PARABLES: Scandalous Mercy • Pathway Church Shorewood • 10/19/2025

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Relentless Pursuit of the Lost

God does not wait passively for the lost to return but actively seeks them out, no matter how far they have wandered or how ruined they may feel. The imagery of the shepherd leaving the ninety-nine to find the one lost sheep reveals the personal and sacrificial nature of God’s love—He carries the weight of our wandering on His own shoulders, just as Christ bore our sins on the cross. Salvation is not about us clawing our way back to God, but about recognizing our helplessness and allowing Him to rescue us. This pursuit is continuous; God never stops seeking those who are lost, and His joy is immense when even one sinner repents and is restored. [18:05]

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: Is there someone in your life who seems “beyond reach” or too far gone? How might God be inviting you to join Him in pursuing that person with love and prayer this week?

Day 2: The Value and Essential Worth of Every Person

Every lost person matters deeply to God, not just as an individual but as an essential part of the whole—without them, the picture is incomplete. The parable of the lost coin shows that even what seems small or insignificant to us is of great worth to God, and He searches diligently until it is found. The woman’s careful search, lighting a lamp and sweeping every corner, illustrates the persistent, Spirit-led effort required to reach the lost. In God’s kingdom, no one is overlooked or expendable; each person is necessary to make the family of God complete, and heaven erupts in celebration when even one is restored. [32:52]

Luke 15:8-10 (ESV)
“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.”

Reflection: Who in your community or circle might feel overlooked or undervalued? What is one practical way you can show them their worth in God’s eyes this week?

Day 3: Scandalous Mercy and the Heart of the Father

God’s mercy is scandalous in its generosity, welcoming back even those who have willfully rebelled and squandered His gifts. The story of the prodigal son reveals a Father who runs to meet His wayward child, embracing him with compassion and restoring him to full sonship, regardless of the shame or the opinions of others. This mercy is not just for the obviously lost, but also for those who have been near yet far from the Father’s heart. God’s grace interrupts our rehearsed apologies and exceeds our expectations, offering restoration and celebration instead of condemnation. [48:03]

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 unworthy of God’s mercy? What would it look like to let Him interrupt your shame and receive His full restoration today?

Day 4: The Danger of Self-Righteousness and Exclusion

It is possible to be near the Father’s house yet far from His heart, as seen in the older brother who resented the celebration of his sibling’s return. Self-righteousness blinds us to our own need for grace and can cause us to stand outside the feast, missing the joy of God’s mercy for others and ourselves. The Father’s invitation is for both the obviously lost and the religiously lost—to come in, rejoice, and share in the celebration of redemption. The hardest hearts to reach are often those who believe they have no need of repentance, yet God pleads with them to join the party and embrace His heart for the lost. [49:57]

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: Are you harboring resentment or judgment toward someone who has received grace you think they don’t deserve? How can you step into the Father’s joy and celebrate their restoration?

Day 5: Seeing with God’s Eyes and Joining His Mission

To reach the lost, we must see them as God does—through the light of the Holy Spirit and with a heart that perseveres in love and holiness. Like the woman who lit her lamp and swept her house, we are called to let the Spirit illuminate our hearts and guide our search, refusing to give up on those who are far from God. This means living with spiritual attentiveness, cleaning out our own lives, and being persistent in prayer and outreach. God invites us to participate in His mission, to value every soul, and to rejoice with heaven when the lost are found. [35:37]

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Reflection: What is one intentional step you can take this week to let the Holy Spirit’s light shine through you—whether by reaching out, praying, or serving—so that someone who feels lost might be found?

Sermon Summary

Today’s focus is on the scandalous mercy of God—a mercy that pursues, redeems, and restores those whom society and even religion have written off. The heart of God is revealed through three parables in Luke 15: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Each story is a window into God’s relentless pursuit of the lost, whether their wandering is accidental, circumstantial, or willful rebellion. The context is crucial: Jesus tells these stories in response to the Pharisees’ grumbling over His association with “sinners” and tax collectors, those considered morally bankrupt and beyond hope.

The lost sheep parable shows a shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to seek the one, not out of reckless disregard for the many, but out of an intense, personal valuation of the individual. This is not a story of the lost finding their way back, but of the shepherd’s unceasing pursuit and willingness to bear the cost of their rescue. The lost coin parable shifts the focus to a woman who lights a lamp and sweeps her house, searching diligently for a single coin. The coin, possibly part of a marriage headdress, is not just valuable but essential for completeness. The search is meticulous, persistent, and only possible with the lamp’s light—symbolic of the Holy Spirit’s illumination in our own search for the lost.

The prodigal son parable stretches the boundaries further, showing a father’s scandalous mercy toward a son who has willfully rebelled and squandered his inheritance. The father’s response is not one of shame or retribution, but of compassion, restoration, and celebration. Yet, the story also exposes the lostness of the elder brother, whose resentment mirrors the Pharisees’ own hearts. Both sons are invited to respond: one to repent, the other to rejoice in the mercy shown to the undeserving.

The invitation is clear: God’s heart is for the lost, and He calls us to share in that pursuit. Whether we identify with the wandering sheep, the misplaced coin, the prodigal son, or the resentful elder brother, the call is to respond—to repent, to rejoice, and to join in the celebration of heaven when the lost are found. The challenge is to see others through the eyes of Christ, to let the Holy Spirit illuminate our search, and to value every soul as essential to the fullness of God’s kingdom.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s pursuit of the lost is relentless and personal. The shepherd’s willingness to leave the ninety-nine for the one reveals the depth of God’s love for each individual. Salvation is not about us clawing our way back to God, but about recognizing that He has come to rescue us, bearing the weight of our wandering on His own shoulders. [16:50]
2. Both religious and irreligious can be lost in different ways. The Pharisees and the tax collectors were both extracting more than was owed—one in money, the other in spiritual demands. Christ exposes that both are in need of redemption, and only He gives Himself for the gain of others, rather than extracting from them. [13:30]
3. The search for the lost requires the illumination and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. The woman’s lamp in the parable of the lost coin is a picture of the Spirit’s role in helping us see and value those whom society overlooks. Our outreach must be persistent, meticulous, and Spirit-led, for only then can we truly find and restore the lost. [35:37]
4. Grace is scandalous because it restores the undeserving and offends the self-righteous. The father’s embrace of the prodigal son, running to meet him and restoring him to full sonship, is a picture of God’s mercy that goes beyond human expectations. Yet, the elder brother’s resentment warns us that proximity to the Father’s house does not guarantee alignment with His heart. [48:03]
5. The invitation to rejoice is extended to all, even those who feel overlooked or resentful. The story ends open-ended, with the father pleading for the elder son to join the celebration. Heaven rejoices over every soul that is found, and we are called to align our hearts with what brings joy to God, letting go of our own sense of entitlement or bitterness. [53:28]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:28] - Muppets, Bibles, and Spiritual Food
[02:31] - Prayer for Illumination
[03:49] - Setting the Context: Grumbling and Accusation
[06:26] - Who Were the Tax Collectors and Sinners?
[09:02] - The Scandal of Jesus’ Table Fellowship
[12:12] - Parables as Windows and Mirrors
[14:06] - God as the True Collector and Redeemer
[15:32] - The Lost Sheep: Relentless Pursuit
[18:47] - Salvation: God’s Initiative, Not Ours
[21:20] - The Good Shepherd and the Bad Shepherds
[23:54] - Ezekiel 34 and the Failure of Religious Leaders
[27:06] - The Lost Coin: Value and Completeness
[30:19] - The Headdress and the Essential Coin
[34:54] - The Lamp, the Spirit, and the Search
[38:22] - The Prodigal Son: Willful Rebellion and Restoration
[43:35] - The Scandal of the Father’s Mercy
[48:39] - The Elder Brother: Resentment and Lostness
[51:22] - The Open Invitation: Repentance and Rejoicing
[54:06] - Responding to the Father’s Heart
[57:07] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 15:1-32 (ESV) — (The Parables of the Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and Prodigal Son)

Ezekiel 34:1-12 (ESV) — (God’s rebuke of the bad shepherds and His promise to seek out His lost sheep)

Psalm 23:1-3 (ESV) — (The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want...)

Observation Questions

In the parable of the lost sheep, what actions does the shepherd take when he realizes one sheep is missing? What does he do when he finds it? (Luke 15:4-6)
According to the sermon, what is significant about the woman lighting a lamp before searching for her lost coin? [34:54]
In the story of the prodigal son, how does the father respond when his younger son returns home? What does he do for him? (Luke 15:20-24)
What is the reaction of the older brother when he hears about the celebration for his younger brother’s return? (Luke 15:28-30)

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says the shepherd’s pursuit of the lost sheep is “relentless and personal.” What does this reveal about God’s heart for individuals who are lost or far from Him? [16:50]
The woman’s lamp in the lost coin parable is described as a symbol of the Holy Spirit’s illumination. Why is the Spirit’s role important in seeking and valuing the lost? [35:37]
The father’s response to the prodigal son is called “scandalous mercy.” Why might this kind of grace be offensive to some, especially those who see themselves as righteous? [48:03]
The story ends with the father inviting the older brother to join the celebration. What does this open-ended invitation say about God’s desire for both the “rebellious” and the “religious”? [53:28]

Application Questions

The sermon points out that both the “religious” (Pharisees) and the “irreligious” (tax collectors and sinners) can be lost in different ways. Which of these do you relate to more right now, and why? [13:30]
The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to pursue the one lost sheep. Is there someone in your life who feels overlooked or written off—by you, by others, or even by the church? What would it look like for you to pursue them with God’s kind of mercy this week? [16:50]
The woman’s search for the lost coin is described as persistent and Spirit-led. Are there people or groups in your community that you tend to overlook? How can you ask the Holy Spirit to help you see and value them as God does? [35:37]
The father’s embrace of the prodigal son shows a willingness to restore the undeserving. Is there someone you struggle to forgive or welcome? What is one step you could take toward reconciliation or showing grace? [48:03]
The older brother resented the celebration for his lost brother’s return. Have you ever felt bitter or jealous when someone else received grace or recognition you thought they didn’t deserve? How can you bring that feeling honestly to God and ask Him to change your heart? [49:20]
The sermon challenges us to “rejoice in what makes heaven rejoice.” What is one practical way you can celebrate or support someone’s spiritual growth or return to God this week? [53:28]
The invitation is to join in God’s pursuit of the lost. What is one specific action you can take this week to share God’s love with someone who feels far from Him? [54:06]

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