The Lost Sheep

Intro:

The Lost Sheep

Intro:

Good morning every, it is great to see all of you today. May you be blessed in the Lord today as we continue our study on the parables. If you would, go ahead and turn over to the , that is the parable we will be covering this morning. It is a great parable to remind us to seek and save the lost. It says in : Read

Pray

So, in this parable, wait a minute, I think I have lost something, got my Bible, Got my notes. Hold on (Run off stage, come back in with Gia), there she is, you know I knew there was something missing this morning. Thanks Gia for being so sweet and awesome. You see there is much rejoicing when we find the one we have lost, just as there is in the kingdom of heaven, here on Earth and in Heaven when one of the Lost comes to Know Christ. It is a great time of celebration and joy. I think the greatest days are the ones when people come to know Jesus, when we have baptism and when one more lost sheep comes home. That is what the parable of the lost sheep is all about, and we must not stand in the way, as some tried to do at the beginning of this parable in and 2, it reads:

Read

I. The complainers – vs 1 - 2

A. Those that think they know

1. Read the Scriptures

2. Followed the Law

3. Very upright, especially in public

B. Didn’t understand

1. Lost the vision of God

a.

b. God even in the OT wanted all people

2. All can come to Him

b.

3. Cared only for themselves

a. How they looked

b. That they were the spiritual leaders

c. They had it all together

C. Make sure that’s not me

1. Self-righteous

a. Thinking I got it figured out

b. I know what’s best

2. Forget the mission of Christ

a.

3. Remember that if God can save me

a. He can save anyone

b. If I can be forgiven/all can be forgiven

i.

c. Think about my kids

i. Worst thing they did

ii. Truly remorse

iii. Can’t help but forgive

iv. God love us infinitely more

II. The Lost Sheep – vs 3 - 4

A. People out there that need Christ

1. Hanging with the sinners

2. Knowing who needs Christ

3. Not taking part, but being a part

4. Search with tenacity

a. Until He finds it

B. Showing them the true light of the World

1. Showing them true love

a. We are willing to step out

b. Move away from comfort

i. Safe space in here

ii. Willing to bring that to you

2. Love comes through tenacity/patience

a. Jesus sought until He finds

b. Not just a quick look

i. Saint finding anything

c.

C. Remembering it not about what they are

1. Its about who they are gonna be

a.

b. God has a purpose built into all people

c. Must come to that vision

2. They have a great potential in the kingdom

a. Remember the mustard seed

b. There just hasn’t sprouted yet

3. See the potential in people

a. As Christ saw the potential in disciples

b. As Christ sees the potential in me

c.

III. The Rejoicing – vs 5 - 7

A. Longest part of the parable

1. Rejoicing is the most important part

2. It means the most

3. It is great to be in the kingdom

a. Greater still when another one comes to us

B. Rejoicing is both in heaven and earth

1. Reminds us of the Spiritual nature of life

a.

b. We become a masterpiece

c. There is a purpose for us

2. This isn’t the end

3. There is a whole other realm

4. Remember that

a. When people are baptized

b. When we get down

5. This is not our home, not our end

Conclusion:

Because Christ created each of us for eternity. This is meant to be our home, but not as it is now, but how it will be in the future and as it was in the beginning. No death, no dying, no hate, no remorse or tears. We are meant for perfection and if we find ourselves in Christ we are heading there. And so not that we are secure in what God has for us, then let us now bring others to Jesus. Let us fulfill our purpose in Him, by going after the lost sheep, the ones who still need to come to know Him. For the field and the harvest is ripe and ready for the Gospel of Jesus, lets go this week and find His lost sheep.