The Heart of an Ingatherer

The Heart of an Ingatherer

Pastor Keith Hassell

Foundation Scripture:   Matthew 18:10-14 (Parable of the Lost Sheep)

I.       Win Souls

          A.      “W” – Witness

          B.      “I” – Ingather (Follow-up)

          C.      “N” – Network

II.      The heart of an ingatherer is love for the one

          A.      The ingatherer views the field one soul at a time

          B.      When preaching to multitudes, preach to the one

          C.      When talking on the radio or TV, talk to the one

D.      No matter how many people are in our family, each person needs to feel special as an individual

E.      If one child is missing come nightfall, you don’t rejoice over the one who are there, but you go seek the one who is lost.

III.     The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1-7; Matthew 18:10-14)

          A.      Sinners are important to God

          B.      We are to seek out the ONE who is straying (Matthew’s account)

C.      The shepherd feels the responsibility of both the ninety-nine and the ONE who is lost

D.      There is more rejoicing over ONE sinner who repents than over the ninety-nine who need no repentance.

E.      “It is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that ONE of these little ones should perish.”  (Matthew 18:14 NKJV)

IV.     The Parable of the Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10)

A.      The ten coins were often worn in a ten piece garland by a married woman

B.      The garland was not considered complete unless all of the coins were there.  It would be like having a ring with three diamonds and one comes up missing.  You don’t say, “Oh well, at least I have the other two!  Doesn’t it look pretty!”

C.      Persistence for the ONE:  She lights a lamp and sweeps the house until she finds the ONE coin that was missing.

D.      “Likewise, I say to you, there is more joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10 NKJV)

V.      The Parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15:11-32)

          A.      The father loves the ONE prodigal son

          B.      The father longs for the return of the ONE prodigal son

C.      The father receives and restores the ONE prodigal son when he returns and repents

D.      “It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.” (Luke 15:32 NKJV)

VI.     Heart disease in the life of an Ingatherer

          A.      Isolation:  “What people?”

B.      Indifference:  “So what that they are lost.  The world is full of people like that.”

C.      Apathy:  “I don’t care.  I have my own interests.”

D.      Denial:  “I am not responsible for them.  Am I my brother’s keeper?”

          E.      Selfishness:  “It takes too much time and effort.”

          F.      Inadequacy:  “The need is too overwhelming.”

          G.      Inferiority:  “People are not responsive to me.”

H.      Self righteousness:  “I am glad I am not like them.  We don’t need their kind here anyway.”

I.       Preference:  “They are not like me.  I would rather reach out to those who I feel comfortable around.”

J.       Prejudice:  “They are not of my race, culture, or nationality.”

K.      Fear:  “What if they reject, ridicule, or persecute me?”

L.      Antagonism:  “They are the enemy.  I need to isolate myself from them.”

M.     Doubt:  “What if I fail?”

N.      Unbelief:  “They are too far gone.  They will never change.”

O.      Condemnation:  “They deserve what they get.”

P.      Devaluation:  “One is not that important.  We have plenty others.”