July 12
Luke 15 – searching for LOST things
LOST
ILLUS – lost ball in golf – new rules….
Golf
The updated Rules of Golfcame with many changes, with most of them centered around speeding up pace of play.One of the areas that comes into effect often for the average golfer is when dealing with lost balls.
Under the old rules, players previously had up to five minutes to search for a lost ball. Now, that time has been reduced to three minutes, as outlined under Rule 18.2a.
“When Ball is Lost: Your ball is lost if not found in three minutes after you or your caddie begin to search for it,” the rule says.
LUKE 15
15 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:
- (4-7) Finding a lost sheep.
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.
- (8-10) Finding a lost coin.
8 “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? 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.”
ILLUS–
Forrest Fenn wrote a poem in his book The Thrill of the Chase containing nine clues. He said that the clues will lead the person who can unravel them directly to the treasure chest which contains over twenty-two troy pounds of gold, coins, precious gems, and ancient artifacts.
Found –https://www.foxnews.com/us/rocky-mountains-hidden-treasure-chest-found
Fenn revealed to the Santa Fe New Mexicanon Sunday that a man, who wished to remain anonymous, had discovered the chest a few days ago. The unnamed hunter sent Fenn a photo of the chest to confirm his discovery.
He hid the treasure in 2010and shared clues to treasure’s whereabouts on his website and in a poem he published in his autobiography, “The Thrill of the Chase.” Fenn told the New Mexican that an estimated 350,000 people tried to find the treasure, some quitting their jobs outright to search for it – and a select few died in the search.
SEARCH
3. (11-32)Finding the lost son (s)
Notes from “ Poet & Peasant”, Kenneth Bailey
Vs.11. Don’t read verse 11 so fast!
Unheard of in middle eastern society…
Who demands his share?
Who got the inheritance?
Implications??
Older is silent
Older does NOT take up tradition role of reconciler. Relationship breaks are always resolved by 3rd party / closest connection to the 2.
Vs. 13. Not long after that….
Middle East – property sales ordinarily drag on for months. Yet, youngest get on with things quick to get out of Dodge….
Like displeasure of community would be significant
Son – me centered depravity, no more “rules”, run away (Jonah?)
Son 1 – while a long way off
Doesn’t play the blame game,
Does play victim card,
Does recall his Father, life w/o rebellion
I have sinned….
Son 2 – went out and pleaded
Definite victim card, woe is me, unfair, pouting, angry
Notice These many years… “ you have sinned”!
Takes same place as Adam in the garden “ the woman YOU put here with me ( Genesis 3:12)