Following on the heels of last week's sermon on the "lost sheep" in Luke 15:1-7, this week's sermon focuses on a parable about a "lost coin" (15:8-10). Note the importance Jesus places on a single sheep or a single coin using the argument from the lesser-to-the-greater to make his point. If a shepherd will go to this much effort to recover a sheep, and if a woman will go to this much effort to recover a coin, then how much more effort will God exert to find and recover a lostperson.Life is infinitely valuable in Jesus' eyes. He does nothing less than the action of God, taking the initiative in recovering the lost. It is also interesting to juxtapose the "lost" passages in Luke 15 with the "kingdom of heaven" parables in Matthew 13. In that text, the kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field or a pearl of great price. The cost of a field and the worth of possession pales in comparison to the treasure or the pearl. In this way, Jesus himself is the thing (or, person) most infinitely valuable—the source of all that we need and the hope of all that we long for in this life. Therefore, seeking the kingdom of Christ is worth more than anything else we should pursue. These texts often remind me of Proverbs 2:1-5:

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Let this be our aim as we gather again for worship! Songs that we will sing this week include the following, which you can listen to in a playlist here:

1. It is Finished (Matt Papa)
2. Only the Blood (The Village Church)
3. Jesus, Thank You (Sovereign Grace)
4. Sing to Jesus (Fernando Ortega)
5. Your Love, Oh Lord (Third Day)

Josh Philpot Pastor for Worship.