Carried Home Andy Wall
In the parable of the lost sheep, Jesus gives us a picture of what it means to be one of his followers - someone who was lost and wandering, then saved by the good shepherd who joyfully picks us up to carry us home. As believers, we apply this by continuing to trust Jesus to lead us throughout our lives, trusting that His ways are the best, He is trustworthy and we can share in His joy.
Luke 15:1-7
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Questions:
What are the differences between how the pharisees and the tax collectors/sinners respond to Jesus?
Why was the shepherd so motivated to rescue the sheep? In what way are sheep valuable and vulnerable? How does this make his overwhelming joy more understandable?
In what way are we like sheep? Try to draw out how we are both valuable and vulnerable.
In what ways do we get lost? How do people try to find their way back?
In what ways is Jesus like the shepherd in the story? In what ways is he different?
How is it good news that we are lost? What does it mean to be carried by Jesus?
Why is the joy of the shepherd so important in understanding this parable?
In what ways do people try to work to please God? What does it mean to let Jesus do the work for him? Does that mean we can sin?
As believers, how can we let Jesus carry us? Why is this so important?