Then Jesus told them this parable:He told them this parable:And he spake this parable unto them, saying,And he spake unto them this parable, saying,
3 sermons cite this verse
… And we're dedicating our Sunday sermons to conversations about Luke 15. Three stories, three parables, three messages, all working together to invite us to come home. Your homework assignment, read Luke 15 each week this fall. Read it each day if you want. And don't miss a single message. And if you happen to miss one of the first two, they're online. Take a moment. You don't want to miss the great chapter of redemption. We continue the series today under this title, lamps, brooms, and confetti. Let's pray. what if you were to return today dear lord what if even at this moment you have signaled to the angel who holds the trumpet that it's time for the trumpet blast that you will rend the heavens and enter and rapture your church what if this is it? What if this is our last time? My prayer is that you would find us attentive, clear-minded, sober- thinking, undistracted, willing, hungry, hearts tender, Bibles open. We would like to invite you to come. We'd also request you forgive our speaker for his sins are many. …
… And the Pharisees and scribes were grumbling and saying, this fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them. So Jesus told them this parable. Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that's lost until he finds it? And when he's found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I've found my lost sheep. Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who need no repentance. This is the word of God for you, the people of God. Thanks be to God. This past Tuesday, when I exited the M1 bus right in front of the church, a voice called out to me, Pastor, it's been a long time. I looked up and saw a slender man sitting right out in the front steps there. …
… This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them. And he spoke this parable unto them. Now let me give you the setting. Jesus Christ would eat and drink with unsaved people. He loved them. He kept company with them because he wanted to bring them to himself. He wanted them to receive forgiveness and redemption and salvation and freedom. But the Pharisees hated Jesus for this. Now, you know who the Pharisees were. They were the religious crowd of that day, BUT THEY WERE SO SELF-RIGHTEOUS. AND IN THESE PHARISEES THE MILK OF HUMAN KINDNESS HAD CURDLED. AND SO THEY CRITICIZED THE LORD JESUS FOR RECEIVING SINNERS AND FOR EATING WITH SINNERS. AND BY THE WAY, IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH SIZE TO CRITICIZE. THAT'S VERY EASY TO DO. AND EVERY CHURCH HAS ITS CRITICS. ONE LITTLE COUNTRY CHURCH, A PASTOR STOOD UP AND SAID, uh, Brother Jones, would you please lead us in a word of criticism? Uh, Brother Jones was known for that. But Jesus is answering that criticism. …