The Celebration of Heaven

The Gospel of Luke 15:1-10

God Gives Us His Words of Eternal LifeLuke 15:1-10

Found on page 874 in our guest Bibles.

Today’s Scripture:

Max Lucado, In the Grip of Grace

“That troubles me. It shouldn’t, but it does.Grace for a cannibal?”

“Our response? (Dare we say it?) We cross our arms and furrow our brows and say, ‘God won’t let

you off that easy. Not after what you did. God is kind, but he’s no wimp. Grace is for average

sinners like me, not deviants like you.’”

The Celebration of Heaven

The Gospel of Luke 15:1-10

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners

The Gospel of Luke 15:1-10

were all drawing near to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners andeats with them.”

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners

The Gospel of Luke 15:1-10

were all drawing near to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners andeats with them.”

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners

The Gospel of Luke 15:1-10

were all drawing near to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners andeats with them.”

3 So he told them a this parable:

The Gospel of Luke 15:1-10

3 So he told them a this parable: 4 “What

The Gospel of Luke 15:1-10

man of you, having a hundred sheep, ifhe lost one of them, does not leave theninety-nine in the open country, and goafter the one that is lost?

5 And when he has found it, he lays it on

The Gospel of Luke 15:1-10

his shoulders, rejoicing? 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friendsand neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoicewith me, for I have found my sheep thatwas lost.’

“The Son of Mancame to seek and to save the lost.”

~ Jesus of Nazareth in the Gospel of Luke 19:10

7 Just so, I tell you, there is more joy in

The Gospel of Luke 15:1-10

heaven over one sinner who repentsthan over ninety-nine righteous personswho need no repentance.

“…in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures

forevermore.”~ Psalm 16:11

“Joy is the serious business of heaven.”

~ CS Lewis

repentance

8 Or what woman, having ten silver coins,

The Gospel of Luke 15:1-10

if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it…?

9 And when she has found it, she calls

The Gospel of Luke 15:1-10

together her friends and neighbours, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I havefound the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so,I tell you, there is joy before the angelsof God over one sinner who repents.

“The tears of the repentant

form the wine of the angels.”

St. Bernard of Clairvaux(1090-1153)

Why does Luke record this highlight from Jesus’ life

in his historical biography?

Important Question

God’s heart is bent on seeking and celebrating.

~ The Apostle Paul in Romans 2:4

“…God’s kindness is meant

to lead you to repentance.”

That illustration about Dahmer still rubs me

the wrong way. If what you’re saying is true, he gets off scot-free.

“Jesus…for the joy that was set before

him endured the cross, despising the

shame.…”

~ Hebrews 12:2

?How does Jesus challenge your beliefs, attitudes, and actions?

?How do the words and actions of Jesus

challenge us as a church community?

?How does this episode from the life of Christ change the way you

view our city?

May you reflect the heart of God that is bent on

seeking and celebrating.

other images used for educational purposehttp://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/09/prweb4449564.htm

Image Credit: NDEhttps://pixabay.com/en/poses-female-education-posing-1367416/

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