The Beauty of Seeking the Lost

Today, we witnessed the joy of new life as three individuals—Robin, Carol, and George—publicly declared their faith in Christ through baptism. Their obedience is a living testimony of what it means to be “buried with Christ in baptism and raised to walk in newness of life.” This visible act reminds us that every believer was once lost, but through Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection, we have been found and restored to our Creator.

Turning to Luke 15, we explored the heart of God for the lost. Jesus, criticized by religious leaders for associating with sinners, responded with the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin. These stories reveal that God’s love is not reserved for the self-righteous, but is poured out on those who know their need for Him. The shepherd’s willingness to leave the ninety-nine to search for the one lost sheep, and the woman’s diligent search for her lost coin, illustrate the relentless pursuit of God for every lost soul.

We are reminded that people without Christ are not just “unchurched” or “outsiders”—they are lost, separated from the family of God, and in desperate need of rescue. Yet, they are also deeply loved. The value of the lost is not in their inherent worth, but in the love God has for them. Jesus’ mission was clear: “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” If we love Jesus, we will love what He loves, and that means caring deeply for those who are far from Him.

Heaven itself rejoices when even one sinner repents. The celebration over a found sheep or coin is a picture of the joy in heaven when a lost person is restored to God. This challenges us to examine our own hearts: do we share God’s burden for the lost? Are we willing to leave our comfort zones, build bridges, and intentionally seek out those who need Christ? The church exists not for itself, but for the sake of those who have yet to be found.

As we go out this week, may we be emboldened to “put feet to our faith,” praying for and reaching out to those in our lives who are lost. The good news is that we do not have to find our way to God—He has already come searching for us in Jesus. When we trust Him, we are carried home on the shoulders of the Good Shepherd, and all of heaven rejoices.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Pursuit of the Lost Is Relentless and Personal The parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin show that God does not passively wait for the lost to return; He actively seeks them out. His pursuit is not based on the lost one’s merit, but on His own love and compassion. This relentless search is a model for how we are to engage with those far from God, refusing to give up on anyone, no matter how far they have wandered. [43:42]
• 2. The Value of a Soul Is Defined by God’s Love, Not Human Standards The shepherd risks the ninety-nine for the sake of one, and the woman turns her house upside down for a single coin. In God’s economy, every soul is precious—not because of what they can offer, but because He loves them. Our worth is not intrinsic, but bestowed by the love of Christ, who makes us valuable by His sacrifice. [59:48]
• 3. Religious Pride Can Blind Us to God’s Heart for the Lost The Pharisees grumbled at Jesus’ association with sinners, missing the very heart of God. When we become possessive of our pews, our traditions, or our comfort, we risk building walls instead of bridges. True humility recognizes that we were once lost, and only by grace have we been found; this should move us to welcome and seek out others with the same grace. [49:19]
• 4. Evangelism Is an Act of Love, Not Obligation Sharing the gospel is not about fulfilling a religious duty, but about loving others enough to want their eternal good. Even an atheist like Penn Jillette recognizes the seriousness of withholding the message of salvation. If we truly believe in the reality of eternity, love compels us to speak and act, seeking opportunities to introduce others to Christ. [65:03]
• 5. Heaven Rejoices Over Every Person Who Comes Home The greatest celebration in heaven is not over religious achievements or church growth, but over one sinner who repents. This should recalibrate our priorities and fuel our passion for evangelism. When we participate in God’s mission to seek and save the lost, we join in the joy of heaven itself.
  
  ** [67:16]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [02:49] - Baptism of Robin, Carol, and George
• [04:48] - Opening Prayer
• [38:31] - Introduction to Luke 15
• [39:45] - The Importance of Feet and the Gospel
• [41:29] - Jesus Calls the First Disciples
• [42:43] - The Value of the Lost
• [44:30] - Reading Luke 15:1-10
• [46:30] - People Without Christ Are Lost
• [48:18] - Jesus Welcomes Sinners
• [49:19] - Warning Against Religious Pride
• [51:12] - The Parable of the Lost Sheep
• [55:27] - The Parable of the Lost Coin
• [57:15] - God’s Love for the Lost
• [61:00] - The Mission to Seek and Save
• [65:03] - Evangelism and the Value of a Soul
• [67:16] - Heaven’s Joy Over the Found
• [69:42] - Our Mission Beyond Church Walls
• [71:14] - The Good News: God Finds Us
• [72:22] - Prayer and Invitation
• [77:59] - New Believer Welcomed

Bible Reading

Luke 15:1-10 (ESV) — > 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.” 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.
> “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 that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Observation Questions

1. In the parables Jesus tells in Luke 15, what actions do the shepherd and the woman take when they realize something is lost? What does this show about their priorities?
2. According to the sermon, how did the religious leaders (Pharisees and scribes) react to Jesus spending time with “sinners”? What was their main complaint? [[44:42]]
3. What is the response in heaven when a lost person is found, according to Jesus’ words in these parables?
4. The sermon mentions that the shepherd risks leaving the ninety-nine sheep to find the one. Why is this significant, and how does it contrast with normal expectations? [[58:02]]

Interpretation Questions

1. What do these parables reveal about God’s attitude toward people who are far from Him? How does this compare to the attitude of the religious leaders? [[49:19]]
2. The sermon says, “The value of the lost is not in their inherent worth, but in the love God has for them.” What does this mean, and how does it challenge the way we see others? [[59:48]]
3. Why do you think Jesus chose to use the examples of a lost sheep and a lost coin, rather than something more obviously valuable? What point is He making about God’s love?
4. The pastor said, “If you love Jesus, you will love what Jesus loved, and Jesus loved the lost.” What are some practical implications of this for believers today? [[01:01:00]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to “put feet to our faith” and intentionally reach out to those who are lost. Who is one person in your life right now who is far from God? What is one step you could take this week to build a bridge or start a spiritual conversation with them? [[01:10:44]]
2. The religious leaders were more concerned with their traditions and comfort than with reaching the lost. Are there any “comfort zones” or traditions in your own life or in our church that might be keeping you from welcoming or seeking out those who need Jesus? How can you address this? [[49:19]]
3. The sermon said, “Evangelism is an act of love, not obligation.” When you think about sharing your faith, do you see it more as a duty or as an act of love? How might your approach change if you focused on love? [[01:05:03]]
4. The parables show that God’s pursuit of the lost is relentless and personal. Have you ever experienced God pursuing you, or seen Him pursue someone else? What did that look like?
5. The pastor mentioned that heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents. How does this truth affect your priorities and what you celebrate in your own life or in our church? [[01:07:16]]
6. The sermon reminded us that “people without Christ are not just ‘unchurched’ or ‘outsiders’—they are lost, separated from the family of God, and in desperate need of rescue.” How does this perspective change the way you view your neighbors, coworkers, or family members who don’t know Jesus? [[46:30]]
7. The pastor shared that sometimes we can become possessive of “our pews, our traditions, or our comfort.” Have you ever caught yourself thinking this way? What would it look like to “give up your pew” for someone who is new or searching? [[50:11]]