The Heart of the Shepherd, the Joy of the Finder

Sermon:

The lost sheep, the lost coin. I started to write THIS SERMON about the lost phone. I lose my phone way to easy; I have a device on my keys to help find it. If I could lose weight, like I lose my keys and cell phone, I’d be so skinny – I could hide behind a corn stalk. Here is the thing, three years ago, I lost my phone for 4 days. This from a preacher who checks messaged every 30 seconds. I GET HEART BROKE IF I MISS ONE MESSAGE. When Cindy found it, where apparently, I left it. I felt JOY JOY JOY - I CELEBRATED FOR A MONTH!

So What kind of Joy do you think Jesus HAS in finding THE lost soul?

IN LUKE’S GOSPEL: When Jesus talks about a lost sheep it’s much more important than a phone, it’s a lost soul > an unbeliever in Jesus Christ! The sheep that’s strayed

John Wesley stated, “We have one business on earth – to save souls > Wesley knew the joy of helping the lost soul find JESUS

Pew Research says only 35% of Americans claim Jesus Christ as Savior of their soul

“In this Lenten season, a time to sacrifice ourselves and taking on Jesus’ heart to save the lost” – what an amazing Easter Revival IT will be to reach the other 65 percent… we all get our ONE

There’s a meme that says, “Jesus Leaving the 99 to go after the ONE is reckless—unless that ONE is you.” Today’s Scripture starts with the Pharisees, those self-righteous religious leaders, as they look down on those THEY deem as sinners. Then they NOTICE Jesus > he is hanging out with the lost crooks, adulterers , TAX COLLECTORS, sinners. - HOW DARE HIM – SAYING

“Look at this so-called Messiah, he is not studying God’s Law, he’s building friendship with the low life, the thieves. The UNCLEAN

HOW WILL HE EXPLAIN THIS Horrible list of friends?

So Jesus answers with a parable of the lost sheep, the one sheep that wandered OFF

If we’re honest, we’ve all been a stray sheep at some point. I grew up going to church, but there was a season of my life, I traded, prayers for parties, At my lowest, I cried out, “Where are you, God?” But here’s the truth I learned: God was never lost— I was. Amen?

When Jesus came to save the lost, it was for everyone! WE ALL HAVE SOULS OF WORTH!

The parable in this scripture; the lost sheep, and the lost coin, and the lost son, all point to the same truth. These parables aren’t just about sheep or coins—they’re about US and Who God REALLY is.

God loves the LOST! Jesus is preaching about lost souls, the grace that finds Us, and the rejoicing that is heard in heaven. This is the God of Scripture who sent His Son Jesus to save sinners, … is that God really is to US TODAY???

Every Christian should be like the farmer’s little 9-year-old son who ran into a man who was lost on a country road. The man stopped his car and approached the boy to ask, “Son, do you know where Pixley is?” The boy said, “No.” The man said, “Do you know where Interstate 40 is?” He answered, “No.” “Then do you know where the intersection of Cow Road and Mule’s Crossing is?” “No,” the little fellow replied. “Well,” the man said, “you might be the dumbest boy I have ever met. You don’t know much of anything, do you?” The boy looked at him and said, “YEP! I know I ain’t lost, Mister.” [Pause for laughter.] That little boy might not have known the map, but he knew where he STOOD—and that’s a lesson as we think about what it means to be lost or found in God’s eyes. Do you know where you stand spiritually today?

The question might be: How badly do we want to be found?

Because once YOUR soul is found, it will change your passion to SEEK for the lost forever. IN FACT, if you don’t have a passion for the lost, TODAY, THINK OF the rejoicing - what it means to be found!

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Lost Souls Wandering away from God – Are not worthless!

So, who is Jesus with? Sinners and Tax collectors ( IRS Internal Revenue Stealers)—people despised and rejected by society—they drew near to Jesus.

While the religious leaders, grumbled about them. “This Man receives sinners and eats with them,” they sneered. So, scripture said the sinners were drawn to Jesus, desperate to hear some Good News> why? They have been told they are WORTHLESS!

So, when Jesus TALKS about a shepherd and a lost sheep> EVERYONE KNEW IT HURT to lose A sheep – THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP. BUT A Sheep, they would wander away, TAKE their eyes off the shepherd, searching for that greener grass; (the grass is always greener somewhere else, right). Losing a sheep means losing money, it means losing property> we search for what’s lost IF IT MEANS SOMETHING TO US!

Everybody, and I really mean everybody, is searching for something that makes life feel like it has meaning.

Whether it’s getting their dream job, the newest car, the perfect church. IN FACT, Even the criminal seeking meaning when they vandalize.

MANY SEARCH AND SEARCH FOR MEANING. Few find it. (IT our Bible). true meaning in this life is when we find our Redeemer, Jesus.

To find meaning in JESUS—is when we have passion for souls.

Without Jesus a person is lost, with NO MEANING to LIVE. All are lost before they find Jesus… or does Jesus find us?

It reminds me of a story of a husband and wife who had been married for 15 years. The wife is sitting buckled in on her side of the car, and the husband is sitting buckled in on his side of the car. The wife says, “Dear, why don’t we sit as close as we used to?” The husband turns and says to her, “Well, honey, who moved?” Why isn’t God as close to us as He used to be? The question is, “Who moved?” Who is lost?

Our faith should be in God of Scripture, a Lord who is like the shepherd who goes out looking for the lost sheep, or like the woman looking for the lost coin.

THE CHURCH IS TO BE seeking WHATS LOST, even if the lost have every excuse not to be found!

Imagine that one sheep. It’s wandered off… it’s lost. Alone. Vulnerable.

Jesus says likewise, That sheep is like a lost soul. The unbeliever. It’s you and me if we are not born again. It’s the person who’s drifted from their faith, tangled in sin, no longer believing in Jesus or the Gospel.

The coin in the second parable is lost too, but in a different way. It didn’t wander off—it was misplaced, just lost in the house. The woman is sweeping in HER HOUSE to find it.

The Coin represents a family member that is without Jesus. Some souls are like that: they maybe even come to church, but have never let Jesus on the inside, there is A sweeping FURY to find the lost coin.

Here’s the truth: every one of us starts as a lost sheep in need of grace. Romans 3:23 tells us, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We’re born into this world separated from Salvation.

Like the coin we can’t find our own way back on our own. COINS don’t have a map.. Lost souls need a rescuer. But the Found Christian lives to join in the Rescue by Gospel’s –

We are not ashamed of the power of Salvation, Bold, Excited OVER 1 soul

During Lent, would you leave your comfort, to get to know just the 1

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2. We are Found by Grace: The Savior Pursues Us

Look at what the shepherd does. He doesn’t sit back and wait for the sheep to figure it out. He leaves the ninety-nine and goes after the one, Leave the 99 of value searching the wilderness—through thorns, over rocks, through today’s depressed mind or devious thoughts—until the ONE lost is found. And the woman with the coin? She lights a lamp, sweeps, until that lost piece shows up. Jesus of Grace is the Rescuer of Sinners. 1 John 4:19 says “We love because He first loved us,”. God loves us at our first sin.

This is GRACE, friends—God’s undeserved love chasing you down. The shepherd didn’t say, “That sheep should’ve known better.” The woman didn’t say, “That coin’s not worth the effort.” No, they pursued what was lost because it mattered to them. You have no idea how much you matter to JESUS or to me. God sent His ONLY 1 Perfect for the Many Unperfect

Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” We don’t earn it.

WE BELIEVE IN THE GIFT OF JESUS ON CHRISTMAS TO SAVE OUR SOUL THROUGH the grace of RESURRECTION ON EASTER When Jesus walked on earth, HE WAS THE GRACE FOR LOST SOULS!

When Jesus walked on this earth, he didn’t just see a woman at a well, he saw a lost soul

When Jesus wrote in the sand, he didn’t just see ACCUSERS, he saw the lost souls

When Jesus healed the man with demons, he saw a scared lost soul

In fact, I bet he sees lost souls in our prisons, our bars and maybe even over at Walmart. What does grace look like for the lost soul?

Grace is the Revival Church that still sees VALUE in every soul!

The shepherd lifts the sheep onto his shoulders. The sheep’s tired, weak, maybe even trembling, but trust the arms of the of the Shepherd.

The Shepherd doesn’t scold it—he carries the lost HOME. That’s Jesus with us. When He finds us in our mess, He doesn’t leave us there. He lifts us up. He cleans us off. He restores us. He GETS US home! ‘Tis grace has brought us thus far, and grace will lead us home

Billy Graham likes to tell the story of when Albert Einstein took a train. The conductor stopped by to punch his ticket. Einstein’s mind was on his work, as he looked through his coat pockets. Very embarrassed, he explained that he couldn’t find his ticket. The conductor said, “We all know who you are, Dr. Einstein. I’ll give you some grace. I’m sure you bought a ticket. Don’t worry about it. Everything is okay.” Grace. The conductor walked the aisle punching other tickets. He looked back and saw Einstein on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket. The conductor said, “Dr. Einstein, please don’t worry about it. I know who you are.” Einstein looked up and said, “I, too, know who I am. What I don’t know is where I’m going!” Einstein had been so caught up in life, he forgot to go home. Some days we may feel like we are searching, maybe even have wandered away, but grace will lead us home.

Maybe you’re here today feeling like you’ve been wandering in some guilt, worry or doubt. - or just not your GOD GIVEN MEANING?

Or maybe you’ve had a good excuse to not share the Gospel. Hear this: Jesus is the Good Shepherd who’s already searching for you ever day.

His grace is relentless. He won’t stop until finds you. He won’t stop until you see that your Christian MEANING. Jesus wont force you, but he will not stop loving you. Who is the one, that God is calling you to pursue to share the Gospel

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3. Rejoicing in Heaven: The Celebration of Redemption

Remember, the Religious leaders are supposed to be the expert on God, they have shunned the ones who need God. but Now, here’s where the story gets loud. The shepherd finds his sheep, and what does he do? He calls his friends and neighbors: “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!” The woman finds her coin, and she does the same: “Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!” – you know exactly how joyful it would be to find a child that was lost. And Jesus ties it all together: “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” There is joy, know the joy, live the joy. SHARING EASTER RESURRECTION IS JOY!

Have you been rejoicing during Lent? NOTICE, Resurrection JOY> Requires Repentance. Know the JOY OF Salvation?

Heaven throws a party when a lost soul is found that repents! I think of: Angels shouting, trumpets blasting, the Father smiling—because one more child has turned from sin, asked forgiveness and come home.

Lent begins with Repent and Believe. Do we believe who the Bible says Jesus is? When the lost is found; HE IS THE ONE throwing a party, but the religious elite are ready to kill Jesus for bringing more to the celebration

Never underestimate the power of the Gospel to bring a Celebration

Is that the joy the angels have over your children? Grandchildren? Yourself? For 65 percent of people say they don’t even know who WE are rejoicing FOR.

notice what Jesus says: “more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine”

THE ONE honest sinner’s Redemption is a miracle celebrated in Heaven.

“There was a man who fell on hard times, with only a cherished family ring TO HIS NAME. Hunger forced him to pawn it. Honest in his need, he traded the ring for a few coins and a ticket. The ticket had a redemption date, but time slipped away, and he didn’t have the money. He begged the pawnbroker for GRACE, but the next day, that polished ring sat in the window for sale, priced beyond his reach. That’s us, friends. When we sin, We’ve pawned our souls to Satan, helpless to buy it back. But two thousand years ago, Jesus defeated our sin on a cross.

God finally heard our cry to forgive us FOR selling what wasn’t ours.

With Jesus eternal blood, He paid the price we couldn’t—not for some silly ring, but for our SOULS, Calvary paid to redeem us, restore us as His Children for Heavens Celebration!

Jesus wanted the disciples and Pharisees to know the joy, of what the lost would one day do for Heaven if they were found repenting.

BUT, The Pharisees grumbled when Jesus welcomed sinners.

What’s our response when someone far from God turns to CHRIST? THOSE lost sinners? Do we criticize, or do we plan to celebrate with the Gospel? Every soul matters. YOUR SOUL MATTERS! Every repentance is a victory. Thank God, Heaven is Celebrated over souls here at Centenary, the Gospel is found at Centenary Church, Youth hear about Repentance at Centenary

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Conclusion

As we walk through this season of Lent—a time to sacrifice our hearts and be bold in making sure the others hear about Jesus—Maybe you’re considering inviting folks to Easter service to hear about the Gospel. May you already know who the ONE is. The religious leaders of Jesus’ time were convinced God was God of anger, but Jesus revealed OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN – The SEEKER of the Lost. God is a loving Father who seeks to provide us grace when we repent. “

A father of eight boys was once asked if he had any favorites. “Favorites?” he replied. “Yes, I have favorites. I love the one who is sick until he’s well again. I love the one who got lost until I find him. I love the one in trouble until he’s safe again. And I love the one farthest away until he comes home.”

Jesus said, “That is what God is like. God is your Divine Parent, Abba, whose love never stops, a Parent who never gives up.

You may stop loving God, but God will never stop loving you. You may run from God, but your legs are too short to outrun Him. That’s not a threat—it’s a PROMISE!

God sent His Son, the Good Shepherd, into our wilderness where people, like sheep, lose themselves. In our wilderness: where Mass Shootings happen (Sin of Murder, Wrath) , Where Violent attacks are in parking lots. Cyberbullying Leading to Suicide, there is a loving Sheperd who loves souls and never stops seeking to save lives. A Shepherd who lays down His life for His found sheep.

That’s the Gospel. This Lent, Jesus asked you to give up your comfort to share the Good News with the ONE.”

The Gospel isn’t just words to tickle your ears- its eternal life and death. The Apostle Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation” (Romans 1:16).

Paul saw what Jesus saw: people with the Good News, sometimes scared to be challenged, believers sometimes afraid to be wrong, “the 99” unwilling to be uncomfortable to share the Good News. Sometimes we worry we might offend someone, forgetting it’s called Good News.

Be not ashamed of the Gospel, the power of salvation.

We forget we must be bold about who the Lord is… Who is Lord to you? Lent calls us to give ourselves—our time, our pride, our plans—so the ONE can hear about the Lord and Savior seeking them.

Leaving the 99 to go after the 1 is reckless—so was Jesus going to the cross. Reckless grace is amazing grace. Once lost, now found; once blind, now we see souls. Maybe you need to pray for strength to share Jesus—maybe for that ONE relative, how well is your soul?

Will you just get to know the ONE? build that relationship that allows just that ONE, that God puts in your path to hear the Gospel. It’s not about putting tracks on a door, or preaching a sermon > but getting to know that One that will only be found if YOU are bold in the Gospel