To Pursue The Lost | Luke 15:1-7

Welcome to Ontario Community Church, where we are encouraging, equipping, and engaging lives for Christ.

I'm Pastor Patrick Daly, and each week I share sermons that balance the grace and love of Jesus Christ with the truth of the Word of God.

Together, we'll explore Scripture using observation, interpretation, and application.

This helps us discover practical ways to live out our faith every single day.

Let's dive in together into God's Word.

Well, good morning, everyone.

I'm really glad to see all of you here.

Friends, family, first-timers, or regular attenders, or everything in between.

I'm really glad that you are here.

And I want you to know that you are loved by God.

No matter who you are, where you are on life's journey,

what situations or circumstances you may be going through, or what you have going through.

The Lord is constant, and He's there for you in every season of life.

He extends an invitation for you to respond in faith, to know Him, to grow in Him, and to be moved to do good in the name of Christ.

Today, we are going over the parable of the lost sheep.

We have been doing this sermon series about the parables of Christ.

The name of the series is called Thy Kingdom Come.

And we've been going over these parables to have an understanding, a better understanding, of the teachings of Christ.

Many of us, we may know some of these parables.

Maybe it's your first time hearing it.

But in all of these parables, there is simplicity, but there's also depth.

And our approach in this is to open the Word of God, to read it, and observe what is going on within the text.

Then we look at what we can learn on a personal level.

Because it's important for us to grow as individuals, to come to the knowledge of who Jesus is,

and for us believers, to grow in the faith.

And then finally, we have the application, which is what do we do with the text?

Learning what we learn, it's so important and critical for us.

Learn, grow, but also live it out.

Live out your faith every single day with your everyday interactions.

This last week, we talked about this idea of the Good Samaritan,

asking the question of who our neighbor is.

And our neighbor, in a simplistic standpoint, is really anyone that we interact with,

whether that's the coffee shop, the grocery store,

or the person that cuts us off as we're driving wherever we go, right?

Let's be honest here.

You know, God's love is relentless.

He pursues every single person.

We believe in the living God.

God being present everywhere.

And knowing who you are.

You are made in the image of God.

And as I mentioned, he extends this invitation for all to respond to his abundant grace.

Grace overflowing.

That's what the word Ontario means when you think of the Japanese.

Grace overflowing.

Or grace abundance.

In abundance.

And that's to remind us about who our God is.

That his grace, his love overflows.

That God is everlasting to everlasting.

He remains constant in this ever-changing world.

So many changes and things that are happening,

not only in our own community,

but also in this country and in this world.

It can certainly be overwhelming for us.

But we know that not only do we have the word of God,

but we have the presence of God with us.

Knowing God leads us to restoration through faith in him.

And we respond by publicly declaring it.

That's why this Sunday is very special as we're doing baptisms today.

You know, nothing is worse than losing something of great value.

How many of you guys have lost these before?

Not my own keys, but your own keys.

Let's be honest here.

We've lost keys before.

Or how many of you have lost your glasses, your wedding ring, your phone, right?

That's the classic one nowadays, right?

You've lost your phone.

And you could have sworn it was not where it typically was.

Maybe under documents or maybe hidden in the couch in the one section

that you've got to reach way down in to get.

We've all been there.

We've had those moments where we've lost something of great value.

And we search diligently for those things,

much as we've learned previously in the parable of the lost coin,

the woman that was searching diligently, sweeping her house.

And there's a connection that we find here in Scripture

with the parable of the lost sheep and also with the lost coin.

We think about these things that we lose and how it's sentimental to us.

And how did it feel to be in that moment?

Think of the last time you lost something,

and I hope it wasn't today or this morning or yesterday for that matter.

How did it feel to really search for something that was of great value that you lost?

There was the care.

There was the intentionality.

There may have even been the rushing through items to find that lost thing.

And upon finding it, then how did you feel?

Well, I hope you all felt good when you found that lost thing.

We think about it.

If we care so deeply about searching for that which is lost,

how much more does God care for those who are spiritually lost?

When we think of the story of Jonah,

the first sermon series that I did here,

there's the part where the prophet,

God provides a plant and gives him shade.

And he loves his plant, and then eventually the plant dies.

But God was showing Jonah the prophet,

if you cared so much about this plant,

how much more do I care for my people?

Which is very similar to what we're seeing here.

We care so much about the things that we lose,

how much more does God care about finding that which is lost?

Think about that as we go through.

What if God has been pursuing you all along,

and you may not even realize it.

What if God calls for you to do the same,

to seek those who are lost?

I think of that song,

I once was lost, but now am found.

I was blind, but now can see.

And what if today was your moment to say,

I have been found,

and I recognize that God loves me,

and he has a plan and a purpose for me,

that God made me with intentionality and with care?

Think about that.

So let's turn our Bibles.

We're going to turn to the Gospel of Luke,

Luke 15:1–7

chapter 15, verses 1 through 7, church,

in your ESVP Bibles.

It's page 1039, if you're using this blue Bible.

Or you can go to your Bible of choice.

If you're a KJV-er or an NIV-er,

or if you just like using your phone,

you're welcome to join.

So are we there?

Luke chapter 15,

Luke 15:1–7

verses 1 through 7.

So we begin.

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to him.

And the Pharisees and the scribes,

they grumbled,

saying what?

This man receives sinners and eats with them.

What's so wrong with eating with sinners?

We read that.

But it goes on further,

where he told them this parable.

What man of you,

having 100 sheep,

if he has lost one of them,

does not leave the 99 in the open country

and go after the one that is lost

until he finds it?

And when he has found it,

he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

And when he comes home,

he calls together his friends and his neighbors,

saying,

Rejoice with me,

for I have found my sheep that was lost.

And just so,

I tell you,

there will be more joy in heaven

over one sinner who repents

than over the 99 righteous persons

who need no repentance.

We read that.

There's a pattern that happens here in Scripture.

If you still have your Bibles open

and you go all the way down to verse 10

for the parable of the lost coin,

it says,

Just so,

I tell you,

there is joy before the angels of God

of one sinner who repents.

We find this kind of pattern

that was going on.

To know that there is joy in heaven.

More joy in heaven over one sinner who repents

is a really challenging thought, isn't it?

One person repenting?

You have 99, Jesus.

What's going on with that?

And so,

we begin with the criticism

versus compassion, right?

Where Jesus is responding

to this grumbling of the Pharisees

and the scribes for welcoming sinners.

sinners.

Well, we can see on the surface

that Jesus,

he spends time with anyone.

Much how Jesus extends the invitation

for all of us,

regardless of what our title

and our status is.

I always love how when you read this,

you see this distinction

between a tax collector and a sinner.

Why would you make such a distinction?

Why wouldn't you just say,

just sinners here?

But the tax collectors viewed upon as,

well, we would see them nowadays

as, well, I guess the ultra-rich

or the scammers of the world

or whatever it may be.

Not looked on very favorably.

We can kind of think of an idea

of what that would look like today.

So Jesus responds to those criticisms

for the first three verses.

And I have a video on here

which is to show,

it's the one of the sheep,

it's that next slide.

We see one sheep here.

Now, for some of you,

you may,

sheep are quite dumb animals.

I mean, we're in a rural community.

Many of us at least seen sheep, right?

Or pet sheep.

They're not the most intelligent

of creatures out there.

And I know it's kind of hard

when we're all called sheep

and I'm like, well,

God really thinks we're dumb then,

I guess.

But the reality is,

compared to the knowledge

and the scope of what God knows,

we are like sheep.

We see this,

that the shepherd leaves the 99

to pursue the one lost sheep.

I want you to understand

that in the finding,

we can go to that next slide then.

The shepherd's search for the lost.

Right?

The shepherd doesn't scold

or shame the sheep.

What does he do instead?

He carries that sheep home.

Sometimes,

we can think of times

where we might have gone astray

or we might have been lost.

What matters

is that you being found

by the great shepherd,

by the Lord.

So there's no scolding or shame.

It's you're found

and there's a celebration

that comes from that.

Then, of course,

there's the joy of restoration

in the finding, right?

He's carrying the sheep back.

If you could imagine that image,

you're searching so diligently

to find your sheep.

You find it

and you pick it up

and you're carrying it back

because you're so excited

to find your sheep.

Much like how in the beginning

I was saying

when you're looking for something

that is of great value,

you're searching

and you've got to find it.

Then when you find it,

you're excited.

You're ready to celebrate.

I mean,

for those of us

who might have lost something

for weeks,

you want to tell everybody

when you find it.

You know,

there have been,

I've lost glasses before.

It's taken me weeks to find.

I have to wear my old glasses.

I don't like this prescription.

I want to find the old one

and it bugs you, right?

And so we think about that here, right?

The shepherd doesn't focus

on the cost of the search,

but rather the joy in finding.

Because when we're looking for something,

it doesn't matter how much time.

I mean, yes,

we've got to go to work.

We've got our obligations,

but we keep searching.

Sometimes it occupies days, hours.

It frustrates you.

Or you might be like,

man, I lost it.

But then when you find it.

And then you have

heaven's celebration

over one sinner,

which is the greater joy in heaven

over one sinner who repents.

And may I remind us

this idea of repentance.

Many people make this claim,

and it's true.

When we repent,

we are turning from our sin.

But repentance,

it's much greater than that.

It is the changing of one's mind.

The changing of one's mind

about who God is.

The changing,

the continual changing of our minds.

Are we not growing?

Are we not continuing

to be molded by the Lord?

There's continued repentance.

It's not just turning from sin.

It's being molded by God.

Being transformed

by the renewal of our mind,

as it were,

as it mentions in Romans.

So when we think of this idea

of repentance,

I want you guys to think

that it's much more

than turning from sin.

It's the changing of your mind

about who Jesus Christ is.

Let's remember that.

Metanoia.

Or metanoeo.

God the Father,

the angels,

and all of heaven rejoice.

I've mentioned before,

and I'll mention it again,

if you guys have watched

It's a Wonderful Life,

when Clarence gets his wings.

What happens?

A bell rings, right?

And it's a cute little thing

that Christmas and New Year's time,

right?

Or it's like,

he finally got his wings, right?

And that's a small little comparison,

I admit,

but it's still one

that we can think of.

Think of all of heaven rejoicing.

We've got another one.

Let's celebrate that.

Let's celebrate the sinner

who has changed his mind.

And perhaps you can see yourself

in a story like this.

Maybe you have felt lost.

Maybe you feel lost currently.

Are you the lost sheep?

Or maybe you're one of the 99.

And that's okay too.

So with that,

what does all of this text mean?

Number one is that

the shepherd represents God.

His love is relentless

and sacrificial,

just like how we know

John 3.16,

for God so loved the world

that he gave his only begotten son

that whosoever believes

shall not what?

Perish,

but have eternal life

or everlasting life.

Depending on your translation.

It's the same idea here.

We then go into,

getting pressed on time here,

this,

celebrate in joining the 99.

That in the same way

that heaven rejoices

over a sinner that repents,

we too should celebrate

when someone believes in Jesus.

we should join

just like how heaven does.

We think for a moment,

believing in Christ,

the death, burial,

and resurrection of Jesus,

that's an internal decision.

And when we have our baptisms

that we'll be having

pretty soon here,

that is the public declaration.

It is the external proclamation

that Jesus is all I need.

And I'm going to live my life for him.

So we think about those two things

that God's timing is remarkable.

That we're going over this parable

as people are getting baptized.

This wasn't something that I planned.

This was something that just happened.

And what a wonderful tie-in

we can learn

and we can think of.

That we are to celebrate

those that believe in Christ

and those that make

that public proclamation in faith.

And the third thing

is to reflect and mirror God's heart

in the pursuit.

In the same way

that God actively pursues you,

you are to seek the lost.

Build relationships with them.

There's a lot of people who,

see,

the thing is,

we don't know why that sheep was lost.

Did he run off?

Did he get distracted?

I don't know.

There's debate on that

even with biblical scholars here.

But what matters is that

this sheep was lost.

Who do you know

that is lost?

Who do you know

that needs healing and restoration?

Maybe the sheep was hurt

and was discouraged.

Maybe the sheep again

was distracted by

the things of this world.

We can think of many distractions

just like our phones

that we lose

and we pursue so much, right?

Believers are called

in the same way

to mirror

and to show

the love of Christ

to pursue the lost

in sharing the gospel.

Sharing in their testimony

to other people.

That's why we serve

the church.

We serve the community.

We're all called

to become all

that God wants us to be.

And then finally,

we go to the application point.

Or let me say this much.

If you identify

with the lost sheep,

just remember,

man may fail you.

Man may hurt you.

But God loves you.

I want you to know that.

God is always there for you.

I personally cannot think,

I think of the times

I have been hurt

by other Christians,

by non-believers.

It doesn't matter.

But I know that my foundation

is in the living God.

That will not shake my faith.

Even though man may fail me,

God will never fail me.

He is pursuing you.

If you feel lost,

just know that God's there with you.

In the hills and the valleys of life.

The application then,

what do we do with this?

Is we respond to God's pursuit

in faith.

Begin.

I want you to know.

Look at those,

your neighbors,

or think of people

that you may know.

You can respond to God's pursuit

by believing in him.

You can also respond

by exhibiting the light,

love, and truth of Christ

to others.

So think for a moment,

who can you talk to?

Or how can you live out

this light of God,

love of God,

truth of God?

Sometimes it's being present

with people.

Sometimes it's praying

with people.

Sometimes it's,

it just varies

from person to person.

I wish there was just one,

you know,

one size fits all,

but it's not.

Every situation is different.

And consider,

have compassion

for those who are lost,

those who are struggling.

Number two,

just as Christ pursued you,

pursue the lost.

So we respond

to God's invitation

through faith

and we do the same.

We seek

and we build relationships

with those.

How can we not do that?

How can we not show kindness

and compassion?

How can we not

build relationships

with people

who are struggling?

Those that may have been

disenfranchised.

Not only are we called

to share in our faith,

we're called to share

in the transforming power

of the Word of God.

Letting people know

how God's changed

our own lives.

Are you the same person

that you were

before you knew the Lord

or did God change you?

I'm sure most of us

can respond by saying,

God has changed me

in such remarkable ways.

I even think of

how my own calling.

You know how long

I neglected God's call?

And how much struggle

and resistance,

wrestling I had?

You know what I wanted to do?

I wanted to be

in a startup company,

a sports car

manufacturing company.

That was before God called me.

And time after time,

I kept seeing,

maybe it was kind of

this seed planted

in my head.

Maybe this isn't

what God wants me to do.

But I kept denying myself

and I thought,

no, I want this company

to kick off

because I'll be like

Elon Musk, right?

I'll be honest here.

But I'm not Elon Musk

and I'm glad I'm not.

Because God called me

for a much different path

in the same way

that God calls you

for a better path.

And he wants to transform you

where you become,

you put on the new self.

Think of how you

are a new creation in Christ

and let God work

in and through your life.

Let him.

Because I'm telling you,

the plan that God has

for your life

is much better

than what the world

has to offer.

So many of us,

we seek other things.

Seek the Lord.

The next thing

is to celebrate

new believers.

baptism,

repentance,

and restoration.

Think about that.

If you know anyone

that has become a Christian

and believed in the death,

burial,

and resurrection

of Jesus Christ,

believing that

I,

Jesus,

is all that I need.

Celebrate that.

Whether it's a family member

or a friend,

celebrate that.

Baptism as we're going to do.

Repentance,

the changing of mind,

that's another big one.

I didn't understand this,

but now I do.

I didn't understand 1 John,

but now I do.

Or I didn't understand

how Christ fulfilled prophecies,

but now I do.

That's something to celebrate.

And then, of course,

restoration.

The brokenness of families,

the brokenness of individuals,

where people become restored,

and they change.

And that change being transformation.

Rejoice with heaven again

when someone repents

or returns to God.

So I want to ask you

as we're closing,

what if God

is calling for you

to be a part of someone's restoration?

What if God is calling you

to be restored?

What if you are the one

that God has been pursuing,

and today

is your day

to come home?

I want you to think about that

as we close here.

And just as God

calls for us

to enter into a relationship

with Him through faith,

we are called

to make that decision internally.

It is the greatest decision

that you can make

for your life

that not only affects

your life here on the earth,

but affects your life eternally.

And part of that also

is to proclaim

the name of Jesus Christ

externally through baptism.

baptism.

So let's go ahead

and pray.

And we're going to go ahead

and prepare for our time

of baptism.

Father, we thank you

for this message

about how you seek the lost.

such a powerful message

where you have these Pharisees

who are criticizing

and questioning,

and you reveal

this parable

about how

the shepherd

seeking the one sheep

that is lost,

and how there's celebration

in the finding

and the restoration

of that one person

with the 99.

And Father God,

I pray if there's anyone

who has felt lost,

hurt,

disenfranchised,

whatever it is,

I pray

that they will feel

your love.

I pray

that they will come

to the knowledge

of who you are.

And for those

that are part of the 99,

may they be encouraged,

may they have the heart

to love the lost

as they were loved

and they were lost

once before.

Father,

today we are shifting

to,

we're celebrating

your pursuit

of the lost

in a tangible way

through baptism.

May we celebrate

these three baptisms.

We rejoice

in them

boldly going out

in faith.

And just,

Father,

we are so grateful

that you move

in and through

our lives

every single day.

We pray

for transformation.

We pray

for the changing

of mind,

repentance.

I pray

for every single person.

I don't know

what is going on

in their life,

but you sure do.

Let there be comfort

where comfort is needed.

Let there be guidance

where guidance is needed.

And be with us

as we go

to our time

of baptism together.

It is in the name

of Jesus Christ,

the cornerstone

of our faith,

that we pray

and we all say together,

Amen?

Amen.

Amen.

Thank you for listening

for this week's message

from Ontario Community Church.

I pray

that you are encouraged

and strengthened

in your walk

with Christ.

For more sermons

and resources,

visit

OntarioCommunityChurch.org.

May God bless you

as you live out

His grace

and truth

every single day.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Thank you.