GOD’S HEART FOR THE LOST

LUKE 15:1-32
• Each story focuses on something or somebody that was
lost, but which is eventually found
•Jesus mentioned these parables in response to the attack
the self-righteous leaders towards jesus’ ministry.
But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered,
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Luke
15:2
These parables are a revelation of the Loving character of
God.
GOD’S HEART FOR THE LOST

• GOD VALUES THE LOST PEOPLE

•“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? Luke
15:4
•Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp,
sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? Luke 15:8
•22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on
him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf
and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. LUKE 15:22-23
GOD’S HEART FOR THE LOST

• GOD VALUES THE LOST PEOPLE

•Why are we valuable to the Lord? He Created us and He is the One who truly
knows us. It is not because God needs us but God knew that a life away from
Him means sorrow, defeat, danger, emptiness and most of all—eternal
destruction.
•Remember: We are valuable to God even in our lost condition. You may be
worthless in your own sight because you can only see what you have made
yourself, but you should learn that you are valuable to God because He is able
to see what you were created to be and what He can make of You.
GOD’S HEART FOR THE LOST
• GOD SEEKS FOR THE LOST PEOPLE

Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country

and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? Luke 15:4b

Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search

carefully until she finds it? Luke 15:8b
GOD’S HEART FOR THE LOST
• GOD SEEKS FOR THE LOST PEOPLE

•The Shepherd went to the wilderness to look for the lost sheep; the woman lit the lamp and sweep
the floor to search for the lost coin—this represents the world—In the midst of darkness and evil in
this world, God is continually seeking for every person to return to Him and get away with
•The Shepherd and the Woman is a picture of God—who will do everything to bring salvation to
the lost world. As the Shepherd and woman searched by themselves, God placed the burden on His
shoulders by paying the price through his sacrifice of Himself on the cross.
•As someone lost, we cannot find our way back to God for sin deceives our heart-- and so God is the One
who sought for us. That initiative springs out of His great love and compassion for sinners or lost such as us.
there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away,
they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Romans 3:11-12
GOD’S HEART FOR THE LOST
• GOD’S JOY OVER A REPENTANT LOST SOUL

“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” Luke 15:7
In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over
one sinner who repents.” Luke 15;10
Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son
of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to
celebrate. Luke 15:23-24
GOD’S HEART FOR THE LOST
• GOD’S JOY OVER A REPENTANT LOST SOUL

•Extravagant LOVE!
•God is the One who is most overjoyed when a person
acknowledges his sins, him being lost and in need of a
Savior. We rejoice at it but God is the One most joyful
because He is the Owner.
GOD’S HEART FOR THE LOST
• GOD’S JOY OVER A REPENTANT LOST SOUL

•GOD celebrates for every REPENTANT SOUL

I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have
sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called
your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to
his father. Luke 15:18-19
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with
compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed
him. Luke 15:20
GOD’S HEART FOR THE LOST
• GOD’S JOY OVER A REPENTANT LOST SOUL

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and
22 

put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  23 Bring
the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.  24 For this
son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’
So they began to celebrate. Luke 15:22-24
God has a joyous love for individuals who are lost (in sin) and are
found (repent).
GOD’S HEART FOR THE LOST
THE REMAINING SON?

•“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and
dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.  27 ‘Your brother
has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe
and sound.’
•28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded
with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never
disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my
friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes
home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
•31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.  32 But we
had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was
lost and is found.’” LUKE 15: 25-31
 THE REMAINING SON?
•The Remaining Son is the representation of the religious leaders or the self righteous—

•The Religious leaders with all their pride and self righteousness are actually part of the LOST too
and unless they acknowledge their insufficiency and sin, they cannot be found—they will live in the
lies of their self righteousness.
I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Luke 13:3

•GOD loves even the religious leaders..they were lost but the thing is their self righteousness makes
them blind of the reality of their spiritual life.
As it is written:“There is no one righteous, not even one; Romans 3:10
GOD’S HEART FOR THE LOST

•God sees every person important to Him—and so He loves all people

•God seeks for every lost soul trap in the world
•God rejoices for every lost soul who returns to Him

The first two stories speaks about God’s love to the extent of seeking the Lost.
The Third parable shows that though God had seek us, it is important that we
make a response and that is repentance—a personal decision to abandon the
world and follow Jesus.
GOD’S HEART FOR THE LOST
THE CHALLENGE

As someone who once was lost but no was

found by God—it is our mission to be His
instrument of love for others by continually
sharing the gospel of truth.