Study 1: Luke 15: 1-32: Trent Evans

In Luke 15, Jesus answers the grumbling of the Pharisees—“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them”—with three parables that reveal the Father’s pursuing love: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Through these stories, we see that God recovers those who can’t find their way back, those who don’t even know they’re lost, and even those who have chosen rebellion. The climax in the prodigal son shows mercy running faster than shame, restoring sonship before condemnation can speak. The sermon calls the church to resist self-righteous, transactional religion and instead become Spirit-shaped people who “love mercy,” rejoicing when the lost are found and welcoming others the way Jesus welcomed us. (Luke 15; Micah 6:8)

Sermon Outline

1. Opening prayer

   • Timestamp: 00:18–07:07

   • Scripture emphasis: God’s compassion, faith, and prayerful dependence (themes, not a direct text read).

2. Why parables now: re-centering before Easter

   • Timestamp: 01:06–02:21

   • Scriptures: (Context for series; no single passage read yet.)

3. The setting of Luke 15: two audiences, one complaint

   • Timestamp: 07:23–10:42

   • Scripture: Luke 15:1–2 (tax collectors/sinners draw near; Pharisees/teachers mutter).

4. Warning against self-righteous “conduct modification”

   • Timestamp: 10:43–13:19

   • Key idea: Mercy and grace fuel Spirit-empowered obedience; not permission to sin.

5. Parable 1: The lost sheep—God pursues those who can’t get back

   • Timestamp: 14:10–17:43

   • Scriptures: Luke 15:3–7; cross-connection: Psalm 23:1–2 (still waters; shepherd care).

6. Parable 2: The lost coin—God recovers those who don’t know they’re lost

   • Timestamp: 18:11–19:50

   • Scripture: Luke 15:8–10.

7. Parable 3: The lost son—rebellion, crisis, repentance, and the Father running

   • Timestamp: 20:57–36:56

   • Scripture: Luke 15:11–24 (inheritance insult, distant country, famine, “came to his senses,” Father’s compassion and restoration).

8. Mercy beats shame: “cut off” (kazazah) and the Father’s embrace

   • Timestamp: 32:59–35:57

   • Scripture: Luke 15:20 (Father runs/embraces) as a picture of mercy meeting us before condemnation; gospel connection: Jesus “cut off” so we can come home.

9. The older brother: transactional religion and resentment toward mercy

   • Timestamp: 39:21–47:39

   • Scripture: Luke 15:25–32 (anger, “slaving,” fairness, Father pleading).

10. Closing call: be people who love mercy

• Timestamp: 48:41–53:05

• Scriptures: Micah 6:8; Galatians 6:7 (sowing/reaping applied to rescuing/enablement).

Scripture References

• Luke 15:1–2 — The presenting problem: Jesus welcomes sinners; religious leaders resent mercy. (07:23–10:42)

• Luke 15:3–7 — Lost sheep: the shepherd pursues and heaven rejoices over one repentant sinner. (14:10–17:43)

• Psalm 23:1–2 — Shepherd imagery: “still waters” connection to how sheep are fearful and need gentle leading. (15:52–16:15)

• Luke 15:8–10 — Lost coin: the owner searches carefully; rejoicing over one sinner who repents. (18:11–19:50)

• Luke 15:11–24 — Lost son (part 1): rebellion, crisis, “came to his senses,” Father’s compassion, running, embrace, restoration. (20:57–39:02)

• Galatians 6:7 — “God is not mocked… a man reaps what he sows”: applied to the danger of rescuing people out of consequences God may use to awaken repentance. (25:30–26:30)

• Luke 15:25–32 — Lost son (part 2): the older brother’s anger exposes transactional religion; the Father pleads and reframes mercy as family joy. (39:21–47:39)

• Micah 6:8 — The church’s posture: act justly, love mercy, walk humbly—become people shaped by the Father’s heart. (48:41–50:31)

Word Study

Repent / Repents

• Original language: Greek

• Original word: μετανοέω (metanoeō)

• Strong’s number: G3340

• Pronunciation: meh-tah-no-EH-oh

• Simple definition: to change one’s mind; to turn around

• Extended definition: a Spirit-awakened turning that reorients the whole person (mind, will, direction) back to God—seen in Luke 15 as “coming to one’s senses” and returning to the Father’s house.

• Synonyms: turn/return (conceptually), “come to senses” (Luke 15:17)

• Antonyms: harden, remain, persist, rebel

• Key supporting passages: Luke 15:7, 10 (heaven rejoices over repentance); Acts 3:19; 2 Corinthians 7:10

• Connection to sermon’s main theme: Repentance isn’t earning re-entry; it’s returning to a Father whose mercy is already running toward you. In all three parables, repentance is the turning point that leads to celebration, not shame.

  
  

Mercy

• Original language: Greek

• Original word: ἔλεος (eleos)

• Strong’s number: G1656

• Pronunciation: EH-leh-oss

• Simple definition: compassion that withholds deserved judgment

• Extended definition: God’s active kindness toward the undeserving—His heart moving toward the lost, the clueless, and even the rebellious. Mercy is not “fairness”; it is covenant love expressed in rescue and restoration.

• Synonyms: compassion, pity, kindness

• Antonyms: condemnation, cruelty, vengeance

• Key supporting passages: Luke 15 (mercy in action across all three parables); Micah 6:8 (“love mercy”); Titus 3:5

• Connection to sermon’s main theme: The central conflict is whether we will rejoice when God gives mercy to “them.” Jesus confronts a heart that loves moral order but resents mercy—and calls His people to become those who love mercy. 

  
  

Grace

• Original language: Greek

• Original word: χάρις (charis)

• Strong’s number: G5485

• Pronunciation: KHAH-riss

• Simple definition: undeserved favor; a gift

• Extended definition: God’s generous initiative to bring sinners home—favor that restores identity (sonship), not just behavior. Grace is also empowering: it trains and strengthens us for holy living (not “license,” but transformation).

• Synonyms: favor, gift, kindness

• Antonyms: wage-earning, merit, debt

• Key supporting passages: Ephesians 2:8–10; Romans 5:8; Titus 2:11–12

• Connection to sermon’s main theme: The sermon rejects “conduct modification” and “transactional faith” and points to grace as the fuel of obedience—God’s love doesn’t just pardon; it transforms and empowers.

Compassion

• Original language: Greek

• Original word: σπλαγχνίζομαι (splanchnizomai)

• Strong’s number: G4697

• Pronunciation: splahng-KNID-zoh-my

• Simple definition: to be moved with deep compassion

• Extended definition: a gut-level, inward movement that leads to outward action—seen when the father “was filled with compassion… ran… embraced… kissed” (Luke 15:20). This is not distant sympathy; it’s costly pursuit.

• Synonyms: moved, tenderhearted, pity

• Antonyms: indifference, coldness, contempt

• Key supporting passages: Luke 15:20; Matthew 9:36; Mark 1:41

• Connection to sermon’s main theme: The Father doesn’t wait at a safe distance for the son to crawl home; compassion runs to the outskirts, meets him in shame, and restores him before the community can “cut him off.”

Questions for Deeper Study

1. In Luke 15, which “lost” picture best describes where you are right now—sheep (can’t find your way back), coin (didn’t realize you were lost), or son (chose distance/rebellion)? What does God’s response in that parable reveal about His heart toward you?

2. Where are you most tempted to relate to God transactionally (as if He “owes” you), and how does the Father’s words to the older brother (Luke 15:31–32) confront and heal that mindset?

3. Micah 6:8 says to “love mercy.” What would it look like this week for you (and your group) to actively celebrate God’s mercy toward someone you would normally struggle to welcome?