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Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at how and why Jesus hung with the lost.
So let’s dive in.
Luke 15:1–10
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus. So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable: “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’ In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent. Or what woman who has ten silver coins and loses one of them does not light a lamp, sweep her house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors to say, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
My Thoughts
The Pharisees and scribes had an accurate assessment of the moral status of the people but a very inaccurate way of addressing it. They condemned the sinner (which only God has the authority to do) and wrote them off.
Jesus comes alongside these outcasts, knowing their spiritual bankruptcy, and does something about it. He moves in close and hangs out with them. He talks to them and dines with them. He is being very intentional about addressing their brokenness. Make no mistake, Jesus has an agenda, both for the sinner and for those who think they are above sinning.
But Jesus did not adopt a very common modern day evangelistic strategy. He didn’t just drink beer with His neighbor for ten years hoping they would ask Him about His religion. No, even though Jesus embraces the sinner He also addressed their sin. And He did it in such a way as to win many of their hearts, and turn them toward God.
Jesus, by His actions and words, addressed two extremes in religious attitude. He confronted those who were lost. He brought the truth and the good news that God hasn’t given up on them. His goal was not just to be seen with people far from God to put a notch in His spiritual performance belt. The victory wasn’t to just hangout with them. His goal was to see them embrace the truth, repent, and surrender to Him as their King.
On the other hand, he was sending a very powerful message to the religious elite. They had completely disengaged from the very people God sent them to help and rendered their priestly functions null and void. A true priest gets their hands dirty in the messes of people’s lives. Jesus’ actions and example were an indictment against these so-called, “shepherds of the flock.”
As disciple makers, we are not only to engage the lost the way Jesus did, we are to be examples for those we are discipling. Jesus made disciples in the harvest. In other words, He was discipling His men, making them fishers of men while fishing for men Himself.
My Story
There have been many times men ask to meet with me for discipleship. My response for the past ten years has been “Sure, join me on Sunday morning and we’ll share the gospel with some folks.” You know, very few actually join me for discipleship. Is my bar too high? I don’t think so because I see the Master Disciple Maker doing the same thing; “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.”
But there are a few who do join me and we begin a relationship that covers everything from spiritual disciplines, to personal purity, to finances, to family dynamics. A lot of guys want the latter before they even think about trying to engage lost and broken people. But that’s where Jesus started and that’s where I start.
Our Action Plan
Now it’s time for application. Here’s some questions and ideas:
- Take those you are discipling on a “fishing trip.”
- Do those you are mentoring have healthy rhythms of sharing the gospel?
- Train some fellow believers in a simple, Biblical, and reproducing gospel tool.
Jesus hung out with lost people. If we are going to be like Jesus, we need to hang out with them as well. No excuses.
Organic Writing – No Artificial Intelligence or Sweeteners Added
| Gospel Sync | Kingdom Kernels | On the Road Podcast | Website |
