Read along as Matthew guides us through the Gospel of Luke. In these verses, Jesus encounters a challenge from Pharisees about his table fellowship practices that include sinners and tax collectors. Why does Jesus choose to associate with "those people"? Jesus tells the Parable of the Lost Sheep to explain, as well as the Parable of the Lost Coin. God, Jesus explains, is seeking and saving the lost. God wants to find and rescue and redeem all of God's beloved children. Finally, Jesus tells the profound Parable of Two Lost Sons (also known as the Parable of the Prodigal Son). We're left wondering how a story like that concludes--does forgiveness and reconciliation between these sons?

Matthew is the Pastor of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in the beautiful small town of Grand Haven, MI. Discover more about St. Paul's today. www.stpaulsgrandhaven.org