Luke 15 opens with two audiences: “tax collectors and sinners” drawing near to hear Jesus, and Pharisees/Scribes complaining that He receives and eats with them. Jesus answers with the parable of the lost sheep to show God’s initiating grace: the Shepherd leaves the ninety-nine, seeks until He finds the one, places it on His shoulders, and calls for rejoicing. Heaven celebrates one sinner who repents. The main claim: salvation is the Shepherd’s work from start to finish—He seeks, finds, carries, and keeps.

Key Points
1. Context (vv.1–2): Two postures—those who listen vs. those who grumble. The gospel is demonstrated, not defended.
2. The Parable (vv.3–7):
• Losing & Leaving: Strategic reallocation—leave the 99 to seek the 1.
• Seeking “Until”: Persevering grace; God moves first (initiating grace).
• Finding & Carrying: The Shepherd bears the full weight; assurance rests on His shoulders, not our performance.
• Rejoicing: Heaven’s culture is joy over repentance; the church should mirror it.
3. Theology of Salvation: Salvation belongs to the Lord; we don’t add to Christ’s finished work. Repentance is ongoing—turning from sin to God as a pattern, not a one-time checkbox.
4. Mission Application: Evangelism is normal kingdom work. Measure success by heaven’s joy, not comfort or numbers.

Practices for the Week
• Name Your One: Identify a person, pray for them daily, and make one concrete touchpoint (coffee, meal, invitation).
• Schedule “Leave the 99” Blocks: Carve out two weeks with intentional “seek” time (neighborhood prayer walks, workplace prayer, hospital/nursing-home visits, coffee-shop conversations).
• Host a “Luke 15 Table”: Once a month, open your home for a simple meal and honest discussion through Luke 15; create a safe place for questions.
• Follow-Up Culture: Pair celebration with discipleship—meet, read Scripture together, and support new believers.

Scriptures
Luke 15:1–7; Luke 19:10; John 10; Ezekiel 34; Isaiah 40:11; Psalm 23; Psalm 100:3; Zephaniah 3:17; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25; Romans 10:13.