Red Letter Christmas

Red Letter Christmas: Save the Lost

Lost olivia in the dept store

Lost in Illinois

Lost in dc

Why did Jesus come to earth

Luke 19:10 (ESV)

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Video in: 2;48 VIDEO OUT 4:15

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OLezoUvOEQ

When your lost you need to hear the news

Luke 2:8-12 (ESV)

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Fearful

Luke 19.. Apollum.. to destroy fully/ to perish.. same word in John 3:16 should not perish..

There are two states of people on earth Lost or found

Saved or unsaved

Fear or peace

Jesus said

John 14:27 (ESV)

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

God is Holy we are not so we fear him

Isaiah 59:2 (ESV)

2 but your iniquities have made a separation     between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you     so that he does not hear.

Adam and eve in the Garden.. gen 3

Good news

1 John 4:9 (ESV)

9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.

A humble savior

John 3:17 (ESV)

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

God chose to insert himself into our story

John 10:11 (ESV)

11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

When your lost you need to believe the news

Luke 2:12-14 (ESV)

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

Obedience is a sign of belief

Zaccheus story

Two lost groups

The Pharisees and Zacheaus

The danger of religion is that we think if we follow all the rules we are good.. no.. we are still lost…

Luke 19:8-10 (ESV)

8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Zacheus response to jesus is:

1: Confession

1 John 1:9 (ESV)

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

2: Humiliity

Proverbs 14:31 (ESV)

31 Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker,     but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

1 John 3:17-18 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

3: restoration

Repentance is to change your life

He changed how he did business and interacted with people

1 Timothy 1:13-15

English Standard Version

13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

Examples

We changes our lies to honesty, our greed to giving and our passions from flesh to Jesus

While on earth we need to choose each day wisely

Indy 1 pic, indy 2 pic, indy 3 pic

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (ESV)

19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 20 loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days,

Ultimately God’s plan of restoration is to make us like his son

1 John 3:2 (ESV)

2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

When your found you need to spread the news.

Luke 2:17,19(ESV)

17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

Paul and peter ..

Acts 4:20 (ESV)

20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

When found treasure the news

Luke 2:18 (ESV)

19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart

Treasured

My dads hammer.. what do you treasure..?

Psalm 119

Vs 64 The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love;     teach me your statutes!

Vs 72 The law of your mouth is better to me     than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Vs 165

Great peace have those who love your law;     nothing can make them stumble.

Pondered

Psalm 1:1-2 (ESV)

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

1 Blessed is the man[a]     who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners,     nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law[b] of the Lord,     and on his law he meditates day and night.

Pray

Read

Write questions

Reread

Answer these questions:

What does it say about God?

Am I trusting, praising and thanking God for?

What can I do for the sake of Christ, others or myself?

Obey

Pray and ponder throughout the day.

Philippians 4:8 (ESV)

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

In her heart

When found rejoice over the news

Luke 2:20 (ESV)

20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Heard

Seen

Each day we rejoice because God’s word is trustworthy

You should be rejoicing that God chose to save someone like you..like me

Christ was before Christmas,, Christ is after Christmas

Christ came to earth and we celebrate that because he saved us from ourselves.so rejoice he is now part of your story.

Romans 15:13 (ESV)

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

You will be found!

Jesus you are the one who saves prayer

Turn from old ways

Lift your eyes for the kingdom of God is here

Open your heart

Offer all for Jesus Christ is here ------- now