Perry’s Scope: Christian sermons, lessons, and resources for teachers

 I heard about a dad teaching his son an important lesson. The dad asked, “If three frogs were sitting on a limb over a pool and one frog decided to jump into the pool, how many would be left?”

The son answered, “Two.”

“No,” the dad replied, “There are three frogs and one decides to jump, how many are left?”

“Oh, I get it,” the son said, “It’s like peer pressure, if one decides to jump, they will all jump. So, there would be none left.”

“No, son, the answer is three. One frog only DECIDED to jump.” The dad responded.

Does that sound like any New Year’s resolutions you have heard of? Too often we DECIDE we will make some changes but either we fail to begin or we start and do not follow through.

Maybe weight loss is your resolution. Maybe it is something even more important, getting your relationship back on track with God. Don’t just make the decision, make the decision count and follow through!

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

South Yukon Church of Christ

Have you kept up with the current “Occupy” protesters? It appears that some want to play “Robin Hood.” They want to take from “achievers” and give to those they deem “entitled.”

Jesus told a parable in Luke 19.11-27 in which a ruler gave money to ten servants. They were to “occupy” (KJV), or “do business” or “busy themselves” until her returned. Some of the servants were productive, at least one was not. Each was rewarded accordingly. The achievers were given privilege and more responsibility. The unproductive one lost what he had (not vice versa).

Jesus IS returning for a day of accounting. While we are of differing abilities (Matthew 25.14-30), he has entrusted us with a common task while we wait: do business/occupy with the message of the Kingdom of Heaven (1 Thessalonians 2.4; 1 Timothy 1.11; 6.20).

We are not to be idle as we wait for the return of Jesus; we are to be on the offensive to advance his Kingdom (Matthew 16.18). His disciples have tasks to do. We are taught to love God supremely – that is action, not just emotion. We are to actively love our neighbors as ourselves. We care for those who need (Matthew 25.31ff).

The business of the Kingdom of Heaven is different than the business of Wall Street. In fact, God’s business is far more important, far more significant! The Kingdom of Heaven is faith business that impacts the now as well as the eternal. With what are you occupied?

Keep The Light Burning

Perry Greene

South Yukon Church of Christ

Open

Please share with your Group your response to ONE of the following:

• As a child did you ever run away from home or want to run away? Where did you go or want to go?
• What is one thing you dream of trying if you knew you could not fail and money was not an issue?

Study

Please read Luke 15.11-32 and discuss the following:

• Why do you think the younger son wanted to leave home?
• What are some significant things about:

• The son’s request?
• The father’s gift?
• The father looking for his son?
• The father RUNNING to his son?
• The father restoring his son?
• The father throwing a party?
• What brings the young son to his senses?

Apply

• With whom do you most identify in this story? (Father; Older Son; Younger Son) – Why?
• How is this story a picture of what Jesus was doing?
• In what ways have you been like the “prodigal”? What snapped you out of your delusions?
• What can we do to help modern “prodigals” return home? In what ways could this be awkward for us?

Open

Please share your response to one of the following with your group:

• What is the most expensive item you have ever lost? Found?
• What was your first nickname?

Study

Please read Luke 15.8-10 and discuss the following:

• Why do you think that losing ONE coin was such a big deal to this woman?
• How does this coin represent repentance and salvation for us?
• Who does the woman represent in the story?
• In what ways is this significant? How is it unusual?
• What is important about the woman admitting that she lost the coin?
• Why was the coin hard to find?
• What is the reason Jesus mentioned the woman lighting the lamp?

Apply

• What is the key point Jesus is making with this story (and whole chapter)?
• How do you feel knowing that God has expended immense energy and resources to find YOU?
• When you have been found by God, what motivations do you have?

   Luke 15.8-10

1.        Background – Yeshua’s (Jesus’) critics are offended with the company he keeps
2.       He uses “Lost & Found” stories to help them understand his purpose – to seek and save the lost (Luke 19.10; Ezekiel 34)
3.        The first story – a sheep is lost from its shepherd and the shepherd goes into the wilderness after it
4.       This story – a woman loses a coin and searches until she finds it

I.      The Object of the Quest

A.     The Pursuit of People (Luke 19.10; Ezekiel 34)

1.    Created by in the image of God – image on coin?
2.    Value expressed – lost sheep; lost coin

              a.       May have represented 1 of 10 coins on a woman’s wedding attire – never to be taken from her; similar to wedding rings and diamond sets; sentimental value?  Jeremiah 2.32

             b.      May have represented a day’s wages – survival (daily bread)/10 days’ savings; this is evidence of stewardship if the woman, entrusted with this money as the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31;

B.     The Prominence of the Words of God (Proverbs 2.1-5

1. We seek earthly things – silver & gold; Of how much more value is the eternal – God’s word?
2. These critics needed to do some Torah-searching for themselves – they were forgetting such things as “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19.18)    a.       In dealing with sinners there is the temptation to avoid them so as not to fall into temptation

       b.      In dealing with sinners there is the duty to restore them

                c.       Then again, who isn’t a sinner? – Luke 15.7 (humor of Yeshua)

II.                The Effort of the Quest

A.     There was a Cost – lit lamp; used oil and wicks – significant to the poor

B.     There was Exertion – sweeping straw/dirt/stone floor – basalt in Capernaum

• Lay bare the floor
• Open selves to God

C.     There was Diligence – Not an Easy Task

1. Dark Houses (stone/small or no windows – required lamps)
2. Small Houses – 1 car garage
3. Tireless love of God

       4.  Woman stopped all of her chores to search – what is God doing today?

III.             The Initiator of the Quest

A.     A Responsibility – “I lost the coin”

1. A Critique of the Leaders of the Nation – Losing the people
2. did not seem to care

B.     A Representation

1. God has a feminine side – YHWH – ½ is masculine/1/2 is feminine
2. Cares for us as a mother to her children – Isaiah 49.13-16

IV.              The Conclusion of the Quest — Celebration

A.     The Thrill of the Find

B.     The Relief of Restoration

With God the JOY is REAL!

Conclusion

1. This and the other stories in this chapter give us insight into the heart of God.
2. EVERY person matters to God, EVERY ONE of us!
3. Have you ever interrupted someone? How do you feel? How were you made to feel?
4. You are not an interruption to God – you are the most important thing in the world to him!

God seeks and finds but we still have the choice as to how we will respond to him.

On the night Jesus was betrayed he took a towel and washed the feet of all of his disciples, including the one who would betray him as well as the one who denied him (see John 13). In doing this, he signified his servant spirit. He also showed how his disciples were to be servants to others.

When we think of Jesus we think of a mighty king and a humble servant. We see him serving through his teaching; through healings; through his ability to raise people from the darkness of despair. Ultimately his servant’s heart would take him to the cross to express the love of God in his death, burial, and resurrection.

One of the most enjoyable things I have been a part of was a recent celebration of the volunteer servants at the South Yukon congregation. We had a nice Chick-Fil-A catered breakfast, some amusing entertainment, some gifts, and a presentation of a towel to people who have given their time and energies to a cause beyond themselves. This towel is a reminder of our call to service.

Without our willing servants, our churches cannot function. Where do they get their motivation? What makes them want to sacrificially give of themselves? Why do they “pick up the towel”? It is an imitation of the one who sacrificially served them!

Which side of the towel are you on?

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene