Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-04-24
LESSON FOR APRIL 26
THE LOST SHEEP AND THE LOST
COIN.

LESSON TExT-Luke 15:1-1o.
GOLDEN TEXT even so. 1 say unto
you, there is joy in the presence of the
angels of God over one sinner that re-
penteth." Luke 1910.
I. Introduction, w. 1-3.-We now
come to that chapter In the Bible
which contains three Of the more
celebrated parallels of our Lord In
last weeks lesson we had set before
us the severe terms of discipleshiE
laid down by Jesus to the multitude
which followed him as he left the
house of the Pharisee. The writer
Luke, makes close connection be
tween the final admonition about
sears to hear" in chapter IA and
verse / of this lesson. Jesus had
sifted the crowd though he had Left
the door open to himself, for he waa
seeking those who we're prepared te
share with him in his enterprises OF
building and of conflict. if they couIt
bear his teaching. This is responded
to by those outcast ones, the publicans
and the sinners. They had nc
righteousness of their own, no spirit
ual hope centered in themselves and
they turned eagerly to one who was
unqualifiedly honest with them though
at the same time he set up head
searching conditions. What a con
trast! The grumbling theologfans,
criticizing and pickering, grieved that
he should demean himself by such
associates. In reply, Jesus shows
them the truth of the fundamental
purpose of Gods attitude toward these
who eagerly sought to hear" by Civ.
ing them these parallels In the FIRST
two, the sheep and the coin, we ses
divine love seeking the sinner; in the
third, the prodigal, we see the sinner
seeking the father. Christ's idea OF
goodness consists in saving the bad
The Pharisee holds aloof. Christ goes
out from among the Pharisees and
among the outcasts-
True and False Shepherds
II. The Lost Sheep, w. 4-7-Ths
shepherd is God the son (John 10:11s
IL; Luke 1870. He is the True
Shepherd" the Pharisees were false
ones. This adds point to the parables
see the Old Testament rebukes for the
same, Ez. 34:7-10; zech. 11:16-1z; ser.
/ 50:6. The lost sheep belongs to the
| fold, but was out Of place. These
outcast ones were still Israelites and
the backsliding Christian still belongs
to the fold. A sinner is a lost sheep.
He is away from the care. the protec-
ton, the guidance of the shepherd and
is torn, bleeding, and ready to die. "
One such lost one will call forth the
shepherds utmost endeavor to save it,
far beyond the care lavished upon
| the ninety-and-nine already safe in the
| fold This means labor, toll, and pri-
| walton, and he keeps up the search
until he finds it." This does not
mean that all will be saved, see, John
17:2, IL R. ", but every sheep that
is astray he will find. Once found II
rests upon his shoulders, is kept by
his power, Pet lis. Over it he and
| the father rejoice, w. %, "A, 81.
| There is here the evidence of the tn
| terest in the flock which is incom-
| plete and the interest Of the owner
as well. The safety Of the lost one
God rejoices more over the sinners
salvation than does the sinner him
SELF The neighbors also rejoice and
so do the angels in glory. All rejoice
with me-" contrast this with the at
titude of the Pharisee. We see here
! a revelation OF the matchless strength
and tenderness of God which is on the
one hand a rebuke and on the other
comfort to the publicans and the
sinners. What suggestion of peril
and sacrifice is suggested in this story
and what a pean of joy is sounded al
its close.
Work Of Holy Spirit
III. The Lost Colin. w. s-t0.-These