“Through the Looking Glass” The Kingdom of Heaven as seen through the parables of Jesus
“For now we see through a glass…” – I Cor. 13:12
“Lost & Found”
The lost sheep and the lost coin – Luke 15:1-10
15 1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “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? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
What’s lost is LOST until IT’S FOUND.
God’s sense of loss!
Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
Ephesians 2:1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins…
Ephesians 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
John 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
What’s lost isn’t FOUND until IT’S SOUGHT OUT.
God seeks us out!… “THIS MAN WELCOMES SINNERS… AND EATS WITH THEM!
Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Mark 2:17 (NLT) “Healthy people don’t need a doctor–sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
HEAVEN PARTIES with the “Lost & Found!”
Isaiah 62:5 As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you;
as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.
Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.
WHY DID JESUS DIE? HE LOVES YOU… PUSHED THROUGH “THE CURTAIN” TO FIND WHAT WAS LOST… YOU AND ME!
“Whoever has ears, let them hear.” – #Jesus@matthew11.15