Embracing the Lost: A Call to Inclusion and Joy

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing God's Inclusive Love

Inclusion over exclusion is a central theme in the parables of Luke 15. These stories challenge us to move beyond the societal and spiritual gatekeeping that often leads to division. The Pharisees' grumbling about Jesus associating with sinners highlights a common issue where individuals or groups exclude others based on perceived shortcomings. However, the parables remind us that God's love is for everyone, and our role is to welcome all, regardless of their past or present circumstances. This inclusivity reflects the heart of God, who rejoices over every lost soul that is found. [27:02]

"For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:13, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life have you unintentionally excluded? How can you reach out to them today to show God's inclusive love?

Day 2: The Shepherd's Active Pursuit

The parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin emphasize the active role of the shepherd and the woman in seeking the lost. It is not the responsibility of the lost to find their way back, but rather, it is our duty to seek them out and bring them home. This reflects God's relentless pursuit of us and challenges us to do the same for others. The shepherd's journey is not passive; it requires effort, intention, and love. We are called to mirror this pursuit in our own lives, actively seeking those who are lost and bringing them into the fold. [30:30]

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10, ESV)

Reflection: Who is someone in your life that you can actively pursue with love and kindness this week? What steps can you take to reach out to them?

Day 3: Celebrating Restoration with Joy

True joy comes from the restoration of relationships and the inclusion of the lost. The parables in Luke 15 remind us that the community is incomplete without every member, and genuine celebration is called for when the lost are found. This joy is a reflection of God's grace and the holistic restoration that comes from being part of God's family. We are encouraged to rejoice not just superficially, but with heartfelt celebration, mirroring the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents. [31:04]

"Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost." (Luke 15:6, ESV)

Reflection: How can you celebrate the small victories of restoration in your life and the lives of others today? What does genuine celebration look like for you?

Day 4: Rethinking the Lost

The parables invite us to reconsider who is truly lost. Often, those who seem righteous may be the ones in need of guidance and restoration. This challenges us to look beyond appearances and recognize the deeper needs of those around us. The Pharisees, who were quick to judge, failed to see their own need for grace and redemption. We are called to examine our own hearts and the hearts of those around us, recognizing that everyone is in need of God's love and guidance. [37:17]

"Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?" (Matthew 7:3, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life might be struggling beneath the surface? How can you offer them support and understanding today?

Day 5: Joining God's Mission

We are called to join in God's mission of seeking and saving the lost. This involves stepping out of our comfort zones, embracing the risky mission of liberation, and advocating for those who are displaced. It is a call to action, rooted in love and grace. The parables challenge us to actively participate in God's work, not just as passive observers but as active participants in the mission of restoration and reconciliation. [41:15]

"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'" (Mark 16:15, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific action you can take this week to join in God's mission of seeking and saving the lost? How can you step out of your comfort zone to make a difference?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection, we delve into the profound themes of inclusion, repentance, and the joy of finding the lost, as illustrated in Luke 15. This chapter, often referred to as the "lost chapter," presents three parables: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son. These stories collectively emphasize the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents and the importance of seeking out those who are lost. The narrative begins with the Pharisees grumbling about Jesus associating with sinners, highlighting a prevalent issue of gatekeeping, where individuals or groups exclude others based on differing opinions or perceived shortcomings.

Gatekeeping is not just a societal issue but also a spiritual one, as it leads to division and prevents us from fulfilling our mission to seek and save the lost. The parables challenge us to reconsider who is truly lost. Is it the tax collectors and sinners, or is it those who, like the Pharisees, fail to see the value in every soul? The shepherd and the woman in the parables demonstrate God's relentless pursuit of the lost, emphasizing that it is not the lost who must find their way back, but rather, it is the responsibility of the shepherd to seek them out.

The parables also invite us to reflect on our own lives. Are we more like the Pharisees, focused on our righteousness, or are we willing to join in the search for the lost? The stories remind us that the community is incomplete without every member, and true joy comes from the restoration of relationships. We are called to rejoice, not just in a superficial way, but with genuine celebration when the lost are found. This joy is a reflection of God's grace and the holistic restoration that comes from being part of God's family.

Key Takeaways

1. Inclusion Over Exclusion: The parables challenge us to move beyond gatekeeping and embrace inclusivity. We are reminded that God's love is for everyone, and our role is to welcome all, regardless of their past or present circumstances. This inclusivity reflects the heart of God, who rejoices over every lost soul that is found. [27:02]
2. The Responsibility of the Shepherd: The parables emphasize the active role of the shepherd and the woman in seeking the lost. It is not the responsibility of the lost to find their way back, but rather, it is our duty to seek them out and bring them home. This reflects God's relentless pursuit of us and challenges us to do the same for others. [30:30]
3. Rejoicing in Restoration: True joy comes from the restoration of relationships and the inclusion of the lost. We are called to celebrate genuinely when someone is found, reflecting the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents. This celebration is a testament to the transformative power of God's grace. [31:04]
4. Rethinking Who is Lost: The parables invite us to reconsider who is truly lost. Often, those who seem righteous may be the ones in need of guidance and restoration. This challenges us to look beyond appearances and recognize the deeper needs of those around us. [37:17]
5. Joining in God's Mission: We are called to join in God's mission of seeking and saving the lost. This involves stepping out of our comfort zones, embracing the risky mission of liberation, and advocating for those who are displaced. It is a call to action, rooted in love and grace. [41:15]
** [41:15]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[20:51] - Opening Prayer
[21:08] - Introduction to Luke 15
[21:41] - The Parable of the Lost Sheep
[22:27] - The Parable of the Lost Coin
[23:00] - The Challenge of Gatekeeping
[25:00] - The Prevalence of Grumbling
[26:42] - The Call to Seek the Lost
[29:12] - The Importance of Rejoicing
[30:47] - God's Relentless Pursuit
[32:10] - Noticing the Missing
[33:12] - The Parable of the Lost Coin Revisited
[34:05] - Who is Truly Lost?
[36:03] - The Role of the Righteous
[38:20] - Over-the-Top Celebrations
[41:15] - Joining Christ's Mission
[42:20] - Closing Song and Reflection

Sermon Clips

The parables challenge us to move beyond gatekeeping and embrace inclusivity. We are reminded that God's love is for everyone, and our role is to welcome all, regardless of their past or present circumstances. This inclusivity reflects the heart of God, who rejoices over every lost soul that is found. [00:25:02]

The parables emphasize the active role of the shepherd and the woman in seeking the lost. It is not the responsibility of the lost to find their way back, but rather, it is our duty to seek them out and bring them home. This reflects God's relentless pursuit of us and challenges us to do the same for others. [00:30:30]

True joy comes from the restoration of relationships and the inclusion of the lost. We are called to celebrate genuinely when someone is found, reflecting the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents. This celebration is a testament to the transformative power of God's grace. [00:31:04]

The parables invite us to reconsider who is truly lost. Often, those who seem righteous may be the ones in need of guidance and restoration. This challenges us to look beyond appearances and recognize the deeper needs of those around us. [00:37:17]

We are called to join in God's mission of seeking and saving the lost. This involves stepping out of our comfort zones, embracing the risky mission of liberation, and advocating for those who are displaced. It is a call to action, rooted in love and grace. [00:41:15]

Gatekeeping happens when we're not in harmony with God and each other. Today our text reminds us that we should spend a little less time grumbling and gatekeeping. We're meant to go out to find the lost, to include, and even rejoice. [00:26:42]

This passage is different from most other parables we read. Today we get three parables all essentially saying the same thing all back to back. I think that kind of tells us this is important. We need to listen. [00:29:12]

God and the rest of the saints and the angels in heaven in this passage celebrate when just one lost person is found. In the same way, instead of grumbling about who walks into our church and whether or not they should be welcome, we should rejoice every time someone is here. [00:32:10]

The shepherd noticed the absence of one sheep. Now if it was me, I would not. I have enough problems keeping up with everything and not losing things. You have a hundred sheep and you lose one, how do you know that one is gone? [00:33:12]

The Pharisees and truthfully many of us today still see sinners as being completely responsible for their mistakes, for being lost. Instead, what Jesus is saying is this is about the effort that God is willing to go to claim and celebrate those who are found. [00:36:03]

Together, I think these parables, this chapter holds a three-fold lesson for us today. First, stop excluding the lost. No more gatekeeping people from the love of God because they're different from us. God welcomes everyone. [00:38:20]

Including the lost is not just inviting someone to sit at the table with us, but including the lost actually means, as Jesus demonstrated, believing that they belong at the table. Do you believe that they belong? That's what we're working towards through the holistic restoration of God's grace. [00:42:20]

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