June 1, 2025

Luke 15

The Fellowship of the Forgiven

Sunday Sermons

Have you ever lost something precious—something you feared was gone for good—only to experience the overwhelming relief and joy of finding it again? In Luke 15, Jesus tells a trio of parables about lost things: a sheep, a coin, and two sons. Each story offers a window into the heart of God for those who are lost.

This week, join us as we explore what it means to be lost and what it means to be sought and found by a pursuing God. The ground is level at the foot of the cross, and the invitation to join the fellowship of the forgiven is open to all who would turn to Jesus.

Speaker

Tommy Bailey

Series

The Gospel According to Luke

Go to Series

Scripture

Luke 15

Topics
Community Life Growth & Discipleship

Sermon Notes

Luke 15

The Fellowship of the Forgiven

Pastor Tommy Bailey

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”
A.W. Tozer, Knowledge of the Holy

“God is on the move toward us, not the other way round. In the very midst of our confusion and incapacity, we are met by the oncoming Lord.”
Fleming Rutledge

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved…”
Ephesians 2:4-5

1. Lost in a Far Country (v. 12-19)

“No eye is quicker to see the mercy of God than the eye washed with the tears of repentance.”
Charles Spurgeon

2. Lost in the Backyard (v. 25-32)

“Grace is only ever attractive to sinners.”
Paul Tripp, New Morning Mercies

“It is always simple to fall; there are an infinity of angles at which one falls, only one at which one stands.”
G.K. Chesterton

3. Sought by the Pursuing Father (v. 20-32)

“The human soul is not the seeker but the sought: it is God who seeks, who descends from the other world to find and heal Man.”
C.S. Lewis

The father’s initiative toward the younger son (Luke 15:20–24)

  • Saw him (v. 20)
  • Felt compassion (v. 20)
  • Ran to him (v. 20)
  • Embraced him (v. 20)
  • Kissed him (v. 20)
  • Interrupted his speech (v. 21–22)
  • Clothed him (gave him the best robe) (v. 22)
  • Put a ring on his finger (v. 22)
  • Put shoes on his feet (v. 22)
  • Threw a feast (v. 23–24)

“Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place condemned he stood.
Sealed my pardon with his blood. Hallelujah, what a Savior!”
Philip Bliss

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
Romans 5:1–2

“Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.”
John Newton

Discussion Questions

  • Pastor Tommy mentioned that sometimes God allows us to go to a “far country” so that we will long to return home. Have you experienced your own spiritual far country? When you “came to yourself” (Luke 15:17), how had your perspective on “home” changed?
  • In verse 22, the father interrupts the younger son mid-speech and tells his servants, “Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him…” without asking his son to wash up and get the pig smell off of him first. Why is this significant? What does it tell us about how we can approach our Heavenly Father?
  • In verse 29, the older brother (basically) tells his father, “You owe me!” Where did this sense of entitlement come from?
  • How were the Scribes and Pharisees like the older brother? How do we not turn into the older brother?

Songs, Readings & Prayer

Songs

“Jesus What A Friend For Sinners“ by John Wilbur Chapman, Rowland Hugh Prichard, and Matthew S. Smith
“Lift High The Name“ by Ed Cash, Fionan DeBarra, Keith Getty, and Kristyn Getty
“Great Is Thy Faithfulness“ by Thomas Obediah Chisholm and William Marion Runyan
“He Is“ by David Crowder, Hank Bentley, and Jeff Pardo
“Doxology” by Thomas Ken and Louis Bourgeois
All songs are used by Permission. CCLI License #2003690

Call To Worship: Give Thanks to The Lord
1 Chronicles 16:8-13, 34

Leader: Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon His name; Make known his deeds among the peoples!
Women: Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Tell of all His wondrous works!

Leader: Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
Men: Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His presence continually!

Leader: Remember the wondrous works that He has done, His miracles and the judgments He has uttered.
Women: O offspring of Israel His servant, Children of Jacob, His chosen ones!

All: Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; For His steadfast love endures forever!

Confession of Faith:

O Lord, You who are all merciful, Take away our sins from us. Kindle within us the fire of Your Holy Spirit. Take away these hearts of stone from us and give us hearts of flesh and blood, hearts to love and adore You, hearts which may delight in You, love You, and please You, for Christ’s sake. Amen.

Ambrose of Milan, a 4th-century bishop

Classic Prayer: Martin Luther 1483-1546

Behold, Lord, I am an empty vessel that needs to be filled. Oh Lord, fill me. I am weak in the faith; strengthen me. I am cold in love; warm me to the point of zeal so that my love may reach my neighbor. I do not have a steadfast belief. I suffer from doubt, and I am unable to trust completely. Oh Lord, help me. Increase my faith and strengthen my trust. All my good treasure is stored in you.

Click here to receive TVC’s weekly prayer email.