Finding Grace: The Joy of Being Found

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Seeks and Saves the Lost

No matter how far someone has wandered or how lost they feel, Jesus’ mission is to seek and to save the lost. This is not just a message for those who have never known Him, but for all who have ever felt unworthy, excluded, or beyond hope. The good news is that our past mistakes or failures do not disqualify us from God’s love; instead, Jesus actively pursues us, offering grace and restoration. His kingdom is truly upside-down, welcoming the outcast, the broken, and the sinner into His embrace. [03:29]

Luke 19:9-10 (CSB)
“Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”

Reflection:
Is there an area of your life where you feel lost or unworthy? How might you invite Jesus to meet you there today, trusting that He is seeking you with love and not condemnation?

Day 2: The Good Shepherd’s Sacrificial Love

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who knows each of His sheep by name and is willing to risk everything—even His own life—to rescue the one who is lost. His pursuit is not out of obligation but out of deep, personal love, and He rejoices over every person who is found and restored. The image of the shepherd carrying the lost sheep on his shoulders points us to the cross, where Jesus bore the weight of our sin to bring us home. In His kingdom, no one is too insignificant or too far gone to be sought after and celebrated. [12:13]

Luke 15:3-7 (CSB)
So he told them this parable: “What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it? When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.”

Reflection:
Who in your life might feel overlooked or forgotten? How can you reflect the Good Shepherd’s love by reaching out to them this week?

Day 3: Repentance Is Receiving, Not Achieving

Repentance is not something we accomplish by our own effort or guilt; it is a response to the grace of God who comes to find us. Just as the lost sheep does nothing to prompt the shepherd’s search except to be lost, so too our repentance is made possible by God’s initiative and mercy. The joy in heaven is not over our performance, but over our willingness to be found and restored by Jesus. Grace, not guilt, is what leads us home. [15:00]

Luke 15:7 (CSB)
I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.

Reflection:
Are you trying to “earn” your way back to God, or are you willing to simply receive His grace today? What would it look like to let go of self-reliance and rest in being found?

Day 4: God’s Relentless Pursuit of the Helpless

Like the lost coin, which is completely unable to find itself, we are utterly dependent on God’s initiative to rescue us. Our value is not diminished by our lostness, and God searches for us with diligence and care, rejoicing when we are found. Salvation is entirely God’s work—a gift to be received, not a reward to be earned. In baptism and in the Lord’s Supper, we are reminded that God comes to us, declaring us beloved and forgiven, not because of what we have done, but because of what Christ has done for us. [21:51]

Luke 15:8-10 (CSB)
“Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the silver coin I lost!’ I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”

Reflection:
When have you felt completely helpless or unable to fix your situation? How does it change your perspective to know that God is searching for you and values you deeply, even in your helplessness?

Day 5: The Joy of Restoration and Community

The stories of the lost sheep and the lost coin point us to the heart of God, who not only seeks and saves but also celebrates and restores us into community. There is rejoicing in heaven and among God’s people when the lost are found, and we are invited to share in that joy. No matter where you have been or what you have done, God’s desire is to welcome you home, cover you with His grace, and lead you into His everlasting presence. As we reflect on these truths, we are called to extend that same welcome and joy to others, embodying the upside-down kingdom of Jesus. [23:20]

Psalm 23:4-6 (CSB)
Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

Reflection:
Who can you celebrate and welcome into your life or community this week, reflecting the joy and restoration that God offers to all who are found?

Sermon Summary

The kingdom Jesus brings is radically different from the world’s expectations—a kingdom where the last are first, the poor are blessed, the lonely are comforted, and, most powerfully, the lost are found. In Luke 15, often called the “lost chapter,” Jesus reveals the heart of his mission: to seek and to save the lost. This is not just a story about others, but about each of us, for all have experienced lostness—whether through our own actions, our circumstances, or the pain of losing something or someone precious.

Jesus’ audience included both those who knew they were lost—tax collectors, sinners, the outcasts—and those who believed themselves righteous, the Pharisees and scribes. Both groups needed to hear that God’s kingdom is not earned by performance or status, but received by grace. The parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin illustrate this grace. The shepherd risks everything to find one lost sheep, and the woman searches diligently for a single lost coin. In both stories, the lost are found not because of their own efforts, but because of the relentless, loving pursuit of the one who seeks.

Repentance, then, is not a work we muster up to earn God’s favor. It is the result of being found by grace. The sheep does nothing but get lost; the coin cannot even move. The initiative, the search, the rescue—all belong to God. Our part is simply to be found, to receive the gift of being brought home. This is the upside-down nature of God’s kingdom: the joy of heaven erupts not over the self-assured, but over the one who is found and restored.

This grace is not just a theological idea, but a living reality. In baptism, in the Lord’s Supper, in the daily assurance of forgiveness, God comes to us, finds us, and brings us home. The cross is the ultimate picture of the shepherd carrying the lost sheep, bearing the weight of our sin, and rejoicing to restore us. No matter how far we have wandered, no matter what we have done or failed to do, the good shepherd seeks us, finds us, and welcomes us with joy. As we reflect on these stories, we are invited to rest in the assurance that we are found, loved, and led home by Jesus.

Key Takeaways

1. The Upside-Down Kingdom of God redefines value and belonging. In God’s economy, those the world deems unworthy—the poor, the outcast, the sinner—are the very ones Jesus seeks out and welcomes. This challenges us to see ourselves and others not through the lens of achievement or status, but through the radical grace of Christ. [01:10]
2. Lostness is a universal human experience, not just a category for “bad people.” Whether through obvious failures or subtle self-righteousness, all are in need of being found. The stories of the lost sheep and the lost coin remind us that our lostness does not disqualify us from God’s love; in fact, it is the very reason Jesus came. [08:27]
3. Repentance is not a human achievement but a divine gift. The sheep does not find its way home, and the coin cannot move itself; both are found by the initiative of another. True repentance is the result of being encountered by grace, not the prerequisite for it. This frees us from striving and invites us to rest in the work of Christ. [15:00]
4. God’s pursuit is personal, persistent, and costly. The shepherd risks his life for one sheep; the woman turns her house upside down for one coin. In the same way, Jesus goes to the cross to bear our burdens and bring us home. The costliness of this pursuit reveals the depth of God’s love for each individual, no matter how insignificant we may feel. [12:13]
5. The joy of heaven is found in restoration, not in performance. The celebration erupts not over the ninety-nine who think they need no repentance, but over the one who is found. This joy is echoed in the sacraments, in the community of faith, and in the assurance that, in Christ, we are always welcomed home. [21:51]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - The Upside-Down Kingdom: Who Is Blessed?
[03:29] - Everyday Experiences of Loss
[05:36] - The Pain of Precious Loss
[06:23] - Jesus’ Audience: Outcasts and the Self-Righteous
[08:27] - Two Groups, One Need
[09:40] - The Parable of the Lost Sheep
[12:13] - The Good Shepherd’s Sacrifice
[15:00] - Repentance: Being Found by Grace
[16:29] - Can We Find Our Way Home?
[17:57] - The Parable of the Lost Coin
[21:51] - The Joy of Being Found
[23:20] - The Cross: The Ultimate Rescue
[25:00] - Looking Ahead: The Lost Sons and the Father’s Love
[27:00] - Living as the Found: Assurance and Devotion

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 15:1-10 (CSB) — 1 All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 So he told them this parable:
4 “What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it?
5 When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders,
6 and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’
7 I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.
8 “Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?
9 When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the silver coin I lost!’
10 I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”

Observation Questions

Who were the two main groups of people listening to Jesus as he told these parables? What was their attitude toward Jesus? ([06:23])
In the parable of the lost sheep, what actions does the shepherd take when one sheep is missing? What does he do after finding it? ([08:27])
What is the main difference between the lost sheep and the lost coin in the two parables? ([17:57])
According to Jesus, what causes joy in heaven? ([21:51])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus chose to tell these stories to both the outcasts and the religious leaders? What message was he sending to each group? ([08:27])
The sermon says that repentance is not something we achieve, but something that happens when we are found by grace. How does this challenge the way people usually think about repentance? ([15:00])
The shepherd risks his life for one sheep, and the woman turns her house upside down for one coin. What does this say about the value God places on each person, no matter how “lost” they are? ([12:13])
The sermon mentions that the joy of heaven is not over the ninety-nine who think they need no repentance, but over the one who is found. What does this reveal about God’s priorities? ([21:51])

Application Questions

The sermon says that “lostness is a universal human experience.” Can you think of a time in your life when you felt lost—spiritually, emotionally, or otherwise? How did you respond, and did you sense God seeking you out? ([03:29])
The upside-down kingdom of God welcomes those the world often rejects. Are there people in your life or community that you tend to overlook or avoid? What would it look like to see them through the eyes of Jesus? ([01:10])
The parables show that the lost sheep and the lost coin do nothing to be found—the initiative is all on the seeker. Are there areas in your life where you are trying to “earn” God’s love or approval? How might you rest more in his grace this week? ([15:00])
The shepherd and the woman both celebrate when what was lost is found. How can you join in God’s joy when someone in your life experiences restoration or comes to faith? ([21:51])
The sermon connects these stories to baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and the daily assurance of forgiveness. How do these practices help you remember that you are found and loved by God? ([23:20])
The cross is described as the ultimate picture of the shepherd carrying the lost sheep. How does reflecting on Jesus’ sacrifice change the way you see your own “lostness” and the “lostness” of others? ([23:20])
The sermon challenges us to see ourselves and others not through achievement or status, but through the radical grace of Christ. What is one practical way you can show this kind of grace to someone this week? ([01:10])

Sermon Clips

In this upside-down kingdom, we find out that the last will be first. We find out that the poor are blessed, that we find the lonely are comforted, and as we're going to see this morning, that the lost are found. [00:00:31] (15 seconds) #LastWillBeFirst

We all got that experience of losing things. And some of the things are kind of funny, the things we've lost. Other things are kind of heartbreaking. Maybe you've lost something that's very precious to you. Maybe it's a ring or some kind of thing that was given to you by someone who you love who's no longer here. And you've lost that thing and you've lost that reminder of them. Of course, the greatest loss that many of us experiences is loss of people we love in our lives. And in the midst of this season or this feeling of loss, Jesus speaks to us about his mission of seeking out those things that are lost. [00:05:30] (39 seconds) #LossAndHopeInChrist

How often have we gathered together in a memorial service or in a funeral service, and we've read responsibly those beautiful words of Psalm 23, those same words that many times at the bedside of someone who is near meeting Jesus face to face, we will read and pray aloud, resting in the comfort and the assurance that Jesus isn't waiting for this person to figure themselves out, but that Jesus himself is meeting them in the midst of their sorrow, in the midst of their pain, in the midst of the shadow of death, and that as the good shepherd, he's carrying them, leading them home, knowing that the wages for their sin have already been paid in full by Christ on the cross, and that that good shepherd knows his sheep and is desiring to welcome them into his kingdom. [00:12:38] (48 seconds) #GoodShepherdComfortsAll

This is the beautifulness of the gospel and the story of this lost sheep. That it is about God's action in Christ doing the rescuing and the delivering. And I simply receive by grace through faith what Christ has done for me. [00:15:55] (17 seconds) #GospelRescuesByGrace

I can't find my way home. If it's left to my own power, my own strength, my own wisdom, I am doomed. But Christ, my Lord, has come to me as the good shepherd and has found me by the gospel and through the Spirit at work and brings me home. [00:16:29] (29 seconds) #FoundByTheGoodShepherd

I think sometimes the danger is if we only have this sheep illustration we can sometimes think that well perhaps what I need to do is I just need to find my way back to Jesus that if I just you know kind of get my life in order if I just kind of you know go to church more if I just pray more if I just read my Bible then I can somehow make my way home to the Shepherd and we want to put ourselves in here in this chain of salvation that we can by our own strength believe in Jesus Christ our Lord but if we start thinking down that rate well the good news is he gives us another illustration. [00:18:48] (35 seconds) #SalvationNotByWorks

The lost coin, though, is inanimate, right? What can the coin do to be found? Can it shine brighter? Can it buff itself up, you know, in order to, say, you know, stick out in the darkness? Can it put itself in a spotlight? Can it come out of a crack that it's fallen into? Can it roll from out under the cabinet back into the middle of the room on its own power? No. The coin can do nothing. Nothing. The only hope for the lost coin is for the woman to find it. And the good news is she does. [00:21:10] (44 seconds) #LostCoinFoundByGrace

She finds that lost coin, not because of anything the coin has done, but simply because of what the finder has done. And the finder finds the coin and rejoices and celebrates and throws a party. And Jesus says, I tell you in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels over one sinner who repents, who has been found by Christ Jesus, encountered with the gospel, that responds in repentance and in faith in Christ Jesus, not because of anything they have done, but because of what God, through Jesus, by the power of the Spirit has done. It is all God's doing. How beautiful is that? [00:21:54] (46 seconds) #JoyOverOneRepentant

It's simply a gift that is received. It's what we celebrate so often in baptisms, right? Whether it's a little infant or a child or a youth or an older daughter, it doesn't matter. Because the actor in baptism isn't that person. They're simply receiving the gift that God is delivering through water in the Word, uniting himself to that person, declaring them to be a beloved child, a chosen daughter, a righteous son, not because of anything they have done or said or believed, but because of what God in Christ Jesus has done for them. [00:22:40] (34 seconds) #BaptismGiftOfGrace

We need that assurance that we truly are found. And He finds us at this table with His body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins for the strengthening of our faith so that we would see that these parables they're not just about sheep and about coins they point us straight to the cross to the shepherd who carries his sheep on his shoulders bearing the weight of our sins to Calvary he is the one who seeks and to save the lost and as a result there is much rejoicing in heaven itself. [00:23:30] (34 seconds) #AssuranceAtTheTable

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