The “Lost Coin” Weekend

The “Lost Coin” Weekend

December 5th and 6th

Special Guest: National Speaker Stephen Bennett

Reaching people for Christ who are lost in the sin of Homosexuality

“…what woman having ten pieces of silver (coins), if she loses one piece, does not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she finds it?” Luke 15:8

In Luke 15, Jesus gives three parables that reveal His intense love and desire for those that are lost in sin. He speaks of one lost sheep, one lost coin and one lost son. In the first parable of the lost sheep, we find Him “leaving” and “going after.” In the second parable of the lost coin, we find Him “diligently” laboring, and in the third parable of the lost son, we find Him watching and waiting until the son “comes to himself” and returns home. You will find all who are lost to be one of these three types of people: sheep, coins or sons. Alone and wandering, fallen covered over with dirt, or in the “far country”, not having “come to themselves”. “Sheep” speaks of the nature of those who are lost, “coins” speak of their value, and “sons” speak of Divine desire. Our Lord’s actions teach us of our own personal responsibility towards people who are lost. First, we must be willing to leave other important things in our lives in order to go after one lost in the wilderness. We learn this from the parable of the lost sheep where we find the shepherd leaving the ninety-nine in order to recover one. Then we learn from the parable of the lost coin that we must be willing to labor in the darkest, lowest places of our community. The woman lit a candle because of the darkness, and then she swept the dirt floor. This is where we all need to be, with our lamps lit, laboring in the dirt. Third, we learn from the parable of the lost son that we must be patient and watchful. Sometimes we must patiently wait for the consequences of sin to run its course, and at the same time, trust in God’s Goodness and Providence to bring about circumstances that will bring one lost home.

We all know those who are lost rarely go to church, therefore, we must go to them. The “man” went after that which was lost until he found it; the “woman” diligently swept till she found it, and the “father” ran to the son while he was still “a great way off.” We know the sheep could never have made its way back without another’s shoulders; the coin would have just laid in the dirt unless the woman had swept, and the son might not have made it all the way home without the father running to meet him halfway.

Each story ends in great success, that is, if we call “one” a great success. As the parables read, “I say unto you that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one that repents.” “I say unto you there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one that repents.” “Let us eat, drink and be merry: for my son was lost and is found.” Clearly, the emphasis of our Lord’s teaching in all of these stories is the supreme value of “one” and the efforts we should make on their behalf. Why so much rejoicing? Because one’s true value could then be realized. It is only when what has been lost is found that true value is realized.

What makes these parables especially interesting is the type of people our Lord was referring to. He wasn’t just speaking of common “sinners.” He was speaking about “notorious and especially wicked” sinners; “preeminently wicked sinners” as the Amplified version reads. Terribly wicked “sheep, coins and sons,” what we might call the “worst of the worst.” And yet we are taught it is for these very ones that we should make the greatest efforts. May God grant us the same success as we “go after,” “sweep the floor” and “run” to those that are lost. And may all of heaven rejoice when together we find one.

Please join us for the “Lost coin” weekend.

Pastor Daniel Thompson
New Canaan Church
El Dorado, KS