Living Waters Christian Fellowship - Lake Nacimiento - California

34 Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?

35 It is neither fit for the land nor for
the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

15:1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.

2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, This Man receives sinners and eats with them.

3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

4 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go
after the one which is lost until he finds it?

5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my
sheep which was lost!’

7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons
who need no repentance.

8 Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search
carefully until she finds it?

9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the
piece which I lost!’

10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

Define the terms

Flavor (v34) - flavorful, sharp, insightful, wise, colorful

Flavor lost (v34) - tasteless, dull, stupid, foolish, insipid

Sinners (v1,7, 10) - mark missers, missing the mark of love for God and people

Just (v7) - righteous, those who don’t miss the mark so much, are mostly loving toward God and treating others right

Repentance (v7) - changing my mind so I can start making the mark of love

Lost (v4) - removed from the place of fellowship, safety and blessing, idea of destruction. If it’s lost it’s at risk.

Found (v4) - restored to the place of fellowship, safety and blessing, destruction suspended

Receives (v1) prosdechomai - to receive to myself.

Eats (v1) sunesthio

1. God’s desire for all of us

2. The Pharisees’ bad theology v2

7 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, This Man receives sinners and eats with them.

3. Some people are lost v4, 8

4 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go
after the one which is lost until he finds it?

8 Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search
carefully until she finds it?

4. Why are they lost?

5. What’s it like to be lost?

6. Love goes after the lost v4-9

4 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go
after the one which is lost until he finds it?

5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my
sheep which was lost!’

7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons
who need no repentance.

8 Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search
carefully until she finds it?

9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the
piece which I lost!’

7. Love becomes friends with the lost v2

2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, This Man receives sinners and eats with them.

8. Love opens the way for the lost to change his/her mind and come home v7, 10

7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons
who need no repentance.

10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

9. There is great rejoicing when the lost is found, befriended, changes his/her mind, and comes home to love v7, 10

7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons
who need no repentance.

10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

Conclusions

34 Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?

35 It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

15:1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.

2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, This Man receives sinners and eats with them.

3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

4 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go
after the one which is lost until he finds it?

5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my
sheep which was lost!’

7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons
who need no repentance.

8 Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search
carefully until she finds it?

9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the
piece which I lost!’

10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

Application to My Life