offense against? (David in Psalm 51:4;Ezra 9:6) When the younger son recognizes what he has done becomes humble and repentant, what does he decide to do and say?
 6. Luke 15: 20: What is the significance of the father running to meet the son?  And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.
 7. Luke 15: 21-24: What happens as soon as he confesses his sin to his father? What did the father's reaction signify? Why is the language so striking? How does that relate to Romans 7:9-11?
 8; Luke 15: 25-28: How does the older son represent the scribes and Pharisees from Luke 15:2 How does he react to see a sinner's repentance?
 9. Luke 15: 29-30: What words and actions indicate the older son's inability to see his own sin and self-righteousness?
10. Luke 15: 31-32: What happens next?

Conclusion:
If you are consumed by your own self-righteousness (like the older brother and like the scribes and the Pharisees), you are in very real danger of dying without Christ and going to hell forever. And it’s all because you have swallowed the lie that you are good and that you are righteous because of your own efforts. It’s not true. Romans 3:23 says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” You need to come to your senses like the younger son did. You need to repent of your sins and come to the Savior Jesus Christ.

Following Christ is not always easy. When you decide to make Jesus number one in your life, there are going to be growing pains. How you lived life before is going to conflict with how Jesus in His Word is teaching you to live now. And the struggle is real.

You might be thinking, “If it gets so hard so quick, why would I even want to follow Christ?” Well, that’s simple. It’s because the story actually doesn’t end with self-righteous people killing Jesus and persecuting His Church. The story continues with an empty tomb. It continues with the resurrected Jesus later flying up to heaven promising to one day come back to judge the living and the dead. It continues even now with Jesus Christ interceding between us and our Heavenly Father while we are in the middle of our struggles here on earth. It continues with Jesus one day returning to the earth in glory raising up and perfecting His Church, preparing us for eternal life in the new heaven and new earth where Revelation 21:4 says, And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. That’s how not just this story, but the story of human history really ends. And that’s why repenting of your sins and coming to Jesus is worth it. That’s why any struggle or sacrifice you have to go through to follow Christ is worth it. So please… Please repent and follow Christ today.

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Pray

Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, "Four Things You Need to Know About God"

Please send an email to the Pastor if you have questions.

May 12, 2019

Luke 15:1-10 - Parables of the Lost: Part I

Luke 15:1-10
1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”
3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying:
4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
5 “And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’
7 “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?
9 “And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’
10 “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”


Main Topics/Questions

Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:

1. The crowds, which included despised Jewish tax collectors and those who were ethnically, but non-practicing Jews, continued to gather around Jesus even though he had given them some hard teachings. How does this relate to the"seeker sensitive movement" which is becoming popular today? Does this movement follow the intent of the Great Commission?
2. In what ways do the parables relate to the relationship between Jesus and the two groups: the tax collectors and sinners and pharisees and scribes? How do they focus on the relationships you and I have with Christ today?
3. In the parable of the lost sheep, what does Jesus mean when he says, "persons who need no repentance" Are there people who do not need to repent? Are you a lost person who has been found or do you think you’re found when actually you are still lost?
4. What might be a possible reason for sentimental value as well as monetary value of the silver coin? How might that relate to something we could value and what we might do to find it if it was lost?
5. Both the shepherd and the woman do all the work to find that which is lost. The lost coin (as well as the lost sheep) can do nothing to save itself. How does that relate to our salvation?

Conclusion:
Although you and I might like to think that we can do something to save ourselves from our lost and sinful condition and think we can save ourselves from death and hell; we can’t. Instead we need Jesus Christ to do all the work of living the perfect life which we cannot live. You and I need Jesus to take the punishment for our sins by dying on a cross, and then we need Him to come back to life in order to give us hope for our own resurrection. So don’t count on your own self-righteousness. It will get you nowhere. Instead trust in the righteousness of Christ to both find and save you. And if you have been found praise Jesus for finding you!

Click on the player to listen to the full audio sermon.





If the player doesn't work, you can listen to the sermon on Google Drive.


Pray

Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, "Four Things You Need to Know About God"

Please send an email to the Pastor if you have questions.

Life Verse

1 Peter 3:15, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear."

We fully affirm the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.