Kindling

Story

Ninety-nine and the one

Luke 15:1–7

The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine in the open country and goes after the one until he finds it. He lays it on his shoulders, which means the animal is not walking home on a new resolve. Then there is a party. Jesus tells this to people who grumble that he eats with sinners. The math of the kingdom offends people who are sure they stayed put.

How you’d preach it

Ask who this church has already written off as a reasonable loss. The shoulders are the gospel. The party is not optional.

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Luke 15

Luke 15:1–7

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Object lesson

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Luke 15

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History

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Object lesson

In a shame-and-honor village, a son who asked for his inheritance early was treating his father as if he were already dead. The…

Grace · Forgiveness · The Cross

Luke 15