Mission Possible

Introduction (3m)

Ever lost or misplaced something?

Need it immediately, but not where you thought it was?

Keys? Glasses? Wallet? What else?

Do you sit down and think about where it might be calmly? Or rush around from place to place frantically looking for it?

Do you consult someone - spouse or family member? - Usual helpful response - where did you last have it?!!

Finding it so important, you won’t rest until you find it.

Then usually find you had it all along - glasses/head, keys/pocket, etc.

Explanation (3m)

Parables of Lost Sheep and Lost Coin remind us of that feeling when searching and sheer relief and joy when you find what you’re looking for

How would you have felt when you heard Jesus tell those stories if you were someone who was usually ignored by other people?

Stories speak of a God who goes out of way to search for us. Doesn’t sit around calmly hoping we’ll turn up. He searches. He feels same feelings of loss, frustration, unable to rest that we feel when we’re searching for something. God mourns over anyone who doesn’t feel welcome in or part of his Kingdom.

Sadly, religious people of the day were to blame for people feeling unwelcome in God’s Kingdom

Passionate about serving God. Passionate about doing the right things. But so fixated on doing, saying, eating right things, they’d forgotten God’s principle command wasn’t just Love God. It was Love God, Love Others.

They had created a them and us society.

Their religious practices - what they thought God wanted them to do and say - blinded them, prevented them from seeing all the people God wanted them to love. Those he wanted them to seek and find and bring to him.

Application (3m)

God loves you

J’s stories of lost sheep/coin remind us. Do you know that - in heart, not just head. Met Christians of many, many years who still don’t understand/experience that in their heart. God doesn’t just love you - he likes you!

If anything like me then you are more than aware you get things wrong, times when not lived up to God’s standards

So to hear God loves us anyway is hard to understand/accept. Sounds unjust! Surely we have to keep the rules, live the perfect life for God to love us? But God understands what we are made of. Knows how we tick. Understands how hard it is not to sin. He loves us. He loves you.

God wants us to welcome everyone

J’s stories of lost sheep/coin remind us of this too. Need to ensure our ways of worshipping/serving God, our ways of being godly people - of pursuing holiness - don’t exclude others.

Have a look around. Who isn’t here with us today?

Why? The religious people of J’s time blamed the sinners. They weren’t there, they were excluded because of their sinning. It was their fault. They needed to conform.

Jesus tried to show them that God welcomed these people - included them in the Kingdom - even when his people didn’t.

What would Jesus want to point out to us? What would he say about why those who are not with us don’t come and may feel excluded? Could it be that we might be stopping them?

As we reflect on the lost sheep/coin may we remember: God loves us and God wants us to welcome everyone.

Next Steps

Circles of trust

A4 paper

Pens

Write names/initials of 10 people they trust, not family.

Tick for each characteristic they share

E.g. female and woman, then tick all women on list, if male, don’t tick any.

Age: Under 20; 20-60; Over 60

Gender: Male; Female

Ethnicity: Asian or Asian British; Black, Black British, Caribbean or African; Mixed or multiple ethnic groups; White; Any other ethnic group

Educational level: At school; GCSE; A Levels; College; University; Master’s; Doctorate; Professional

Religion: Christian; non-Christian

Discuss with people around you:

What diversity is shown by your results? That is, does your ‘circle of trust’ (the 10 people) include people whose backgrounds and characteristics are similar to your own? Why might that be? Does it matter? Is it true of the worshipping community as a whole?

Friendly, welcoming, love/support each other

But if we don’t put trust in diverse group of people, then we can only attract others like us. Everyone else is lost to our corps and potentially to the kingdom.

Who might you reach out to who is not like you?