October 12th, 2025 -- Parables: The Lost Sheep

The parable of the lost sheep, along with the parables of the lost coin and the lost son, reveals the heart of God for those who are far from Him. Sheep are mentioned more than any other animal in Scripture, and for good reason—they are dependent, prone to wander, and unable to find their way home even when the path is clear. This is a vivid picture of humanity’s spiritual condition: we are all like sheep who have gone astray, each turning to our own way, desperately in need of a shepherd to rescue us.

When something valuable is lost, our urgency and joy are directly tied to its worth. Jesus uses this reality to illustrate the immense value God places on every individual. The context of these parables is crucial: Jesus is speaking to both the religious elite, who grumble at His association with sinners, and to His disciples, who are wrestling with questions of significance in God’s kingdom. In both cases, Jesus makes it clear that God is in the business of finding the lost, and that no one is beyond His reach.

Each parable follows a pattern: there is a problem (something or someone is lost), an individual (the lost one is known and valued), an action (a diligent search is undertaken), and a response (great joy and celebration when the lost is found). The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to seek the one; the woman sweeps her house to find her lost coin; the father watches and waits for his prodigal son’s return. In every case, the search is relentless and the joy is overflowing.

God’s love is not generic or distant—it is personal and specific. He knows each of us by name, as seen throughout Scripture, and He calls us individually to Himself. The story of John Newton, the author of “Amazing Grace,” reminds us that no one is too far gone for God’s grace. If you feel lost or hopeless, know that Jesus came precisely for you.

For those who have been found, there is a calling: to join in the Father’s mission of seeking and saving the lost. This is the ministry of reconciliation, the privilege of being Christ’s ambassadors in a world full of wandering sheep. True joy is found not only in being rescued, but in participating in the celebration of others who are brought home to the Shepherd.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s pursuit of the lost is relentless and deeply personal. He does not see us as part of a faceless crowd, but as individuals of immense worth, each known by name and sought after with unwavering love. This truth challenges us to see others through the same lens of value and compassion. [23:07]
• 2. The urgency and joy of finding what is lost reflect the heart of God. Just as we rejoice over recovering something precious, heaven erupts in celebration over one sinner who repents. This reveals that God’s priorities are often different from ours, and invites us to align our hearts with His joy. [30:44]
• 3. The parables invite us to look in the mirror and ask: “Where am I in this story?” Whether we are the lost sheep, the found sheep, or even the self-righteous onlookers, Jesus calls us to honest self-examination and to recognize our continual need for His grace. [09:51]
• 4. No one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. The story of John Newton, a man considered hopeless by every human standard, demonstrates that God delights in rescuing even the most wayward. Our past does not disqualify us from being found and transformed by the Good Shepherd. [21:18]
• 5. Those who have been found are called to join in the search for the lost. The ministry of reconciliation is not reserved for a select few, but is the joyful responsibility of every believer. Our true joy is multiplied as we participate in God’s mission and share in the celebration of the redeemed. [34:25]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [02:59] - Sheep in Scripture: Their Nature and Significance
• [04:09] - The Experience of Losing and Finding
• [07:18] - Interpreting Parables: Context and Patterns
• [09:13] - Parables as Pictures, Mirrors, and Windows
• [11:07] - The Context: Who Is Jesus Speaking To?
• [12:57] - God Is in the Finding Business
• [14:14] - The Main Idea: Participating in Recovery
• [15:41] - The Problem: The Value of the Lost One
• [18:48] - John Newton: A Modern Lost Sheep
• [22:26] - God Cares for the Individual
• [26:13] - The Action: Relentless Search
• [30:06] - The Response: Joy in Heaven
• [32:52] - The Celebration of the Found
• [34:25] - The Ministry of Reconciliation
• [36:12] - Sacrificing for the Sake of the Lost

Bible Reading

Luke 15:1-7 (ESV) – The Parable of the Lost Sheep — 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.”

Isaiah 53:6 (ESV) — All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (ESV) — Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Observation Questions

1. In the parable of the lost sheep, what actions does the shepherd take when he realizes one sheep is missing? (Luke 15:4-5)
2. According to Isaiah 53:6, what is the spiritual condition of all people?
3. What is the response in heaven when one sinner repents, according to Jesus? (Luke 15:7)
4. In 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, what new role or responsibility is given to those who are in Christ?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus chose sheep as the main image for people’s spiritual condition? What does this say about our need for God? [02:59]
2. The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to search for the one lost sheep. What does this reveal about how God values individuals? [15:41]
3. The sermon mentioned that God’s love is not generic or distant, but personal and specific. How does this challenge the way we see ourselves and others? [23:07]
4. The parables were told to both religious leaders and Jesus’ disciples. What might Jesus have been trying to teach each group about their attitudes toward the lost? [11:07]

Application Questions

1. The sermon said, “All we like sheep have gone astray.” In what ways have you experienced wandering from God, either in the past or even recently? What helped you realize your need for the Shepherd? [18:01]
2. Think about someone in your life who seems “lost” or far from God. How might you reflect God’s relentless and personal love toward them this week? [26:13]
3. The story of John Newton shows that no one is too far gone for God’s grace. Is there someone (maybe even yourself) you have considered “hopeless”? How does this story challenge your thinking? [21:18]
4. The parables show that heaven rejoices when the lost are found. When was the last time you celebrated someone coming to faith or returning to God? How can you make space for more of this kind of joy in your life or in our group? [30:44]
5. The sermon said, “Those who have been found are called to join in the search for the lost.” What are some practical ways you can participate in God’s mission of seeking and saving the lost? [34:25]
6. Jesus was criticized for spending time with “sinners.” Are there people or groups you tend to avoid or judge? What would it look like to move toward them with compassion instead? [11:42]
7. The ministry of reconciliation is described as a joyful responsibility for every believer. What is one step you can take this week to be an “ambassador for Christ” in your workplace, neighborhood, or family? [34:25]