God's Heart: Compassion for the Lost and Found
Summary
Today’s focus is on one of Jesus’s most well-known parables—a story of homecoming that reveals the heart of God toward every person, no matter where they find themselves. The context is set in Luke’s Gospel, where Jesus is surrounded by two very different groups: the “sinners and tax collectors,” considered by society to be beyond God’s reach, and the religious elite, who saw themselves as flawless and in right standing with God. Both groups, however, were confused about how God truly views sinners.
Jesus responds to this confusion by telling three stories: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Each story is designed to challenge assumptions and reveal the radical compassion of God. The lost sheep and lost coin stories show that God’s heart is not indifferent to those who wander or are lost; instead, there is rejoicing in heaven when even one person turns back to God. These stories also highlight that God’s focus is not on the “already found,” but on those who are still far away.
The parable of the lost son (often called the prodigal son) takes this further. The younger son’s request for his inheritance is a shocking act of dishonor, yet the father grants it, knowing that sometimes the quickest way back is to let someone go. The son’s journey into ruin and eventual return is met not with resentment or suspicion, but with compassion and celebration. The father’s response is a picture of God’s heart: always watching, always waiting, always ready to welcome home.
But the story doesn’t end there. The older brother, who stayed and did everything right, is angry and resentful at the father’s grace. This exposes a different kind of lostness—the kind that comes from pride, judgment, and a lack of compassion. It’s a warning that obedience without love can harden the heart and blind us to the needs and value of others.
Everyone is invited to see themselves in this story. Whether you identify with the younger brother, the older brother, or even the father, the invitation is to come home—to God and to a heart of compassion. The challenge is to see people as God sees them, to love as God loves, and to let go of judgment so that we can truly celebrate when anyone finds their way back.
Key Takeaways
- God’s Heart Is for the Lost, Not Just the Found
God’s focus is not on those who already consider themselves “in,” but on those who are far from Him. The stories of the lost sheep and coin show that heaven rejoices more over one who returns than over many who never left. This challenges us to align our priorities with God’s, seeking out and valuing those who feel distant or unworthy. [11:09]
- Compassion, Not Judgment, Defines God’s Response
When the lost son returns, the father’s first response is compassion, not suspicion or resentment. This is the posture God takes toward all who come home, regardless of their past. If our first instinct toward “those people” is not compassion, we are out of step with the heart of God and need to let Him reshape our attitudes. [33:12]
- Obedience Without Love Can Lead to Hardness
The older brother’s story warns that doing all the right things can still leave us far from God’s heart if we lack compassion. Pride in our own goodness can make us judgmental and blind to the stories and struggles of others. True spiritual health is measured by our ability to see and love others as God does, not just by our rule-keeping. [24:48]
- Everyone Has a Story—Don’t Judge by a Moment
It’s easy to write people off based on a season or a single decision, but every person is more than their worst moment. Taking time to hear someone’s story reveals their value and the complexity of their journey. We are called to see people as beloved by God, not as problems to be fixed or avoided. [26:27]
- The Invitation Is for All—Come Home, and Welcome Others
Whether you feel like the younger brother who’s wandered or the older brother who’s grown cold, the invitation is the same: come home. God is always ready to welcome, restore, and celebrate, and He calls us to do the same for others. Our role is not to gatekeep grace, but to join the celebration when anyone finds their way back to God. [38:35]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[03:53] - Jesus Welcomes Sinners and Religious Alike
[07:54] - What Is Sin? Who Are “Those People”?
[09:28] - We Are All “Those People” to Someone
[11:09] - The Parable of the Lost Sheep
[12:32] - The Parable of the Lost Coin
[14:22] - The Value of the Lost
[15:33] - Introducing the Parable of the Lost Son
[17:13] - The Younger Son’s Shocking Request
[18:47] - The Father’s Painful Love
[22:08] - Who Are You in the Parable?
[24:48] - The Danger of the Older Brother’s Heart
[26:27] - Seeing People as God Sees Them
[31:24] - The Father’s Compassionate Welcome
[35:47] - The Older Brother’s Resentment
[38:35] - The Invitation to Come Home
[41:23] - Responding to God’s Call
[42:24] - Closing Prayer and Challenge
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: The Heart of God for the Lost (Luke 15)
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### Bible Reading
Luke 15:1-32 (ESV)
(The Parables of the Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and Lost Son)
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### Observation Questions
1. In Luke 15, who are the two main groups of people listening to Jesus, and how does each group view themselves and others? ([03:53])
2. What actions does the father take when the younger son returns home, and how does he respond emotionally? ([33:12])
3. How does the older brother react to the celebration for his younger brother’s return, and what does he say to the father? ([35:47])
4. In the parables of the lost sheep and lost coin, what is the response when the lost is found? ([11:09])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose to tell three different stories (sheep, coin, son) to address the confusion about how God views sinners? What is the significance of each? ([15:33])
2. What does the father’s response to the younger son reveal about God’s heart toward those who have wandered far away? ([33:12])
3. How does the older brother’s attitude expose a different kind of “lostness,” and why is this important for religious people to recognize? ([24:48])
4. What does it mean that “heaven rejoices more over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent”? How does this challenge our own priorities? ([11:09])
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon said, “God’s focus is not on those who already consider themselves ‘in,’ but on those who are far from Him.” Who in your life might feel distant or unworthy, and what is one way you could reach out to them this week? ([11:09])
2. When you see someone who has made poor choices or is struggling, is your first instinct compassion or judgment? What would it look like to let God reshape your attitude toward “those people”? ([33:12])
3. The older brother did all the right things but lacked compassion. Have you ever found yourself proud of your own goodness and critical of others? How can you guard your heart against this kind of spiritual pride? ([24:48])
4. Think of a time when you were judged by your worst moment or a bad season. How did it feel? How can you make sure you don’t write others off based on a single decision or season in their life? ([26:27])
5. The father was always watching and waiting for his son to come home. Is there someone in your life you need to “watch and wait” for, praying and hoping for their return? What would it look like to be ready to welcome them? ([31:24])
6. The invitation to “come home” is for everyone, whether you feel like the younger or older brother. Is there an area in your life where you need to “come home” to God’s heart of compassion? What step could you take this week? ([38:35])
7. Our role is not to gatekeep grace, but to join the celebration when anyone finds their way back to God. How can you be someone who celebrates and welcomes others, rather than someone who stands outside the party? ([38:35])
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for hearts that reflect God’s compassion, for the courage to welcome others, and for the humility to recognize their own need for grace.
Devotional
Day 1: God’s Heart for the Lost
God’s love is relentless and personal, seeking out every lost person with compassion and joy. No matter how far someone has wandered, God’s heart is not focused on payback or punishment, but on calling them back into relationship. Just as the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to find the one lost sheep, and the woman searches diligently for her lost coin, God values each individual and celebrates their return. Heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents, showing us that God’s priority is always restoration, not condemnation. [11:09]
Luke 15:3-7 (ESV)
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.”
Reflection: Who is someone in your life you’ve written off as “too far gone”? How might you begin to see and pursue them with the same compassion and hope that God has for the lost?
Day 2: The Danger of Self-Righteousness
It’s easy to fall into the mindset of the older brother—doing the right things, following the rules, and feeling morally superior to others. But this attitude can blind us to our own need for grace and make us lack compassion for those who are struggling. The more we focus on our own obedience, the more tempted we are to judge others by their worst moments, forgetting that we too are recipients of God’s mercy. God calls us to recognize the “log in our own eye” and to see others through His eyes of love, not through the lens of judgment. [30:11]
Luke 15:25-32 (ESV)
“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
Reflection: In what ways have you found yourself judging others or feeling morally superior? What would it look like to ask God to help you see people the way He sees them today?
Day 3: The Power of Repentance and Coming Home
No matter how far you’ve wandered or what choices you’ve made, you are never beyond the reach of God’s love. The moment you “come to your senses” and turn back, God is already watching and waiting with open arms. The journey home may require courage and honesty, but God’s response is always compassion, not condemnation. He welcomes you back into the family, restoring your identity and celebrating your return. [29:12]
Luke 15:17-24 (ESV)
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”
Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you feel far from God? What step of honesty or repentance can you take today to begin your journey home?
Day 4: Compassion Over Judgment
True spiritual health is measured by our ability to see and love others as God does, especially those who are different from us or who have made mistakes. When we take the time to hear people’s stories and understand their journeys, we move from judgment to compassion. God calls us not to define others by their worst moments, but to recognize their value and potential as beloved children. The more we align our hearts with God’s, the more we are able to ask, “What does love require of me in this moment?” [27:50]
Matthew 7:1-5 (ESV)
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 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? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
Reflection: Who is someone you’ve been tempted to judge based on their actions or choices? How can you take a step toward understanding their story and showing them compassion this week?
Day 5: Responding to God’s Invitation
God’s invitation to come home is for everyone—those who have wandered far and those who have stayed close but grown cold or judgmental. Taking a step toward God, whether it’s a step of repentance or a step of letting go of pride, requires courage but leads to transformation. God desires for us to participate in His heart for restoration, to celebrate with Him when anyone comes home, and to play a role in welcoming others into His family. [41:23]
Revelation 3:20 (ESV)
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”
Reflection: What is one courageous step you can take today—either to return to God yourself or to help someone else feel welcomed and loved in God’s family?
Quotes
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