Lost Sheep & Unreasonable Grace
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Scriptures: Luke 15:1-7
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Summary: In the second sermon of our series, Parables of Grace, Jeremy looks at the Parable of the Lost Sheep. He explores the social tension with how the religious leaders are unsettled by sinners presence and by the possibility that the social balance might be shifting. Jeremy names our need for social reinforcement, how we often cling to what feels normal, and how grace for the outsider challenges that comfort. He invites us to see ourselves in each of the characters of the parable: the lost sheep, the 99 who’d rather stay safe, and even the shepherd who’s asked to imagine loving in ways that don’t make sense. The “economics of grace” that Jeremy presents is once where God’s love is beautifully irrational, and unpragmatic, and wildly committed to the lost.
The really important things: Jeremy starts with describing faith as something formed more by story and community than by comprehensive theology. He points out how Jesus tells parables not to settle debates about God’s existence, but to invite us to reconsider what God is like.
Social reinforcement: Jesus tells the Parable of the Lost Sheep in response religious leaders who are unsettled by the kinds of people being drawn to Jesus. Jeremy highlights how much we depend on social validation to feel secure in our beliefs, and how quickly we become defensive when the “balance” shifts.
All the types of sheep: Jeremy invites us to see ourselves not only as the lost sheep, but also as the ninety-nine who prefer stability, and even as the shepherd invited to act. He argues that grace is not just something we receive; it’s a way of being we are asked to imagine embodying.
The economics of grace: Jeremy points out how the shepherd’s choice to leave the ninety-nine is intentionally impractical, even foolish. He posits that Jesus is not offering a reasonable model of risk management, but a picture of divine love unconcerned with the cost. We’re invited to aspire to that kind of irrational grace in our lives, not as a tactic, but as a transformed way of living in the world.
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Community is shaped by the conversations we share. These questions and reflections are a tool to help you meaningfully engage with the themes of this week's teaching.
Connect: In keeping with Jeremy’s challenge to read Jesus’ parables less as theological summaries—but more as contrasting, often hyperbolic, character descriptions—feel free to answer the following question:
Q: What kinds of stories have most influenced how you think about the way God is? (This question is less about God’s theological attributes and more about God’s character traits).
Share: Share about your experience with the social validation that Jeremy talked about. You or someone you know has likely found themselves, at some point, outside of social convention, firmly in the middle, or somewhere in between.
Q: Have you ever mistaken social difference for threat? What helped you see it differently?Reflect: Reflect on Jesus’ challenge to see yourself as the different characters in the parable. Consider this quote from Jeremy,
“One of the things that I think can be helpful when we read a parable is asking ourselves which characters we identify with—start with that lost sheep.
‘I’m lost, God finds me, that’s my part in the story.’That said, there are still 99 other sheep in the story.
Statistically, you’re probably not the one that's lost.
So, maybe we’re actually one of the 99 sitting at home grumbling with the teachers of the law—wishing for a little more social reinforcement.That also definitely seems appropriate for me.
but, maybe we could push this a little farther: what about the Sheppard?
So, we’re not God, not the one out there rescuing anyone, but maybe here, just for a moment—Jesus is asking us to imagine that—we were.”Q: What insight do you gain about the parable by casting yourself in the roles of the lot sheep, one of the ninety-nine, or the shepherd?
Engage: Engage with the idea of the gracious shepherd, who disregards rationality for the sake of one sheep, in this parable as an aspirational way of viewing the world—in tension with your practical sensibilities.
Q: What would imagining a world reordered by irrational love look like? What challenges would you experience?
Take away: What is your takeaway from the message or today’s conversation?
Prayer from the sermon:
God of the lost and the found,
As we turn to a new story today,
slow us down enough to hear it once again,
as a an invitation anew.An invitation to muster the courage to see ourselves honestly,
whether wandering, or grumbling, or quietly wishing for a grace that makes less sense than we’re comfortable with.
An invitation to disrupt our instincts toward safety and social reinforcement.
And instead to loosen our grip on what feels reasonable.
And awaken in us a desire for the kind of love that searches, and carries, and rejoices in the unexpected.As we wonder once again today,
help us to imagine you as you truly are,
and then help us to wonder who we might become,
in a world transformed by your grace.
In the strong name of the risen christ, we pray,
Amen. -
CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 36
MUSIC Curated by Kevin Borst
Brooke Ligertwood - Banner
Mission House - Good God
City Alight - Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me
Brooke Ligertwood - King of Kings
AN HONEST PRAYER
Written by Scott Wall
We live in a world of half-truths and distorted realities.Every day we see inconvenient truths obscured.
We watch as others willfully deceive.
We observe the powerful seek advantage at all costs.
And in such a world, Lent invites Christ’s followers to respond with the age old practice of confession.
Which is meant to be both antidote and salve for all those trying to find their way.
So let us pause, and pray honestly together —
Join me now.
God of all —
To you our hearts are open…before you all desires and longing known.
Today we confess our inattention.
The ways we ignore the state of our bodies and minds.
How we distract and numb ourselves.
The ways we rush through each day with little awareness of your presence in those we meet.
Today we confess our inactivity.
We let fear shape our choices — we leave so much undone.
So often we silence our intuition and our wisdom.
We stand pat when we should stand up — we choose safety instead of costly growth.
Today we confess our inability.
We acknowledge our lack of imagination.
The frustrating and halting nature of our spiritual lives.
The ways we make progress in one moment, only to find ourselves back in familiar and unwanted places.
To you our hearts are open —
This is why we ask that this Lent…perhaps even in these moments now, that you would meet us in our practice of honesty.
That you would be way and truth and life for our battered hearts.
Spirit of the living God, guide us as we journey with Christ.
Amen.
SERIES BUMPER
Parables of Grace
