In Luke 15 and Matthew 18, Jesus reveals the heart of God for the one who is lost, overlooked, or rejected. The kingdom of God is not about status, rank, or religious achievement, but about a Shepherd who relentlessly pursues the one who has wandered away. In a world obsessed with the majority, with the impressive, and with those who seem to have it all together, Jesus turns everything upside down by showing that the one who is lost is of infinite value to Him. The story of the lost sheep is not just a parable about a wayward animal, but a mirror for our own lives—each of us, at some point, is the one who has gone astray.

The context of these passages is crucial. In Matthew 18, the disciples are preoccupied with who is the greatest in the kingdom, missing the point that true greatness is found in humility and in becoming like a child—someone with no status or rights in that culture. In Luke 15, the religious leaders are scandalized that Jesus welcomes and eats with sinners, questioning who should even be included in the kingdom. Jesus responds to both groups with the same story: the Shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to search for the one, and when He finds it, there is more joy in heaven over that one than over the ninety-nine who never strayed.

This challenges our natural instincts. We search for what is significant to us, and often, the world deems the one as insignificant. But in the kingdom of God, the one matters deeply. The Shepherd does not cut His losses or write off the lost sheep; He searches until He finds it, carries it home, and celebrates its return. This is the heart of the gospel: we are not rescued by our own strength, intelligence, or righteousness, but by the relentless love and grace of the Shepherd who lays down His life for us. The call is not to build a resume of religious achievements, but to serve and seek the least, just as Jesus did. No matter how far we have wandered, the Shepherd is always ready to welcome us home.

Key Takeaways

• 1. True greatness in the kingdom of God is found not in status or achievement, but in humility and childlikeness. Jesus teaches that unless we let go of our obsession with rank and become like children—those with no rights or privileges—we cannot even enter the kingdom. This challenges us to examine our hearts and motivations, shifting our focus from self-promotion to self-emptying. [11:07]
• 2. The heart of God is radically different from the world’s values. While society and even religious communities may overlook, dismiss, or reject the one who is broken or lost, God’s love is laser-focused on that very person. The Shepherd’s willingness to leave the ninety-nine for the one reveals a love that is personal, persistent, and sacrificial. [24:12]
• 3. We are all the one who has gone astray. It is easy to see ourselves as part of the ninety-nine—respectable, put-together, and deserving—but the truth is that each of us has wandered, made mistakes, and needed rescue. Only when we recognize our lostness can we truly experience the grace and joy of being found by the Shepherd. [27:41]
• 4. The gospel is not about finding our own way back to God, but about being found and carried home by Jesus. Religion says, “Work harder, do better, find your way home,” but the gospel says, “You can’t—so Jesus will come for you, carry you, and bring you home.” Our hope is not in our own effort, but in the Shepherd’s relentless pursuit and saving power. [30:39]
• 5. Ministry in the kingdom of God means seeking and serving the least, not climbing the ladder of spiritual achievement. Jesus calls us to stop building righteous resumes and instead to love, pursue, and welcome those who are hurting, outcast, or overlooked. Heaven rejoices not over rule-keepers, but over sinners who are found and restored by grace. [29:01]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:28] - Introduction to the Series: For the One
• [01:46] - Why This Series Matters for Our Church
• [02:59] - Reading Luke 15:1-7
• [05:02] - The Story of the Lost Mattress
• [07:16] - We Search for What Is Significant
• [09:03] - The Contexts of the Parable: Matthew 18 and Luke 15
• [11:07] - Greatness in the Kingdom: Becoming Like a Child
• [13:23] - Who Belongs in the Kingdom?
• [15:22] - Understanding the Lost Sheep
• [18:51] - We Are All Sheep Who Have Gone Astray
• [20:36] - What Do You Do with the One Who Wanders?
• [22:24] - The Shepherd’s Radical Love
• [24:12] - The One Matters to the Shepherd
• [26:38] - Lessons from the Parable: Heart of Humanity, Ministry, Gospel, and God
• [32:28] - The Story of Artem: When the One Doesn’t Fit
• [34:36] - Jesus Welcomes the Rejected
• [35:23] - Prayer and Communion: Remembering the Shepherd’s Love

Observation Questions

1. In Luke 15:1-2, who is gathering around Jesus, and how do the religious leaders respond to this? What does their reaction reveal about their view of “the one”? ([13:05])
2. According to Matthew 18:1-4, what question do the disciples ask Jesus, and how does He answer them? What does Jesus use as an example to teach about greatness in the kingdom? ([10:02])
3. In the parable, what actions does the shepherd take when one sheep is lost? How does he respond when he finds it? ([03:36])
4. What does Isaiah 53:6 say about people and their tendency to wander? How does this connect to the parable? ([18:51])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus chooses to highlight “the one” who is lost, rather than focusing on the ninety-nine who stayed? What does this say about God’s priorities? ([24:12])
2. How does Jesus’ teaching about becoming like a child challenge the disciples’ (and our) ideas about status and greatness? ([11:07])
3. The sermon says, “Religion says, ‘Find your way home.’ The gospel says, ‘Jesus will carry you home.’” What is the difference between these two approaches, and why is it important? ([30:39])
4. The shepherd’s search is described as relentless and sacrificial. What does this teach us about the heart of God toward those who are lost or overlooked? ([26:18])

Application Questions

1. The sermon points out that we often see ourselves as part of the ninety-nine, but in reality, we are all “the one” who has gone astray. When have you felt like the lost sheep? How did God pursue you during that time? ([27:41])
2. Jesus says true greatness is found in humility and becoming like a child—someone with no status or rights. In what areas of your life are you tempted to seek status or recognition? How can you practice humility this week? ([11:07])
3. The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to search for the one. Is there someone in your life right now who feels overlooked, rejected, or lost? What is one practical way you can pursue or care for them this week? ([24:12])
4. The sermon challenges us to stop building “righteous resumes” and instead serve and seek the least. What does building a “righteous resume” look like in your context? How can you shift your focus from self-promotion to serving others? ([29:01])
5. The gospel is not about finding our own way back to God, but about being found and carried home by Jesus. Are there areas where you are still trying to “earn” your way to God? What would it look like to rest in the Shepherd’s grace instead? ([30:39])
6. The story of Artem was shared as an example of someone who “didn’t fit.” Have you ever felt like you didn’t fit, or have you known someone who felt that way? How can our group or church be a place that welcomes “the one”? ([32:28])
7. Heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents. How can we as a group or church celebrate and support those who are returning to God, rather than focusing only on those who “have it all together”? ([03:51])