Have You Lost Jesus
HAVE YOU LOST JESUS??
Theme: When Life becomes too busy or church becomes too routine, we can lose sight of Jesus who is the source of our strength and our joy.
Text: Luke 2:41-50
Context: Feast of Passover / All Jews coming up to Jerusalam to worship
I. Losing Jesus (41-44)
A. Read Text
1. v.41 – explain Passover (Ex. 12:14-15)
· Commemorated birth of Israel
· “” freedom of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage
· All Jews near Jerusalem were required to go for the Feast and stay 7 days
· Sacrificial lamb was slaughtered, prepared and eaten w/ bitter herbs and unleavened bread
· Foreshadow of Christ as the Passover lamb, who freed us from our sin bondage
2. v. 42-44a – They didn’t know He was gone because of how the people traveled back then (women/children first, then the men)
B. How do you misplace Jesus?
1. By becoming too busy in our daily lives to put Him first
2. By getting to the point where we take Him for granted in our worship. Church
becomes a routine.
II. Searching for Jesus
A. Read text – 44a – 46a
1. They searched everywhere for Jesus but couldn’t find Him. They sought Him among their kinsfolk and couldn’t find Him.
You see, when we lose Christ, or never found Him to begin with, there’s a hole and an emptiness deep down on the inside that we seek to fill by searching for something.
- You can seek to fill that hole by asking Dr. Phil
- Madam Cleo
- Daddy, Mommy, Boyfriend, girlfriend
2. They sought Him in Jerusalem but couldn’t find Him
· You see, you can seek to fill that hole by going to nightclubs, bars
· Jewelry stores
· Macy’s Sears Walmart
“Oh but when its all said and done the only way to fill that emptiness is to seek Jesus where He may yet be found – IN HIS FATHER’S TEMPLE!”
III. The danger of losing Jesus
A. He is the source of our strength and our joy
B. Without Him we can do nothing
C. Sometimes we don’t notice we’ve left Him behind until its too late
· Story of Samson (Judges 16:20)
· Analogy of the car light
ASIDE – v. 46B – The very son of God was listening and learning from the rabbis in the temple. Never get too big to learn.
IV. Finding Jesus again – v. 47-49
A. Read Text
B. When all searching is done, Jesus is where He always has been, in His Father’s house and doing His Father’s business.
You see, only in Christ can we live an anointed and abundant life!!
ITS NOT ENOUGH TO JUST PLAY CHURCH ONCE A WEEK
ITS NOT ENOUGH SAY OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN AND FALL ASLEEP HALF WAY IN THE MIDDLE
WE’VE GOT TO SEEK CHRIST!! ONLY HE CAN BE OUR REFUGE!!
IF YOUR TIRED OF ALWAYS FEELING HELPLESS – SEEK JESUS
IF YOUR TIRED OF WORRYING ABOUT EVERY BILL – SEEK JESUS
IF YOUR TIRED OF FALLING TO EVERY TEMPTATION – SEEK JESUS
Conclusion
It is only in Christ that we can live and abundant life. Two points to remember from this message are:
1. Don’t let the trials and tribs of life become so severe that you lose sight of Jesus. He is our help in times of trouble. He is our buckler and shield.
2. Don’t ever let church become a routine. Seek to meet Him w/ each and every time that you worship.