God's heart is bent on seeking and celebrating. This message was given on September 11, 2016 at New City Church in Calgary by Pastor John Ferguson. For more info, please visit: www.newcitychurch.ca

1. The Celebration
of Heaven
The Gospel of Luke 15:1-10

2. God Gives Us His Words of Eternal Life
Luke 15:1-10
Found on page 874 in our guest Bibles.
Today’s Scripture:

3. Max Lucado, In the Grip of Grace

4. “That troubles me. It shouldn’t, but it does.
Grace for a cannibal?”

5. “Our response? (Dare we say it?) We cross our
arms and furrow our brows and say, ‘God won’t let
you off that easy. Not after what you did. God is
kind, but he’s no wimp. Grace is for average
sinners like me, not deviants like you.’”

6. The Celebration
of Heaven
The Gospel of Luke 15:1-10

7. 1 Now the tax collectors and sinners
The Gospel of Luke 15:1-10
were all drawing near to him. 2 And the
Pharisees and the scribes grumbled,
saying, “This man receives sinners and
eats with them.”

8. 1 Now the tax collectors and sinners
The Gospel of Luke 15:1-10
were all drawing near to him. 2 And the
Pharisees and the scribes grumbled,
saying, “This man receives sinners and
eats with them.”

9. 1 Now the tax collectors and sinners
The Gospel of Luke 15:1-10
were all drawing near to him. 2 And the
Pharisees and the scribes grumbled,
saying, “This man receives sinners and
eats with them.”

10. 3 So he told them a this parable:
The Gospel of Luke 15:1-10

11. 3 So he told them a this parable: 4 “What
The Gospel of Luke 15:1-10
man of you, having a hundred sheep, if
he lost one of them, does not leave the
ninety-nine in the open country, and go
after the one that is lost?

12. 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on
The Gospel of Luke 15:1-10
his shoulders, rejoicing? 6 And when he
comes home, he calls together his friends
and neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice
with me, for I have found my sheep that
was lost.’

13. “The Son of Man
came to seek and
to save the lost.”
~ Jesus of Nazareth in
the Gospel of Luke 19:10

14. 7 Just so, I tell you, there is more joy in
The Gospel of Luke 15:1-10
heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous persons
who need no repentance.

15. “…in your presence there
is fullness of joy; at your
right hand are pleasures
forevermore.”
~ Psalm 16:11

16. “Joy is the serious
business of heaven.”
~ CS Lewis

17. repentance

18. 8 Or what woman, having ten silver coins,
The Gospel of Luke 15:1-10
if she loses one coin, does not light a
lamp and sweep the house and seek
diligently until she finds it…?

19. 9 And when she has found it, she calls
The Gospel of Luke 15:1-10
together her friends and neighbours,
saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have
found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so,
I tell you, there is joy before the angels
of God over one sinner who repents.

20. “The tears of
the repentant
form the wine of
the angels.”
St. Bernard of Clairvaux
(1090-1153)

21. Why does Luke record this
highlight from Jesus’ life
in his historical biography?
Important Question

22. God’s heart is bent
on seeking and celebrating.

23. ~ The Apostle Paul in Romans 2:4
“…God’s kindness is meant
to lead you to repentance.”

24. That illustration about
Dahmer still rubs me
the wrong way. If what
you’re saying is true,
he gets off scot-free.

25. “Jesus…for the joy
that was set before
him endured the
cross, despising the
shame.…”
~ Hebrews 12:2

26. ?How does Jesus
challenge your beliefs,
attitudes, and actions?

27. ?
How do the words and
actions of Jesus
challenge us as a
church community?

28. ?
How does this episode
from the life of Christ
change the way you
view our city?

29. May you reflect
the heart of God
that is bent on
seeking and celebrating.

30. other images used for educational purpose
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/09/prweb4449564.htm
Image Credit: NDE
https://pixabay.com/en/poses-female-education-posing-1367416/
Pixaby Images Shutterstock
Image ID:336084467
Image Credits