Message Notes

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 2 AUGUST 2020

TEXTS: Luke 15:1-32; Matthew 18:10-14

INTRODUCTION

1. Another Triple Parable arrangement (Luke 15)

a) The Lost Sheep

b) The Lost Coin

c) The Lost Son 

2. The Occasion of these Three Parables:

a) The Lord Jesus was with tax-collectors and sinners (Luke 15:1)

b) The scribes and the Pharisees complained

“This Man receives sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:2)

c) This was not the first time the scribes and Pharisees had criticized Jesus

i) At the dinner Matthew gave when he decided to follow Jesus (Matthew 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32)

ii) At that time the Lord compared Himself to a physician attending to the sick (Mark 2:17a)

iii) He had come to call sinners to repentance (Mark 2:17b)

d) This time round, the Lord gave three Parables

THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES

1. Their regard for sinners

a) Despise

b) Disregard

c) Dismissive

d) Dangerous

2. The Results:

a) They do not care

b) They criticize those who care

c) They condemn

THE LORD JESUS AND HIS APPROACH

1. He is the Divine Physician

a) He will be there for those who are weak and sick

b) He is a Physician with a genuine heart of care and concern for the sick

2. He is the Eternal Evangelist

a) He will reach out to the Lost

b) He will search for them and bring them back to God

c) He will do His work

i) Diligence

ii) Deep concern

iii) Determination

THE FIRST PARABLE

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

(Matthew 18:10-14; Luke 15:1-7)

1. Features of the Parable

a) Matthew’s Preamble before the Parable was given

i) Little ones are not to be despised (Matthew 18:10a)

ii) Angels watch over them with concern (Matthew 18:10b)

iii) The Son of Man came to save the lost (Matthew 18:11)

b) Matthew’s Features (Matthew 18:12-14)

i) The 99 sheep safe

ii) The shepherd searches for the lost one

iii) He will search the mountains to find the lost sheep   

iv) If he finds it, he rejoices

v) It is not the will of the Father to lose one of the little ones

c) Luke’s Features (Luke 15:3-7)

i) He will search the wilderness

ii) He will rejoice

iii) He calls on others to rejoice with him

iv) Heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents

2. Lessons from the Parable

a) Knowing the Father’s will

b) Fulfilling His will in searching for the Lost

c) Leading people back to God

d) Rejoicing much over a person who is saved

THE SECOND PARABLE

The Parable of the Lost Coin

Luke 15:8-10

1. Features of the Parable

a) A woman with 10 silver coins

b) One coin is lost

c) Searching for the lost coin

i) Lights a lamp

ii) Sweeps the house

iii) Searches carefully

iv) Until the lost coin is found

d) Calling on friends to rejoice

e) Joy in the presence of angels in heaven over one sinner who repents

2. Lessons from the Parable of the Lost Coin

a) The search for the lost coin

b) The joy that is there when it is found

c) The joy of the angels in heaven when a sinner repents

THE THIRD PARABLE

The Parable of the Lost Son

(The Parable of the Prodigal Son)

Luke 15:11-32

1. Features of the Parable of the Lost Son

a) A father and his two sons

b) One stays at home dutifully

c) The other leaves home with a fortune and squanders it

d) He comes to his senses 

e) He returns home and is joyously welcomed by his father

f) His brother is angry because of the things done for the prodigal brother

g) The father’s insight

“Your brother was dead and is now alive again, and was lost and is found” (Luke 15:31)

2. Lessons from the Parable of the Lost Son

a) Remarks of the brother who stayed at home

i) He was angry (Luke 15:28)

ii) He was self-righteous

iii) He listed the things he did right (Luke 15:29)

iv) His criticism of the prodigal brother (Luke 15:30)

b) Rejoinder of the father

i) It is right to make merry and be glad (Luke 15:31a)

ii) Your brother was dead and is now alive again (Luke 15:31b)

iii) And was lost and is found (Luke 15:31c)

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To be concerned about the Lost

a) Natural 

b) Good

2. To search for the Lost

a) Parable of the Lost Sheep

b) Parable of the Lost Coin

3. To welcome the repentant who return 

a) To rejoice

b) To understand the reasons for rejoicing

i) The dead has come alive

ii) The lost is now found