What did Jesus really mean when He said the shepherd leaves the 99 to find the one?

In this message from Luke 15:1–7, we explore the Parable of the Lost Sheep — one of the most well-known teachings of Jesus — and uncover the scandal, absurdity, and beauty of grace.

This isn’t just a comforting story about being rescued. It’s a disruptive story about a God whose love defies social norms, economic logic, and religious expectations.

In this sermon, we explore:

• Why the religious leaders were uncomfortable with Jesus
• The social pressure of belonging and “normal” faith
• The economics of grace (why leaving the 99 makes no sense)
• Whether we are the lost sheep… the 99… or invited to become like the shepherd
• What radical grace means in a polarized world

Jesus doesn’t offer a technical theological argument here.
He offers a story that forces us to ask:

👉 What is God actually like?
👉 Who gets left outside?
👉 And what if grace is far more unreasonable than we’re comfortable with?

Whether you’ve felt lost, left out, written off — or whether you’ve struggled with who belongs — this parable speaks directly to us.

Scripture: Luke 15:1–7
Series: Parables of Grace

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In this first message of our Parables of Grace series, we revisit one of the most familiar stories Jesus ever told—the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37).

But what if we’ve been asking the wrong question?

When a lawyer asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” he’s really asking where the line is—who qualifies for his time, compassion, and responsibility. Jesus responds with a story that doesn’t just redefine “neighbor.” It reframes the entire conversation.

This sermon explores:

What Jesus meant by “eternal life” (and why it’s not just about life after death)

How status, identity, and tribal thinking shrink our world

Why the priest and Levite aren’t villains—but mirrors

How grace begins when we expand our definition of who belongs

The Good Samaritan isn’t just about helping someone in a ditch. It’s about waking up to the kind of life that “outruns death”—the life of the age to come—starting right now.

If you’ve ever wondered where you draw the line around compassion… this story invites you to move it.

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📖 Scripture: Luke 10:25–37
⛪ Commons Church | Calgary
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What if the “battle” you’re facing isn’t against the people you think it is?

In this final message of our If/Then series through Ephesians, we unpack Paul’s famous “armour of God” passage — and discover it’s far less about spiritual aggression and far more about communal resilience, subversive grace, and the way of peace.

If Christ reigns… then how should we live?

Together we explore:

Why unity is central to the Christian life

How Jesus redefines victory and power

What Paul really means by “our struggle is not against flesh and blood”

Why the armour of God is about peace, not culture wars

How community protects us from both chaos and deception

This isn’t a call to weaponize your faith.
It’s an invitation to reimagine strength, rethink your enemies, and rediscover the kind of victory that looks like love.

Because if Jesus wins through self-giving grace…
then everything changes.

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📖 Text: Ephesians 4–6
⛪ Commons Church | Calgary
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