This Doesn’t Make Sense (Pursuit part 1)

KEY VERSES:

• Luke 15:1–7
• Romans 8:38–39
• Isaiah 40:11
• Luke 19:10

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Series Context: Week 2 of the “Prodigals” series – a journey through Luke 15
• Luke 15:1–7: Jesus responds to the judgment of religious leaders with a story about a shepherd and a lost sheep
• Parables are reflective: We don’t just hear them—we see ourselves in them
• The Sheep:
  • Not rebellious—just distracted, unaware, and vulnerable
  • Wandered off chasing “good” things outside the Shepherd’s care
  • Didn’t realize the risk or the blessing of staying close
• The Shepherd:
  • Leaves the 99 to chase down the 1
  • Puts the sheep on his shoulders—not to punish, but to carry home
  • Shows us God's heart: personal, sacrificial, and joy-filled
• It Doesn’t Make Sense: From a human point of view, this pursuit is inefficient and risky—but love doesn’t always make sense
• God’s Love: It’s not based on ROI—it’s based on relationship
• Three Applications:
  • If you’ve wandered—let Him carry you home
  • Check your heart—do you look more like Jesus or the 99?
  • Who’s your one?—who’s the person God is calling you to pursue?

TALK ABOUT IT:

• What does it look like when I “wander” spiritually?
• Have I been distracted from God by things that seemed good at the time?
• Do I tend to judge others who are far from God, or pursue them with love?
• Why is it so hard to believe that God would come after just me?
• What keeps me from letting God carry me when I’m tired or lost?
• Who is the “one” in my life that I need to love and pray for right now?
• Do I trust that God rejoices when I return—or do I expect punishment?

APPLY IT:

• If you feel distant from God, stop striving and just let Him carry you home
• Be honest about what’s been distracting you—it might not be rebellion, just drift
• Ask yourself: Is your heart more like Jesus or like the 99 watching from a distance?
• Pray for “your one”—the person you know who’s wandered and needs grace
• Re-center your life on the Shepherd's voice, not just spiritual habits
• Don’t assume people have to fix themselves before being found—God comes to them