God is very interested in ones, individuals.

Your individual faith, even when this place is full on Sunday morning,

God attends to your heart. Your individual faith is a joy to him. And that's a

great thing to have a religion that doesn't just deal in vague groupings of people, but deals with you

and God. It's easy for some people to think that their sin has pushed them too far out of God's reach.

I'm Dan Kroover, and I've talked to people before with that particular fear.

But in this episode of Light and Truth, John Piper opens Luke 15 to remind

us that God doesn't just notice sinners. He seeks them out and he rejoices when they come home.

This message was originally delivered at Bethlehem Baptist Church on Sunday evening, October 9th,

1983.

Let's look together at Luke 15. And I think what we'll do is read through the whole chapter

together. And as we do, you be looking for its unity what holds it

together what would be the main point what are the similarities between the hearts now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him, and the Pharisees and the scribes

murmured saying, this man receives sinners and eats with them.

So, he told them this parable.

What man of you having a hundred sheep if he has lost one of them, does not leave the 99

in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost until he finds it.

And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors saying to them,

rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost. Just so I tell you there will be more

joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who need no repentance.

Or what woman, having ten silver coins if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep

...