A Coin, Sheep, and a Prodigal Son

Luke 15

Jesus was hanging out with people whom the religious leaders of the day didn't approve of. So they began to grumble and complain and gossip about it. The stories in Luke 15 is Jesus dealing with religious minded people, not Spirit led people. He confronts them with 3 stories about a coin (heathen), sheep (unbelievers), and a prodigal son (backsliders).

The Lost Coin
Characteristics of a lost coin:

1. it is "mindless", it cannot think on it's own.
2. it does not realize that it is a lost coin. Just as the heathen do not realize that they are lost. They do not have a witness of Jesus.
3. its out of it's control that it's lost. Really, it is the church's fault if there are people in this world who do not know about Jesus. It's our job to "go", preach, disciple, etc.
   
4. it's not willingly or didn't choose to be lost. There is no choice involved, cause one has to have options to have choice.
   
5. the lost coin is worth nothing until it's found. A coin only has value when you can spend it. A penny that has rolled under the bed is worth nothing unless it's found.

The Lost Sheep
Characteristics of lost sheep:

1. the sheep aren't that smart, but they are smarter than a coin. They have some understanding, but still, not that much.
   
2. they stray by accident, they don't intend to do it. They don't realize that where they are going is not the right way.
   
3. the sheep can't find their way back, they are dependant on a shepard to find them. The church is praying and "calling" in the unbelievers; this is ridiculous. If a child was "lost" in the woods, we would organize a search party and "act" on finding them. We wouldn't huddle together and ask God to bring the child back to us. Why is it so different in regards to evangelization?
   
4. the shepard has to lead them back, they have no ability to do it themselves. If lost, they will continue to stray further and further away from their true home.
   
5. if the shepard doesn't find the sheep, they will die. We are under an obligation to do the same thing for others as what God has done for us.

The Prodigal Son
The Lost Son, two differences:

1. the sheep and coin are not lost on purpose, but the son is. A backslider has willfully turned away and has chosen to go in an opposite direction.
   
2. someone looked for the coin and the sheep, not so with the son. There is no sense trying to "win back" a backslider, cause they know everything you have to say to them. They are from from ignorant in regards to Scripture, etc. The Father waits patiently for the son to return, never holding back His grace and mercy, but also, never taking away the son's right to make his own decision.