Lost Sheep/Lost Coin

November 13, 2022

Luke 15:1-10

¹Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 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: ⁴ “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he 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.

⁸ “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹ And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ ¹⁰ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Read Luke 15:1-2

1. Compare and contrast the attitudes of the people in these verses. Which attitudes do you relate to?
2. What are some of the things in life that you ‘mutter’ about?
3. This is not even close to the first time the Luke points out this attitude in the Pharisees and teachers of the law. Why do you think Luke keeps revisiting this mindset that the Pharisees had?

Read Luke 15:3-7

1. What is a parable? Do your best to describe how we should go about the business of interpreting a parable. How do we discern what Jesus is really getting at in this (or any other) parable that He told?
2. Do you see yourself more as one of the 99? Or do you see yourself more as the one who wandered off? How might that shape the way this parable impacts you?
3. Very few of us own sheep, but we are still susceptible to the attitude Jesus is addressing in the Pharisees. Where does that attitude get displayed in our modern life?
4. Ultimately, this parable turns on the fact that we are all sinners in need of repentance. What is one thing that you know Jesus is asking you to repent and walk away from?

Read Luke 15:8-10

1. How is this parable similar to the previous one? How is it different?
2. Tell about a time you lost something important and went to great lengths to go find it.