Happy as a Dog with Two Tails

Sunday morning the sermon series “Tell Me a Story” continued with a look at Jesus’ parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin. Jesus uses these parables to counter the arrogant and prideful religious leaders who consider it despicable for Jesus to build relationships with sinners. The tragedy is not Jesus’ actions, but the heart of those who are condemning Jesus. Their error is twofold. One is the idea that sinners need to clean themselves up, by religious standards, before coming to God. The other more egregious error is the leaders think this is what they did for themselves. They earned their right to be counted as righteous and do not consider themselves sinners in need of repentance or forgiveness. Jesus confronts them with the truth that God and angels will celebrate the sinner who repents, but there will be no joy for those who do not and think they need not. Jesus only saves sinners and no one saved is anything but a sinner. Are we willing to follow Jesus and build relationships with sinners, people like us, who are in need of Christ? Will you be a part of the celebration of connecting Christ with people?