The Kingdom of God is a Party

[1]

September 13, 1992

Text Luke 15:1-10

Luke 15:6 "rejoice with me"

Luke 15:9 "rejoice with me"

Luke 15:32 "It was right that we should make merry"

Introduction

Anyone knows that this chapter is about being lost and found. We learn a lot about a seeking, caring God from these three brief stories. But there is more to these stories than meets our first glance. It is significant WHY Jesus told these stories— and TO WHOM! It may surprise you that these parables are as much about the attitude God's people should have toward those who are lost as they are about salvation itself.

[ When Jesus told these stories He was going about His business— doing what He normally did. He and His disciples were taking the kingdom of God into the weekday world. They were expressing their faith outside the temple as well as they faithfully worshiped inside. They were eating with publicans and sinners. And the religious elite, who were always looking for flaws in Jesus, grumbled about it. ]

I. THE PEOPLE THAT PROMPTED THESE PARABLES

The people to whom Jesus addressed these stories were learned; especially in the written law; they were scribes and Pharisees— people who literally lived and breathed the Torah.
They were grumblers; or in some translations, they were murmurers— complainers.
To "murmur" means a soft, low complaint— a whine— they talked among themselves instead of openly asking Jesus about their concern. And complainers and murmurers and grumblers are basically unhappy people.
They were out of touch with the basic work of God in Messiah. This basic work is exactly what Jesus had come to do.
[This basic work of God in Christ— WHAT IS IT?] [Precisely what the stories were about.]

II. RECONCILING THE LOST TO GOD

Jesus came to bring God down to where we live in order that he might bring us up to fellowship with God forever! The whole entire idea of "lost" is being away, separated, out-of-touch with God!
And so— this lesson: "Variations on the theme of lost-ness" Three stories on one theme: being LOST is serious business— God Himself is interested in finding the lost— and all heaven is pleased when the lost is brought back!
Being LOST is something to which we can all relate to some extent: "Have you ever been truly LOST?"
[Illustration: My son Stephen was (at least mis-placed) in the Museum of Natural History in New York City. He was nine years old. For more than an hour— and there was concern on his part and ours: "Where were you?!?"]
1. Lost like a sheep: "All we like sheep.. turned each one to HIS/HER own way! An introduction to THE UNIQUE ISOLATION OF DAMNATION. Hell will be full of isolated individuals wrapped in their unique selfishness... Hell calls out "Do your own thing! Be yourself! Rise above the masses!" The shepherd simply goes after us one by one! See Him seeking...calling..
2. Lost like a coin: "Many of life's forces are 'set' before birth. You are the product of many forces beyond your control: Your IQ... your $$.. your limits... your country of birth... God comes SWEEPING AWAY THE DARKNESS— valuing His image— "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's" Think about that! Every man, woman, boy, girl is a coin with God's image stamped on it— and Father God is looking for His precious coinage!
3. (Lost by deliberate bull-headed choice!) The third "lost" in this chapter is— a lost child! A Prodigal. A lost that must have a response of WILL in order to be found!
Perhaps as He spoke to the Pharisees and scribes Jesus had His hand on the shoulder of Peter— and he and the other disciples thought of a man they had met among the tombs in Gadera, his name had been "Legion"— they thought of a woman bent over from infirmity for 18 years that Jesus had straightened up with a word— they thought of the ruler of the synagogue in Capernaum, named Jairus, whose daughter had been raised from the dead— and of another woman who had had an issue of blood for 12 long years that had just touched the hem of Jesus' robe and had been healed.
And they ALL understood what Jesus was about: Jesus was where He was and was doing what He was doing because He loved them all! And He especially was there to bring us all— all lost without Him— to bring us all to God!
But there is another part to this message to the Pharisees: a common thread beside being LOST and FOUND. All three stories end with REJOICING!
It is a measure the reality of our faith not only what our attitude is— but what "turns us on!"
[These sour intellectuals weren't happy until others could dot the "i" and cross the "t" like they did— and then they didn't have it right— but they couldn't see that Jesus was finding the lost before their very eyes!]

III. THE PURPOSE OF THE MESSAGE

[ Why, do you suppose, did Jesus bring this lesson to the Pharisees? ]

The "usual" application is vital: God is seeking YOU! God loves YOU! Whether you are lost by carelessness or by (seeming) circumstances— or even by deliberate choice— God still loves you and is seeking you! God is waiting for you to "come home to HIM!"
But what was Jesus saying to the "wise" that day?
1. Do not mistake the work of Messiah! People are LOST apart from God! They are not lost because they are not keeping your rules or because they are "liberal" or "fundamental" or "educated" or "simple." They are lost if they are away and apart from God!
  God is always concerned about the lost. He is illuminating, revealing, sweeping the corners; He is calling, carrying, bandaging, forgiving. What God can do in regard to the last, God does.
2. GOD IS ALWAYS LEADING A CELEBRATION OVER THE FOUND!
  God is a cheerleader, who applauds every sincere effort toward the light— who makes heaven ring with music when a child in VBS sings "Into MY heart, Lord Jesus!" and really invites Jesus in!

Conclusion - God is our Father; He wants us to be like HE IS!

If we are away from Him, then it is important— absolutely the most important thing in the world— that we be saved! Sheep - coin - son/daughter — God is moving heaven and earth to bring you back!
But that is not where this lesson ends.
1. We must be like God in NEVER GIVING UP ON THE LOST. We should be God's candle— God's broom— God's under-shepherds—
2. When we cannot go and force people to come, we must be like the Father: praying waiting watching— ready to run down the road and say "Welcome into the FAMILY!"
3. We must learn to love the sinner without entering into the sin. We do not have to approve of what people are doing in order to let them know that they are important. People are NOT going to beat the door down to the church if they are "lost sheep" or "lost coins." By the grace of God they have to be sought!
4. OUR HAPPINESS IS COMPLETE WHEN IT IS LIKE GOD'S OWN JOY; IN SEEING THE LOST COME HOME! This chapter just a hint into what God's heart must be— how much God loves YOU and ME— how he spares no effort to locate us— and Jesus loved even the scribes and Pharisees! He was seeking THEM, too!

Prayer: Help us to be like You, O God!

Hymn # 68 O to Be Like Thee

[1] The title are Tony Campolo's words, (of course).