Bringing Back the Ones Who Went Away

Matthew 18:12–14 NKJV

12 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

RESTORING The Ship SERIES — WEEK 1

"Bringing Back the Ones Who Went Away”

MATTHEW 18:12–14 (NKJV)

INTRODUCTION

THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT AN EMPTY SEAT.

AN EMPTY SEAT TELLS A STORY.

AN EMPTY SEAT REPRESENTS SOMEONE WHO USED TO BE THERE. SOMEONE WHO USED TO SIT IN THAT SAME SPOT EVERY SUNDAY MORNING.

SOMEONE WHO USED TO LIFT THEIR HANDS DURING WORSHIP. SOMEONE WHO USED TO BOW THEIR HEAD DURING PRAYER.

SOMEONE WHO USED TO GREET YOU IN THE HALLWAY. SOMEONE WHO USED TO SERVE FAITHFULLY.

AN EMPTY SEAT TELLS A STORY.

AND IF WE'RE HONEST THIS MORNING… THERE ARE SOME EMPTY SEATS AT FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH.

SEATS WHERE FAITHFUL MEMBERS ONCE SAT.

SEATS WHERE FAMILIES ONCE WORSHIPPED. SEATS WHERE VOICES ONCE LIFTED PRAISE.

NOW LET ME BE CLEAR — THIS IS NOT ABOUT NUMBERS.

THIS IS ABOUT PEOPLE.

BECAUSE EVERY SEAT REPRESENTS A SOUL.

EVERY NAME REPRESENTS A STORY. EVERY PERSON MATTERS TO GOD.

AND WHEN JESUS BEGINS TEACHING IN MATTHEW 18, HE IS NOT TALKING ABOUT BUILDINGS.

HE IS NOT TALKING ABOUT BUDGETS. HE IS NOT TALKING ABOUT PROGRAMS.

JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE.

BECAUSE AT THE HEART OF THE GOSPEL… PEOPLE MATTER TO GOD.

AND IN MATTHEW 18, JESUS TELLS A SIMPLE STORY WITH A POWERFUL MEANING.

HE SAYS…

"WHAT DO YOU THINK? IF A MAN HAS A HUNDRED SHEEP, AND ONE OF THEM GOES ASTRAY…"

JESUS IMMEDIATELY BRINGS OUR ATTENTION TO SOMETHING THAT IS MISSING.

ONE SHEEP.

OUT OF ONE HUNDRED… ONLY ONE IS MISSING.

NOW FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT… THAT DOESN’T SEEM LIKE A BIG DEAL.

NINETY-NINE ARE STILL THERE.

NINETY-NINE ARE STILL SAFE.

NINETY-NINE ARE STILL ACCOUNTED FOR.

BUT JESUS TEACHES US SOMETHING ABOUT THE HEART OF GOD…

GOD IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ONE.

NOT JUST THE CROWD… NOT JUST THE MAJORITY…

NOT JUST THE ONES WHO STAYED…

GOD IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ONE THAT WANDERED.

AND FRIENDSHIP, IF WE'RE HONEST… THERE ARE SOME "ONES" CONNECTED TO FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH.

SOME WHO USED TO WORSHIP HERE.

SOME WHO USED TO SERVE HERE. SOME WHO USED TO SIT BESIDE YOU.

SOME WHO STILL LOVE THIS CHURCH… BUT FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER… THEY WENT ASTRAY.

SOME DRIFTED DURING THE TRANSITION. SOME STEPPED BACK DURING UNCERTAINTY.

SOME BECAME DISCOURAGED. SOME QUIETLY SLIPPED AWAY.

AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T LEAVE LOUDLY… THEY LEAVE QUIETLY.

THEY DON'T MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS… THEY JUST STOP COMING.

THEY MISS ONE SUNDAY… THEN ANOTHER SUNDAY…

THEN ANOTHER SUNDAY…

BEFORE YOU KNOW IT…

WEEKS TURN INTO MONTHS… MONTHS TURN INTO YEARS…

AND THE SEAT BECOMES EMPTY.

BUT HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS THIS MORNING…

GOD HAS NOT FORGOTTEN THEM.

AND JESUS TEACHES US IN THIS PASSAGE… THAT EVERY ONE MATTERS.

TRANSITION TO POINT 1

AND IF WE'RE GOING TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE ONE MATTERS… WE FIRST HAVE TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING ABOUT SHEEP…

BECAUSE JESUS BEGINS THIS PARABLE BY ACKNOWLEDGING SOMETHING VERY REAL…

SOMETIMES SHEEP GO ASTRAY.

POINT 1: SHEEP GO ASTRAY

JESUS SAYS:

"IF A MAN HAS A HUNDRED SHEEP, AND ONE OF THEM GOES ASTRAY..."

NOW NOTICE WHAT JESUS DID NOT SAY.

JESUS DID NOT SAY THE SHEEP REBELLED. JESUS DID NOT SAY THE SHEEP INTENTIONALLY RAN AWAY.

JESUS SIMPLY SAYS… THE SHEEP WENT ASTRAY.

BECAUSE SHEEP DON'T USUALLY RUN AWAY SUDDENLY…

THEY WANDER SLOWLY.

SHEEP GRAZE.

THEY NIBBLE GRASS. THEY FOLLOW THEIR APPETITE.

THEY MOVE A LITTLE HERE… THEN A LITTLE THERE…

AND BEFORE THEY REALIZE IT… THEY ARE FAR FROM THE FLOCK.

AND CHURCH, THAT'S HOW PEOPLE DRIFT SPIRITUALLY.

NOBODY WAKES UP ONE MORNING AND DECIDES TO LEAVE THE CHURCH.

IT HAPPENS SLOWLY.

THEY MISS ONE SUNDAY.

THEN THEY MISS ANOTHER SUNDAY. THEN THEY STOP SERVING.

THEN THEY STOP CONNECTING.

BEFORE THEY KNOW IT… THEY ARE NO LONGER PRESENT.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE GO ASTRAY BECAUSE OF HURT.

SOMEONE HURT THEIR FEELINGS.

SOMEONE MISUNDERSTOOD THEM. SOMEONE OVERLOOKED THEM.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE GO ASTRAY BECAUSE OF DISCOURAGEMENT.

LIFE BECOMES DIFFICULT.

SITUATIONS BECOME OVERWHELMING. CHALLENGES BECOME HEAVY.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE GO ASTRAY BECAUSE OF CHANGE.

LEADERSHIP CHANGES.

DIRECTION CHANGES. SEASONS CHANGE.

AND TRANSITIONS CAN BE DIFFICULT.

FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH HAS JUST COME THROUGH A TRANSITION.

AND TRANSITIONS CAN CAUSE PEOPLE TO DRIFT.

SOME PEOPLE BECOME UNCERTAIN.

SOME PEOPLE BECOME DISCOURAGED. SOME PEOPLE STEP BACK.

BUT HERE'S WHAT JESUS TEACHES US…

JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE GOES ASTRAY…

DOESN'T MEAN THEY STOP MATTERING.

THEY STILL MATTER.

ISAIAH 53:6 REMINDS US:

"ALL WE LIKE SHEEP HAVE GONE ASTRAY; WE HAVE TURNED, EVERY ONE, TO HIS OWN WAY..."

THAT MEANS ALL OF US HAVE WANDERED AT SOME POINT.

ALL OF US HAVE DRIFTED. ALL OF US HAVE STRUGGLED.

AND IF WE'RE HONEST… SOME OF US HERE TODAY WERE ONCE THE WANDERING SHEEP.

YOU MAY NOT ALWAYS HAVE BEEN WHERE YOU ARE NOW.

THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A SEASON WHEN YOU DRIFTED. A SEASON WHEN YOU STRUGGLED.

A SEASON WHEN YOU STEPPED AWAY.

BUT GOD DIDN'T GIVE UP ON YOU.

AND JUST LIKE GOD DIDN'T GIVE UP ON YOU… GOD HAS NOT GIVEN UP ON THEM.

TRANSITION TO POINT 2

BUT HERE'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS PASSAGE…

JESUS DOES NOT STOP WITH THE SHEEP GOING ASTRAY.

BECAUSE IF THE STORY ENDED THERE…

THERE WOULD BE NO HOPE.

IF THE STORY ENDED WITH THE SHEEP WANDERING…

THERE WOULD BE NO RESTORATION.

BUT JESUS CONTINUES THE STORY…

AND HE SHOWS US WHAT THE SHEPHERD DOES NEXT.

BECAUSE WHEN THE SHEEP GOES ASTRAY…

THE SHEPHERD DOES SOMETHING REMARKABLE.

POINT 2: THE SHEPHERD SEEKS

JESUS ASKS A POWERFUL QUESTION:

"DOES HE NOT LEAVE THE NINETY-NINE AND GO TO THE MOUNTAINS TO SEEK THE ONE THAT IS STRAYING?"

NOW, THIS IS INTERESTING.

BECAUSE FROM A LOGICAL STANDPOINT… THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

NINETY-NINE ARE SAFE.

NINETY-NINE ARE ACCOUNTED FOR. NINETY-NINE ARE SECURE.

BUT THE SHEPHERD LEAVES THE NINETY-NINE… TO GO AFTER THE ONE.

WHY?

BECAUSE EVERY SHEEP MATTERS.

THIS SHOWS US THE HEART OF GOD.

GOD DOES NOT FORGET THE ONE. GOD DOES NOT REPLACE THE ONE.

GOD SEEKS THE ONE.

AND THIS IS NOT JUST A NEW TESTAMENT CONCEPT.

GOD HAS ALWAYS HAD A HEART FOR THE WANDERING SHEEP.

EZEKIEL 34:11 SAYS:

"FOR THUS SAYS THE LORD GOD: 'INDEED I MYSELF WILL SEARCH FOR MY SHEEP AND SEEK THEM OUT.'"

GOD SAYS…

I WILL SEARCH FOR THEM.

I WILL SEEK THEM.

I WILL BRING THEM BACK.

GOD IS A SEEKING GOD.

WHEN ADAM SINNED IN THE GARDEN… GOD CAME LOOKING.

WHEN JONAH RAN FROM GOD'S CALLING… GOD PURSUED HIM.

WHEN PETER DENIED JESUS… JESUS RESTORED HIM.

WHEN THE PRODIGAL SON LEFT HOME… THE FATHER WAITED AND WELCOMED HIM BACK.

GOD SEEKS.

AND HERE'S WHAT MAKES THIS SO POWERFUL…

SOMETIMES GOD USES PEOPLE… TO REACH PEOPLE.

GOD USES MEMBERS… TO REACH MEMBERS.

GOD USES FRIENDS… TO REACH FRIENDS.

FRIENDSHIP… GOD IS CALLING US TO REFLECT THE HEART OF THE SHEPHERD.

NOT JUST TO WELCOME THOSE WHO COME… BUT TO SEEK THOSE WHO WENT ASTRAY.

THAT MEANS WE DON'T JUST SIT AND WAIT.

WE REACH OUT.

WE CALL THEM. WE TEXT THEM.

WE CHECK ON THEM.

WE LET THEM KNOW…

"WE MISS YOU."

"YOU'RE STILL FAMILY."

"THERE'S STILL A PLACE FOR YOU AT FRIENDSHIP."

BECAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T COME BACK…

NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T CARE… BUT BECAUSE NO ONE REACHED OUT.

BUT WHEN THE CHURCH REACHES… RESTORATION BEGINS.

TRANSITION TO POINT 3

AND HERE'S WHERE THE STORY GETS EVEN BETTER…

BECAUSE JESUS DOESN'T JUST TELL US THAT THE SHEPHERD FINDS THE SHEEP…

JESUS TELLS US HOW THE SHEPHERD RESPONDS.

AND WHAT JESUS SAYS NEXT…

REVEALS THE HEART OF RESTORATION.

POINT 3: RESTORATION BRINGS REJOICING

JESUS SAYS:

"AND IF HE SHOULD FIND IT, ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, HE REJOICES MORE OVER THAT SHEEP THAN OVER THE NINETY-NINE THAT DID NOT GO ASTRAY."

NOTICE THIS.

THE SHEPHERD REJOICES.

HE DOESN'T SCOLD FIRST.

HE DOESN'T LECTURE FIRST. HE DOESN'T CRITICIZE FIRST.

HE REJOICES.

BECAUSE RESTORATION BRINGS JOY.

HEAVEN CELEBRATES RESTORATION.

LUKE 15 TELLS US THAT HEAVEN REJOICES OVER ONE SINNER WHO REPENTS.

THAT MEANS WHEN SOMEONE RETURNS… HEAVEN CELEBRATES.

AND CHURCH… WHEN SOMEONE RETURNS TO FRIENDSHIP…

WE SHOULD CELEBRATE TOO.

WHEN THEY WALK BACK IN THE DOOR… WE SHOULD CELEBRATE.

WHEN THEY RECONNECT… WE SHOULD CELEBRATE.

WHEN THEY RETURN TO WORSHIP… WE SHOULD CELEBRATE.

BECAUSE RESTORATION STRENGTHENS THE CHURCH.

WHEN PEOPLE RETURN:

HOPE RETURNS JOY RETURNS

STRENGTH RETURNS UNITY RETURNS

RESTORATION IS SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE.

BECAUSE WHEN ONE RETURNS… THE WHOLE CHURCH BECOMES STRONGER.

TRANSITION TO POINT 4

AND THEN JESUS CLOSES THIS PARABLE WITH ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL TRUTHS IN THE ENTIRE PASSAGE.

BECAUSE JESUS WANTS US TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS MATTERS SO MUCH.

JESUS SHIFTS FROM THE SHEPHERD… TO THE HEART OF THE FATHER.

POINT 4: EVERY SOUL MATTERS

JESUS SAYS:

"EVEN SO IT IS NOT THE WILL OF YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN THAT ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES SHOULD PERISH."

ONE.

NOT MANY… NOT MOST…

ONE.

THAT TELLS US SOMETHING POWERFUL.

EVERY SOUL MATTERS TO GOD.

EVERY MEMBER MATTERS.

EVERY FAMILY MATTERS. EVERY PERSON MATTERS.

FRIENDSHIP… GOD IS NOT JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THE CROWD…

GOD IS CONCERNED ABOUT INDIVIDUALS.

EVERY NAME MATTERS.

EVERY SEAT MATTERS. EVERY SOUL MATTERS.

AND THAT'S WHY JESUS TELLS THIS STORY.

BECAUSE THE ONE THAT WANDERED… STILL MATTERS.

PART 3 — EXPANDED CLOSING

FRIENDSHIP… JESUS TELLS US THAT THE SHEPHERD WENT AFTER THE ONE.

NOT THE CROWD…

NOT THE MAJORITY… NOT THE EASY ONES…

BUT THE ONE.

AND IF WE'RE HONEST THIS MORNING…

THERE ARE SOME "ONES" CONNECTED TO FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH.

SOME WHO USED TO WORSHIP HERE. SOME WHO USED TO SERVE HERE.

SOME WHO USED TO SING HERE. SOME WHO USED TO SIT RIGHT BESIDE YOU.

SOME WHO STILL LOVE THIS CHURCH… BUT FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER…

THEY WENT ASTRAY.

SOME WERE HURT. SOME WERE DISCOURAGED. SOME BECAME UNCERTAIN DURING TRANSITION.

SOME JUST DRIFTED QUIETLY AWAY.

SOME DIDN’T LEAVE ANGRY…

THEY JUST STOPPED COMING.

SOME DIDN’T MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS… THEY JUST SLIPPED AWAY.

AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT…

WEEKS TURNED INTO MONTHS… MONTHS TURNED INTO YEARS…

BUT HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS THIS MORNING…

GOD HAS NOT FORGOTTEN THEM.

AND NOT ONLY HAS GOD NOT FORGOTTEN THEM… GOD IS STILL SEEKING THEM.

AND SOMETIMES… GOD USES PEOPLE… TO REACH PEOPLE.

GOD USES MEMBERS… TO REACH MEMBERS.

GOD USES FRIENDS… TO REACH FRIENDS.

AND FRIENDSHIP… GOD IS CALLING US TO BE A SEEKING CHURCH.

NOT JUST A CHURCH THAT GATHERS… BUT A CHURCH THAT REACHES.

NOT JUST A CHURCH THAT WELCOMES…

BUT A CHURCH THAT PURSUES.

BECAUSE THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE CONNECTED TO FRIENDSHIP… WHO JUST NEED SOMEONE TO CALL THEM.

SOMEONE TO TEXT THEM.

SOMEONE TO CHECK ON THEM. SOMEONE TO TELL THEM:

"WE MISS YOU." "YOU'RE STILL FAMILY." "THERE'S STILL A PLACE FOR YOU AT FRIENDSHIP."

AND CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN…

IF EVERY MEMBER OF FRIENDSHIP REACHED ONE PERSON?

FAMILIES WOULD RECONNECT. RELATIONSHIPS WOULD BE RESTORED.

WORSHIP WOULD GROW STRONGER. MINISTRY WOULD EXPAND.

AND GOD WOULD BE GLORIFIED.

BECAUSE RESTORATION STRENGTHENS THE CHURCH.

AND JESUS SAYS… WHEN THE SHEPHERD FINDS THE ONE… HE REJOICES.

HE DOESN'T QUESTION… HE REJOICES.

HE DOESN'T CRITICIZE… HE REJOICES.

BECAUSE RESTORATION IS WORTH CELEBRATING.

AND FRIENDSHIP… I BELIEVE WE ARE ENTERING A SEASON OF RESTORATION.

I BELIEVE GOD IS GOING TO BRING PEOPLE BACK.

I BELIEVE GOD IS GOING TO RESTORE RELATIONSHIPS. I BELIEVE GOD IS GOING TO STRENGTHEN THIS CHURCH.

BECAUSE WHEN ONE COMES BACK…

HEALING COMES BACK

HOPE COMES BACK JOY COMES BACK

STRENGTH COMES BACK UNITY COMES BACK

VISION COMES BACK AND FRIENDSHIP BECOMES STRONGER AGAIN!

FRIENDSHIP… WE ARE NOT JUST BUILDING A CHURCH…

WE ARE RESTORING A FAMILY.

WE ARE NOT JUST MOVING FORWARD… WE ARE REACHING BACK.

WE ARE NOT JUST FILLING SEATS… WE ARE RESTORING SOULS.

BECAUSE JESUS TEACHES US…

THE ONE THAT MATTERS… STILL MATTERS.

AND THAT ONE STILL MATTERS TO GOD… AND THAT ONE STILL MATTERS TO US.

SO THIS WEEK…

THINK ABOUT ONE PERSON.

SOMEONE WHO USED TO WORSHIP HERE. SOMEONE WHO STEPPED AWAY.

SOMEONE WHO DRIFTED.

PRAY FOR THEM. REACH OUT TO THEM. INVITE THEM BACK.

BECAUSE EVERY SEAT MATTERS…

EVERY NAME MATTERS… EVERY SOUL MATTERS.

AND FRIENDSHIP… WHEN WE GO AFTER THE ONE…

GOD WILL BLESS THE NINETY-NINE.

BECAUSE THE ONE THAT MATTERS… STILL MATTERS.

7-FOLD PROPHETIC WHOOP

AND I HEAR THE LORD SAYING… THAT THIS IS A SEASON OF RESTORATION AT FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH…

BECAUSE WHEN THE ONE COMES BACK…

HEALING IS COMING BACK TO FRIENDSHIP

HOPE IS COMING BACK TO FRIENDSHIP

JOY IS COMING BACK TO FRIENDSHIP

STRENGTH IS COMING BACK TO FRIENDSHIP

UNITY IS COMING BACK TO FRIENDSHIP

VISION IS COMING BACK TO FRIENDSHIP

AND GREATER DAYS ARE COMING BACK TO FRIENDSHIP!

I WISH I HAD ABOUT TEN PEOPLE IN HERE WHO BELIEVE GOD IS ABOUT TO RESTORE THIS HOUSE…

BECAUSE WHEN GOD RESTORES…

HE DOESN'T JUST BRING PEOPLE BACK…

HE BRINGS PURPOSE BACK

HE BRINGS POWER BACK

HE BRINGS PRAISE BACK

HE BRINGS PASSION BACK

AND I BELIEVE GOD IS ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL AT THE SHIP…

BECAUSE GOD IS STILL SEEKING…

GOD IS STILL RESTORING…

GOD IS STILL BRINGING BACK THE ONE…

AND WHEN THE ONE COMES BACK…

THE PRAISE GETS LOUDER

THE WORSHIP GETS STRONGER

THE FELLOWSHIP GETS SWEETER

THE CHURCH GETS STRONGER

BECAUSE THE ONE THAT MATTERS… STILL MATTERS!

AND FRIENDSHIP… WE'RE NOT JUST MOVING FORWARD…

WE'RE REACHING BACK… WE'RE RESTORING HEARTS… WE'RE REBUILDING FELLOWSHIP… WE'RE RENEWING VISION…

AND I HEAR THE SPIRIT SAYING…

GET READY FRIENDSHIP… GET READY FRIENDSHIP… GET READY FRIENDSHIP…

BECAUSE GOD IS ABOUT TO BRING THEM BACK!

LET THE CHURCH SAY YES!

PASTORAL PRAYER "THE ONE THAT MATTERS" — MATTHEW 18:12–14 LET US PRAY… GRACIOUS AND ETERNAL GOD, OUR FATHER AND A FRIEND WHO STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS. WE THANK YOU, LORD, BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN BETTER TO US THAN WE HAVE BEEN TO OURSELVES. YOU WOKE US UP THIS MORNING. YOU STARTED US ON OUR WAY. YOU KEPT US IN OUR RIGHT MINDS. YOU ALLOWED US TO GATHER ONCE AGAIN IN THIS PLACE CALLED FRIENDSHIP. AND LORD, WE THANK YOU TODAY BECAUSE YOU ARE A GOD WHO SEEKS US. WHEN WE WANDERED, YOU SOUGHT US. WHEN WE DRIFTED, YOU FOUND US. WHEN WE STRUGGLED, YOU HELD US. AND FOR THAT, WE SAY THANK YOU. LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS NEW SEASON. WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING RIGHT NOW. WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE PREPARING TO DO. AND NOW, LORD, WE PRAY FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THIS CHURCH. STRENGTHEN US WHERE WE ARE WEAK. ENCOURAGE US WHERE WE ARE DISCOURAGED. UNITE US IN LOVE AND PURPOSE. LORD, WE ALSO LIFT UP THOSE WHO HAVE GONE ASTRAY. THOSE WHO ONCE WORSHIPED HERE… THOSE WHO ONCE SERVED HERE… THOSE WHO ONCE CALLED FRIENDSHIP THEIR CHURCH HOME. LORD, WHEREVER THEY ARE RIGHT NOW… TOUCH THEM. ENCOURAGE THEM. REMIND THEM THAT THEY ARE STILL LOVED. REMIND THEM THAT THEY STILL MATTER. AND LORD, USE US AS INSTRUMENTS OF RESTORATION. GIVE US COMPASSIONATE HEARTS. GIVE US LOVING SPIRITS. GIVE US WORDS THAT HEAL AND NOT HARM. LORD, LET THIS BE A SEASON OF RESTORATION AT FRIENDSHIP. RESTORE RELATIONSHIPS. RESTORE UNITY. RESTORE JOY. RESTORE STRENGTH. RESTORE VISION. LORD, WE PRAY THAT WHEN THE ONES COME BACK… LET US WELCOME THEM WITH LOVE. LET US RECEIVE THEM WITH GRACE. LET US CELEBRATE RESTORATION. NOW LORD, BLESS THIS CHURCH. BLESS EVERY FAMILY REPRESENTED. BLESS THOSE WATCHING AND THOSE UNABLE TO BE HERE. AND LORD, AS WE CONTINUE IN WORSHIP… HAVE YOUR WAY IN THIS PLACE. MOVE BY YOUR SPIRIT. SPEAK TO OUR HEARTS. STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH. AND WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE… WE'LL BE CAREFUL TO GIVE YOUR NAME THE GLORY, THE HONOR, AND THE PRAISE. IT'S IN JESUS' NAME WE PRAY… LET THE CHURCH SAY AMEN.