Relentless Love: The Joy of Restoration

Devotional

Day 1: God Seeks and Finds the Lost

God’s love is relentless and personal, seeking out those who have wandered far, no matter how lost or unworthy they may feel. The Shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to search for the one, not because the one is more valuable by the world’s standards, but because every single person matters deeply to God. When the lost are found, there is great rejoicing in heaven, showing us the heart of God—a heart that searches, carries, restores, and celebrates each return. You are never too far gone for God’s grace to reach you, and His invitation is always to trust the One who carries you home. [29:59]

Luke 15:1-7 (ESV)
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.”

Reflection: Who is one person in your life who feels far from God or overlooked? Will you pray for them by name today and consider reaching out to remind them they are not forgotten?

Day 2: Every Person Is Treasured by God

God’s heart treasures those whom the world overlooks or discards, searching persistently for the hidden, the forgotten, and the undervalued. Like the woman who sweeps her whole house to find a single lost coin, God’s love refuses to quit, burning costly oil and expending energy for even one who feels insignificant. Holiness is not about passive purity but about actively loving and cherishing those who feel buried in the dust, reminding them—and ourselves—that in God’s eyes, every person is a treasure worth celebrating. [37:13]

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: Is there someone in your community who feels invisible or forgotten? How can you intentionally notice and affirm their value this week?

Day 3: God’s Grace Extends to the Self-Righteous

Even those who seem to have it all together—who pride themselves on their goodness or religious observance—are not beyond the reach of God’s grace. The Pharisees in Jesus’ story realized that they, too, were lost in their pride and self-righteousness, missing the joy of God’s extravagant welcome. God’s character is gracious and joyful, welcoming even those who struggle to welcome others. We are invited to pray for and reach out to those who may be confident or self-assured, remembering that God’s grace is for them as much as for anyone else. [40:04]

Luke 15:1-2, 8-10 (ESV)
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.” ... “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: Is there someone you tend to judge or avoid because of their confidence or self-righteousness? Will you pray for them by name and look for a way to show them God’s grace this week?

Day 4: The Scandal of Extravagant Grace

God’s love is not cautious or calculating—it is extravagant, relentless, and unmeasured. The “scandal of grace” is that God risks, searches, and rejoices over each lost one, whether sheep, coin, Pharisee, or sinner. No one is shrugged off or left behind; God’s eyes are fixed on those who feel undeserving, and He offers them belonging and celebration. We are called to be neighbors who rejoice in what God is doing, pulling others into the party of grace, and reminding one another that God’s love is for all. [49:50]

Ephesians 2:4-7 (ESV)
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: When have you witnessed or experienced God’s extravagant grace? How can you celebrate and share that grace with someone else today?

Day 5: Welcoming Home—Where Are You in the Story?

The invitation of Jesus’ stories is not just to observe but to find ourselves within them—whether as the lost sheep, the hidden coin, the self-righteous Pharisee, the outsider sinner, or the rejoicing neighbor. God knows your name and looks at you with love, not disdain, inviting you to come home and to join in the work of welcoming others. No matter where you are or what you’ve done, God is not done with you. Today, you are invited to respond to His call, to receive His healing and wholeness, and to help others know they belong. [51:34]

Isaiah 43:1 (ESV)
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”

Reflection: As you consider where you are in the story, what is one step you can take today to respond to God’s invitation—whether it’s coming home yourself or helping someone else know they are welcomed and loved?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered as a family of faith to celebrate God’s relentless, searching love—a love that pursues the lost, treasures the overlooked, and welcomes the outsider home. We began by lifting up those in our community who are traveling or recovering, remembering that we are not only recipients of God’s grace but also a people sent to extend it. We rejoiced with Delia in her baptism, a visible sign of God’s transforming work, and prayed for God’s continued presence in her life.

Turning to Luke 15, we entered the stories Jesus told: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the joy of heaven when the lost are found. These are not just ancient parables, but living invitations to see ourselves and our neighbors through God’s eyes. The sheep, who wandered off, was not abandoned; the shepherd left the ninety-nine to search, to carry, and to restore. The coin, hidden and forgotten, was sought with diligence and celebrated as a treasure when found. Even the Pharisee—so sure of his own righteousness—was revealed as lost in his pride, yet still the object of God’s searching grace. And the sinner, standing at the edge, discovered that God’s welcome was for them too.

We are called to move beyond passive purity and into the active pursuit of God’s heart: to pray by name for those who are far from God, to reach out to the missing and overlooked, to see the worth in every person, and to rejoice extravagantly when grace restores. Holiness is not a list of do’s and don’ts, but a love that refuses to quit—a love that searches, lifts, restores, and celebrates. The scandal of grace is that God’s love is not cautious or calculating, but extravagant and relentless, refusing to shrug off even one who is lost.

Wherever we find ourselves in the story—sheep, coin, Pharisee, sinner, or neighbor—God’s invitation is the same: “Welcome home.” The Shepherd knows our name, sees our need, and calls us to join in the joy of heaven by seeking, loving, and celebrating one another. May we leave today found, restored, and ready to embody this scandalous grace in our world.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Pursuit Is Relentless and Personal God does not weigh the cost or calculate the odds when it comes to seeking the lost. The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine for the one, and the woman sweeps her whole house for a single coin. This is a love that refuses to give up, no matter how far we wander or how hidden we feel. Each of us is pursued by name, not as a number, but as a beloved child worth every effort. [29:59]
2. Holiness Is Active, Not Passive Holiness is not about maintaining a checklist of purity or separating ourselves from the world. Instead, it is the active pursuit of God’s heart—obeying the Shepherd’s voice, leaving comfort to love those who seem hopeless, and responding to the needs of the overlooked. True holiness treasures what the world discards and seeks out those who feel forgotten. [37:13]
3. Every Person Is a Treasure, Not a Statistic The parables remind us that God’s economy is different from ours. The world may see one sheep or one coin as insignificant, but God sees infinite worth. We are called to cherish each person, to notice those who feel invisible, and to celebrate their restoration with the same joy as heaven. The world is changed not by grand gestures, but by loving one person at a time. [36:04]
4. Grace Exposes and Heals Our Self-Righteousness Even those who believe they are “found” can be lost in pride, comparison, or self-righteousness. The Pharisees in the story are invited to see themselves as in need of grace, just as much as the sinners they despise. God’s grace is scandalous because it levels the ground, offering welcome to the proud and the broken alike, and calling us to humility and compassion. [40:04]
5. The Scandal of Grace Is Extravagant Joy God’s love is not measured or reserved; it is poured out with abandon. The joy of heaven erupts over one who is found, and neighbors are drawn into the celebration. We are invited to join in this joy—not as spectators, but as participants who seek, welcome, and rejoice over every act of restoration. The church is at its best when it mirrors this extravagant, unmeasured grace.

** [49:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[04:41] - Baptism Celebration & Prayer
[07:04] - Call to Worship and Opening Songs
[10:35] - Jesus Paid It All: Worship Reflection
[15:11] - Confession and Prayer
[19:01] - The Story of the Missing Neighbor
[22:59] - Reading Luke 15: The Lost Sheep and Coin
[25:31] - Entering the Parable: Voices of the Lost
[29:26] - The Character of the Shepherd
[33:11] - The Voice of the Lost Coin
[36:04] - Treasuring the Overlooked
[39:15] - God Finds Pharisees Too
[42:44] - God Finds Sinners at the Edge
[45:36] - Who Are the Lost Today?
[48:36] - The Scandal of Grace
[50:49] - The Shepherd Knows Your Name
[51:34] - Invitation to Prayer and Response
[58:54] - Testimonies and Praise
[60:32] - Prayer Team and Community Ministry
[76:05] - Final Blessing and Dismissal
[79:55] - Fellowship and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 15:1–10 (ESV) —
> 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. 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.”

Observation Questions

In the parables Jesus tells, what actions do the shepherd and the woman take when something is lost? What do they do when it is found? (Luke 15:4–10)
According to the sermon, who are the different “characters” in these stories, and how might we see ourselves in them? (sheep, coin, Pharisee, sinner, neighbor) [[44:25]]
What is the reaction of the community or “neighbors” when the lost sheep or coin is found? Why is this significant? (Luke 15:6, 9)
How does the sermon describe the difference between “passive purity” and “active pursuit” in the context of holiness? [[29:59]]

Interpretation Questions

What does it reveal about God’s character that the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to search for the one lost sheep? How does this challenge our own sense of what is “reasonable” or “fair”? [[29:59]]
The sermon says that “holiness is not a list of do’s and don’ts, but a love that refuses to quit.” What does this mean in practical terms for how we live out our faith? [[37:13]]
Why do you think Jesus includes the Pharisees in these stories? What does it mean that even the “righteous” can be lost in their own way? [[39:15]]
The sermon calls God’s grace “scandalous” and “extravagant.” Why might some people find this kind of grace uncomfortable or even offensive? [[49:50]]

Application Questions

The sermon invites us to “pray by name for those who are far from God.” Who is one person in your life you could pray for this week? What would it look like to reach out to them? [[31:44]]
Think about someone in your community or church who might feel overlooked, forgotten, or “like a lost coin.” What is one specific thing you could do to let them know they are seen and valued? [[36:04]]
The message challenges us to move beyond “passive purity” and into “active pursuit” of God’s heart. What is one comfort zone you might need to leave behind in order to love someone who seems hopeless or hard to reach? [[29:59]]
Have you ever found yourself acting like the Pharisee—quick to judge or slow to celebrate when someone else receives grace? How can you practice humility and compassion this week? [[40:04]]
The sermon says, “The world is changed not by grand gestures, but by loving one person at a time.” Who is one person you can intentionally love or serve this week, and how will you do it? [[36:04]]
When was a time you felt like the “lost sheep” or “lost coin”? How did God (or someone else) help you feel found and welcomed home? How can you offer that same welcome to others? [[28:30]]
The joy of heaven erupts over one who is found. How can our church or small group better celebrate when someone takes a step toward God or experiences restoration? [[49:50]]

Sermon Clips

We might know this language in our theology. You might have heard this word holiness, being set apart for the glory of God. But holiness, I thought growing up, had a whole lot to do with a list of do's and don'ts. And you know what the shepherd tells us here? Holiness is not passive purity, but it's an active pursuit of obeying God, responding to the shepherd's voice, leaving safety to love what seems hopeless. [00:30:58] (44 seconds) #HolinessIsActiveLove

I was hidden in the dark corner of a small house, forgotten in the dust, worthless it seemed. And who would notice one coin missing? But she noticed. She lit a lamp and swept every inch of the floor looking for me. Her eyes never stopped searching, and when she saw me, she did not pocket me quietly, as would likely be in the Carlisle home until it was secured yet again in another location. She called her neighbors, rejoice with me. What was lost is found. There is hope. I was just a coin. But to her, I was a treasure and I mattered. [00:33:49] (68 seconds) #YouAreTreasure

The story reminds us of God's character as the one who treasures the overlooked, searches persistently, and rejoices extravagantly. And we are invited in this story to see the forgotten with God's eyes. [00:36:34] (21 seconds) #SeeWithGodsEyes

You see, holiness treasures what the world discards. Because holiness is about a love that refuses to quit. Beloved, I don't know where you are. I don't know what you've done. I don't know what you've encountered, but this I know. God has not given up on you. [00:37:13] (24 seconds) #LoveThatNeverQuits

It's the scandal of God's grace that the shepherd left the 99 risking the many for one who wandered. That the woman swept her whole house, burning costly oil, spending energy for a single coin. That the Pharisees, so sure of their righteousness, were revealed as lost too, needing grace as much as those that they despised. That the sinner standing at the edge of the crowd heard Jesus' story and realized it could be about them. God's eyes fixed on those who feel undeserving, but yet offering them belonging. Neighbors that were pulled into a party that they did nothing for, but they rejoiced because they knew the one who made it happen. [00:49:09] (63 seconds) #ExtravagantRelentlessLove

You see it's called a scandal because God's love is not cautious or calculating. God's love is extravagant. It's relentless. It's unmeasured. It searches. It lifts. It restores. It rejoices. God does not shrug anyone off. He goes looking to find them. [00:50:14] (32 seconds) #KnownByName

The same shepherd that called the sheep knows your name. And he looks at you, not with a dirty eye, not with disdain over whatever has brought you here this week. He looks at you and says, you are loved and you are mine and I know you by name. Welcome home. [00:51:10] (22 seconds)

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