重要的福音信息：失丧，却寻回
路加福音十五章1至10节
1众税吏和罪人都挨近耶稣，要听他讲道。
2法利赛人和文士私下议论说：这个人接待罪人，又同他们吃饭。
3耶稣就用比喻说：
4你们中间谁有一百只羊失去一只，不把这九十九只撇在旷野、去找那失去的羊，直到找着呢？
5找着了，就欢欢喜喜的扛在肩上，回到家里，
6就请朋友邻舍来，对他们说：我失去的羊已经找着了，你们和我一同欢喜罢！
7我告诉你们，一个罪人悔改，在天上也要这样为他欢喜，较比为九十九个不用悔改的义人欢喜更大。
8或是一个妇人有十块钱，若失落一块，岂不点上灯，打扫屋子，细细的找，直到找着么？
9找着了，就请朋友邻舍来，对他们说：我失落的那块钱已经找着了，你们和我一同欢喜罢！
10我告诉你们，一个罪人悔改，在神的使者面前也是这样为他欢喜。」
信息分享
耶稣基督是一个讲故事的高手。我们在这章经文就读到三个广为人知的简短故事。耶稣讲这三个故事，除了说明神何等爱护和疼惜我们每个人外，还用来回应针对祂的法利赛人。他们批评耶稣的生活方式，经常与罪人为伍。
第一个是失羊的故事（4至7节）。牧羊人走失了一只羊。羊不懂得停下来思考，牠看见前面有一条狭小的路，便迳自走去，完全不察觉有任何危险。走迷的羊很快便失去牧羊人和羊圈的安全保护，当牠发觉自己身处险境时，只能无助地悲鸣，无法自行找到回头的路。
然而，这只愚蠢的迷羊，却触动了牧羊人的爱心。他离开羊群，亲自出去寻找这只迷羊。神正是这样寻找失丧的人。祂想尽办法寻找失丧的罪人，呼唤他们回到祂的身边。我们的神就是这位寻羊的牧人，当祂寻回罪人，引领他回转，回到祂的家，祂就欢喜快乐。
第二个是丢钱的故事（8至10节）。物主怎么丢钱的呢？因为一时大意？迷羊会失去安全的保护；丢失的钱会失去应有的用处，不能再对主人作出任何贡献。因此，物主不单失去一块铜板，而是失去所有可用那块钱购买的物品。
物主跟牧羊人一样，同样为丢钱而心急如焚，小心搜寻每个地方，直至找到为止。那一刻，便为得回那块钱所有的价值而欢喜快乐。
我们在这里看见圣灵的工作。祂永不言倦地四出寻找失丧的罪人。圣灵会向他们说话，叫他们知罪并认识自己的光景，以及知道自己需要一位救主。
当罪人愿意聆听祂的话语，悔改回转，归入神的家，圣灵就会与众天使一同欢喜快乐。此刻你是在甚么光景呢？
GREAT WORDS OF THE GOSPEL THE SADDEST WORD - LOST
Luke 15: 1-10
1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”
3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying:
4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’
7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?
9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’
10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Message
Jesus Christ was the master story-teller. Here in this chapter are three of his best-known short stories. They were told to illustrate how much God loves and misses every individual soul. They were also told for those who criticised his life-style, particularly the Pharisees. They resented him spending so much time with 'sinners'.
The first story is about a lost sheep (verses 4-7). One of the shepherd's flock had wandered away. A sheep doesn't stop to think. It sees a gap or an opening and wanders on unconscious of any danger. Soon it is lost to the safety of the flock and the fold. When it realises its position, it can only bleat helplessly and can never find its way back.
But this foolish lost sheep called out the love of the shepherd. He left the other sheep and went to find the lost one. God does the same. How many ways does He use to seek out the lost sinners and call them back to Himself? He is the seeking shepherd who rejoices when a lost sinner repents and joins God's family.
The second story tells of a lost coin (verses 8-10). How was it lost? By carelessness? The sheep was lost to safety. The coin was lost to service. It could not be used while it was lost. It could make no contribution to the home. It was not merely a piece of metal lost, but all the good it could do was lost too.
Again there was someone who felt the loss keenly. The woman searched, swept, looked until she found it, and restored it rejoicingly to its rightful place.
Here is a picture of the Holy Spirit. He works tirelessly searching, seeking for lost sinners who are lost to God. The Holy Spirit speaks to them, hoping to convict them of their sin, their position and their need of a Saviour.
How He rejoices (and all the angels join with Him) when a sinner listens to His voice and is saved and comes into the family of God! Where are you today?