Going After the Lost • Luke 15:1-10 • Sunday, September 14, 2025

Title: The Joy of Being Found: Reflections on God's Relentless Love

Have you ever felt lost? Not just misplaced your keys or taken a wrong turn, but truly, spiritually lost? It's a feeling that can creep up on us, sometimes even when we think we have everything figured out. The truth is, we're all lost at times, wandering like sheep without a shepherd or hidden like a precious coin in the depths of our own homes.

But here's the beautiful reality: God is always searching for us.

Let's pause for a moment and consider two powerful parables that illuminate this truth. Imagine a shepherd with a hundred sheep. One goes missing, and what does the shepherd do? He doesn't shrug it off, thinking, "Well, I've still got 99." No, he leaves the 99 in the field and goes searching for that one lost sheep until he finds it. And when he does? He's so overjoyed that he puts it on his shoulders, carries it home, and throws a celebration!

Now picture a woman with ten silver coins. She loses one within her own house. Does she write it off as a small loss? Absolutely not. She lights a lamp, sweeps the entire house, and searches diligently until she finds that precious coin. And when she does, she calls her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her.

These stories aren't just quaint tales – they're vivid illustrations of God's heart for the lost. They challenge us to reconsider what it truly means to be lost and found.

So, what makes a person lost? It's easy to point to those who don't believe in God or who live in open rebellion against Him. But the truth cuts deeper. Even those who think they believe can be lost if they've rejected the need for repentance. The Pharisees and scribes of Jesus' time are a perfect example. They grumbled about Jesus associating with "tax collectors and sinners," not realizing that they themselves were just as lost in their self-righteousness.

This brings us to a crucial point: everyone needs repentance. It's not a one-time event, but a daily walk. As Martin Luther famously stated in his 95 Theses, "When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said 'Repent,' he intended that the entire life of believers should be repentance." True repentance involves not only recognizing our sinfulness but also believing that forgiveness is possible through Jesus Christ.

Now, let's return to those lost sheep and coins. The sheep can wander far and wide, representing those who have strayed far from God. But the coin? It's lost within the house – a powerful metaphor for those who might be in the church, thinking they have it all figured out, yet are spiritually lost.

Here's the incredible part: in both cases, it's not the lost who find their way back. The shepherd searches for the sheep. The woman scours her house for the coin. In the same way, it is God who finds us. We can't clean ourselves up or find our own way back. Jesus, in His infinite love and grace, comes after us. He doesn't just point the way home – He lifts us onto His shoulders and carries us there Himself.

This is the heart of the Gospel. Jesus gave up His perfect life, suffered, and died on the cross to save us. He shed His blood so that He could go out, find us in our lostness, and bring us home. And when He does? There's no condemnation. No lecture. No, "Go to bed without supper." Instead, there's pure, unbridled joy.

In fact, Jesus tells us that there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Imagine that – the angels in heaven throw a bigger celebration over one lost soul being found than for all those who think they've got it together!

This should challenge us on two fronts. First, it should humble us. No matter how "good" we think we are, we all need daily repentance and the saving grace of Jesus. Second, it should inspire us to share in God's joy when others come to faith. Too often, we might be tempted to judge or question newcomers in our faith communities. Instead, we should be bursting with joy, celebrating like we've just scored the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl!

As we reflect on these truths, let's ask ourselves some hard questions:

• Where in my life do I need to repent today?
• Am I relying on my own righteousness, or am I allowing Jesus to carry me home?
• How can I cultivate a heart that rejoices over every person who comes to faith?
• In what ways can I participate in God's search-and-rescue mission for the lost?

Remember, the God of the universe is not content to let you remain lost. He's not waiting for you to find your way back. He's actively searching for you, ready to scoop you up in His arms and carry you home. And when He finds you? All of heaven erupts in celebration.

So whether you feel like a sheep that's wandered far from the flock or a coin lost in the depths of your own home, know this: You are precious to God. He's looking for you. And He won't rest until you're found.

Let's close with this powerful truth: You once were lost, but now you're found. Not because of anything you did, but because of everything Jesus did. That's something worth rejoicing over, today and every day.

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Paul Pett

(Content generated by PulpitAI from sermon transcript)