DEVOTED TO JESUS

To Go as a Disciple
February 13, 2022

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Recap: Disciple – Connecting – Giving – Serving - Going

Luke 15:1-3 - Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 Then Jesus told them this parable…

• Jesus is going to tell us how He sees people who are far from God.

1. Jesus uses three metaphors to describe their CONDITION.

A. He sees them as lost SHEEP.

Luke 15:4-7 – “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

• A person far from God lacks spiritual understanding that causes them to be WEAK in character and will.

Matthew 9:36-38 - When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

B. He sees them as a lost COIN.

Luke 15:8 – “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?”

• A person far from God lacks PURPOSE.

C. He sees them as a lost SON.

Luke 15:11-16 - Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.”

• A person far from God lacks FULFILLMENT.

2. Jesus uses three metaphors to reveal the NATURE of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

A. Seeking Shepherd = JESUS

John 10:11 - “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Luke 19:10 - “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

• It is the nature of the Son to RESCUE people far from God.

B. Seeking Woman = HOLY SPIRIT

Luke 15:8 – “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?”

• It is the nature of the Holy Spirit to REVEAL truth to people far from God and believers.

John 16:7-9 – “But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me…”

C. Seeking Father = GOD

• It is the nature of the Father to RECEIVE people far from God.

Luke 15:17-24 – “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”

3. The condition (Weakness, lack of purpose and fulfillment) of the person who is far away from God and the nature (rescuing, revealing and receiving) of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit gives us a picture of what the Church should be about when it comes to “GO”.

• To RESCUE the people who are far away from God.

• To REVEAL the truth in LOVE.

• To RECEIVE them with grace.

John 17:18 – “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.”

Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

“Jerusalem” = The people closest to me

“Judea/Samaria” = People near but different from me

“Ends of the earth” = Everybody else!

Acts 4:29 - Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.