Lost and Found

Sermon Title: “Lost and Found”

Scripture: James 5:19-20

Occasion: Freeway Sanford

Date: October 24, 2024

PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

We come before You with hearts that need Your truth and minds that long for Your wisdom.

As we open Your Word, we ask that You speak clearly to each one of us.

Prepare our hearts to receive, to be challenged, and to be changed by Your Spirit.

Lord, what we know not, teach us. What we are not, make us. What we have not, give us.

And may the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and Redeemer.

In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Sermon Title: “Lost and Found”

Introduction:

In the past weeks, we have all seen the devastation left behind by Hurricane Milton.

Homes destroyed, streets flooded, families torn apart. For many, the pain of losing everything is fresh.

Some of us knew people who lost their homes, their livelihoods, or even their lives.

Just a few days ago, I heard about a man who perished in the storm, and there are still others who remain missing, with search crews working tirelessly to find them.

Rescue workers have been searching through the rubble, combing through debris, and listening for any faint cries for help.

They press on, even when hope seems dim, because they know that time is running out, and every life saved matters.

They risk their own safety because they understand the value of even one life found in the chaos.

James 5:19-20 speaks of a mission that is just as urgent and just as life-saving, but in a spiritual sense.

It’s a call for us to be spiritual rescue workers, searching for those who have wandered away from the truth.

It’s a mission to bring back those who are lost, to reach out with the hope of Jesus.

And just like the rescue workers in the aftermath of the hurricane, we are called to go out into the wreckage of life’s storms to find those who are spiritually lost and bring them back to the safety of Christ.

Some of you might feel like those who have been swept away in a storm—struggling with addiction, homelessness, or a past full of mistakes that you can’t seem to escape.

But today, I want to tell you that there’s hope.

There’s a Savior who seeks out the lost, and He calls us to do the same. This message is for you, and it’s for me.

Let’s dive into James 5:19-20 and see what it means to find the lost and how God can use each of us in this mission.

Sermon Point:

God calls us to reach out to those who are lost and bring them back to the truth offering them the hope of salvation and the forgiveness of sins.

READ TEXT:

Let’s read the passage together—James 5:19-20.

James 5:19–20 ESV

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

1. Lost in Wandering (James 5:19)

James 5:19 ESV

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back,

James speaks to "my brothers," reminding us that even those who know God can get lost.

He’s talking about people inside the church who have drifted away from the truth.

The word "wanders" means to drift off course, like a boat that loses its anchor and is swept away by the currents.

Some of us know what it’s like to drift, don’t we?

Life gets hard, temptations come, and before we know it, we’re far from where we started.

For some of you, that drifting might look like addiction that took hold of your life.

For others, it’s bitterness, anger, or just a slow turning away from God.

Illustration:

Imagine being caught in the floodwaters of Hurricane Milton, feeling the strength of the current pulling you further from safety.

At first, you might try to swim against it, but eventually, exhaustion sets in, and it’s easy to feel hopeless and let the waters carry you away.

This is how wandering feels spiritually.

It may start small, but before long, you’re far from the safety of God’s truth.

Application:

If you’re here today and feel like you’re lost—like you’ve wandered too far, know this: God sees you, and He hasn’t given up on you.

You might feel like you’ve burned all your bridges, that you’ve gone too far into addiction, that you’ve made too many mistakes.

But Jesus specializes in finding lost people.

If Jesus ran a business, it might be called: “Wayward Solutions: Finding the Lost, Restoring the Found—Grace Guaranteed.”

He calls us back to Himself, no matter how far we’ve strayed.

He offers forgiveness and new life, and all you need to do is turn to Him.

Transition:

But James doesn't just talk about those who are lost. He also gives us a job: to help bring those lost ones back.

And that’s our next point.

2. Found in Restoration (James 5:19)

James 5:19 (ESV)

…and someone brings him back…

James tells us that it’s not enough just to see people wandering or even just praying for them (James 5:13-18) ; we have to do something about it. He says "someone brings him back."

That someone can be any of us.

God gives every believer the responsibility of helping those who are lost find their way back.

This means stepping into the messiness of others’ lives and showing them the way back to God.

It can be hard, it can be uncomfortable, but it’s what God calls us to do.

Illustration:

Think of those search-and-rescue teams working in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.

When they hear of a missing person, they don’t hesitate.

They go out, they search tirelessly, even when it’s risky.

That’s the kind of heart James is calling us to have.

We are called to go out and search for those who have wandered from the faith, bringing them back with the love of Christ.

Gospel Thread:

The gospel is our life preserver.

Jesus is the ultimate lifeline.

He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10).

He didn’t come for those who think they’re righteous, but for those who know they need a Savior.

He reached out to people like Zacchaeus, who was lost in greed, and Mary Magdalene, who was trapped by evil spirits.

If you feel lost today, know that Jesus is reaching out to you.

You don’t have to clean yourself up first.

He says,

Matthew 11:28 ESV

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Application:

Church, this is our responsibility.

Don’t just walk by when you see someone struggling.

Don’t just think, “That’s not my business.”

It is our business.

Jesus calls us to be His hands and feet, to share His love through the Gospel with those who need it most.

We are to enter into their brokenness, not to judge, but to show them the love that Jesus has shown to us. (people in dangerous situation (earthquake, hurricane, etc.) are not judged for why they are there, they are simply rescued! That’s what them mission is!)

Transition:

And why do we do this?

Because when we bring back the lost, we’re not just helping them live a better life—we’re saving (secondary cause) them from something far more serious.

That leads us to our next point.

3. Rescued from Ruin (James 5:20)

James 5:20 ESV

let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

James doesn’t sugarcoat it—wandering from the truth leads to death.

This isn’t just about physical death; it’s about spiritual death, eternal separation from God.

But when we bring someone back, we’re not just helping them live better—we’re saving their soul.

James says, “Whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death.”

This is about eternity.

It’s about rescuing a soul from the brink of destruction.

Illustration:

Picture a firefighter running into a burning building to save a child who’s trapped inside.

The child might not realize how much danger they’re in, but the firefighter does, and he risks everything to bring that child to safety.

In the same way, when we reach out to someone caught in addiction, despair, or false beliefs, we are running into the fire, offering them a way out through Jesus.

Gospel Thread:

Friends, the only way out of the flames is through Jesus.

He went to the cross to bear the punishment for our sins.

He took on our shame, our guilt, our brokenness, and paid the price that we could never pay.

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

If you’re wandering today, Jesus is calling you back.

He’s not asking you to get it all together first.

He’s saying, “Come as you are, and I will give you new life.”-Jesus

Application:

This is a call to repentance and faith.

It’s a call to turn away from your old life and turn to Jesus.

If you’ve strayed, now is the time to come back.

Don’t wait.

Don’t believe the lie that you’re too far gone.

Jesus’s arms are wide open.

And for those of you who know Christ, be willing to step into the mess, knowing that God can use you to save a soul from death.

Transition:

But there’s one more promise here—a beautiful promise of what God does when a lost person is found.

4. Redeemed in Forgiveness (James 5:20)

James 5:20 (ESV)

…will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

When someone turns back to God, it’s like a weight being lifted off their shoulders.

Their sins are forgiven—not hidden away, but completely covered by the blood of Jesus.

James says that bringing back a wanderer “will cover a multitude of sins,” reminding us of Psalm 32:1, which says,

Psalm 32:1 ESV

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

This is the kind of love that Jesus offers—He doesn’t hold our past against us.

Instead, He gives us a fresh start.

Illustration:

Think back to the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. When the son came back home, expecting to be treated like a servant, his father ran to him, embraced him, and celebrated his return.

That’s the heart of God for those who come back to Him.

Jesus is not looking to shame you; He’s looking to welcome you. (Repeat)

John Newton, the former slave trader and hymn writer who wrote “Amazing Grace,” said, “I am a great sinner, but Christ is a great Savior.”

“I am a great sinner, but Christ is a great Savior.” - John Newton

No matter what you’ve done, no matter how far you’ve strayed, Jesus is greater. His grace is greater.

Application:

For those who have been saved, let this be a reminder to you of God’s supernatural work of redemption in your own life.

Don’t forget where God found you.

And for those who have wandered, come back to the One who can save your soul.

There is no sin too great, no past too dark that the light of Christ cannot penetrate and reach you.

Conclusion:

Today, God is calling some of you out of your wandering.

Whether you’ve been lost in addiction, trapped in guilt, or just drifting aimlessly through life, Jesus is calling you to come home.

He offers you a fresh start—not by your works, not by cleaning yourself up, but by trusting in His finished work on the cross.

Repent and believe, and you will be saved.

For those who are walking with Christ, remember the urgency of this mission.

Be a lifeline to those who are drowning.

Step into their mess with the same grace that God showed you.

This is not about earning favor with God but about living out the gospel, showing the love and sharing that Gospel that saved you to others.

Call to Action:

If you’re here today and you know you’ve been wandering, come forward and receive prayer.

If you need to turn your life over to Christ, don’t wait—come and experience the grace that covers a multitude of sins.

And if you’re a believer, commit to reaching out to those around you.

Don’t let them drift away without throwing them the lifeline of the gospel.

This message is for everyone—whether you feel like the wanderer, the rescuer, or somewhere in between.

Jesus is the only hope for the lost and the found.

Let’s cling to Him and share that hope with the world.

LET US PRAY

Gracious Lord,

What we know not, teach us.

What we are not, make us.

What we have not, give us.

Draw us back to You, and use us to bring others back.

Let Your grace reach every heart here today, and may we all find our rest in You.

Amen."