Parable of Lost Sheep

Text

Luke 15:1–7 ESV

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Intro

When we look at the Gospel of Luke we can determine that the main verse is -10 which says that the Son of Man

In this chapter 15 we see Jesus teaches 3 parables and all 3 are aimed to teach us the purpose of Jesus earthly mission - God's desire to save people spiritually so they can have an eternal relationship with him

In this scripture we can see 3 priorities of God that we can learn from

1 - We need to pursue those who are spiritually lost (vs 4)

Luke 15:4 ESV

4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?

Luke 15

People might be asking themselves why is it that every week, we in Duff Trace

Why is every week we are preaching the Gospel

It’s because God says in his Word that we must do this

We must follow the Master’s Example cause he did this

Now Jesus was a person who did things that the religious leader did not like. He associated himself with sinners. He will sit with them talk with them.

Now Jesus was a person who did things that the religious leader did not like. He associated himself with sinners. He will sit with them talk with them

It seems as though Jesus did not know his bible cause the Bible says not to be unequally yoked as some would say

How could you call yourself a man of God and be seen with sinners?

Jesus knew if you wanted to reach people you needed to go where they are.

Today even in churches today, we don't want people to see us with sinners cause - they are a bad influence, if I go around them I might be tempted to drink, I might lose my virginity if I go around them, I will lose my righteousness if I am around them so let me stay in my little bubble and not be contaminated by the people of this world.

One of the biggest teachings in the church today is about Holiness and righteousness etc but if it reaches to the point where I need to cut myself out from the rest of the world then something is wrong.

Love the prostitute, love the Jiggolo, love the drunkard, love the unsaved person

Love the person who doesn’t look like you, think like you, love like you, speak like you, pray like you, vote like you.

How do people in your environment view you? Do they see love?

If you have all the gifts but no love.....

It was love that motivated the shepherd to go after the sheep

“THE REASON why we don’t do more evangelism is that we’ve lost our concern for the lost. Most people are not concerned that they are lost. They’re like the little boy at Disneyland who was enjoying Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. He was enjoying the Ferris wheel and the roller coasters. He was having a marvelous time and in the midst of the crowd got separated from his parents. When he got separated from his parents, he didn’t know that he was lost because he was having so much fun on the rides.

Satan has so constructed this world order to give you enough distractions so that you don’t know you’ve gotten lost in your spiritual Disneyland. We’ve got a world full of people who don’t know that the fun in this world and all this world is offering them—the movies, the parties, the clubs, the social relationships, the money, and the job—is all a satanic camouflage to keep them from realizing that they have been separated from God. Mankind spends so much time having fun that they don’t know that they are lost.

However, the parents of this particular child were looking for him. They knew he was lost at Disneyland. They went to an officer and told security that they couldn’t find their child. The security man led the parents to the lost child, who didn’t even know he was lost[…]”

“THE REASON why we don’t do more evangelism is that we’ve lost our concern for the lost. Most people are not concerned that they are lost. They’re like the little boy at Disneyland who was enjoying ”

Excerpt From: Evans, Tony. “Tony Evans' Book of Illustrations: Stories, Quotes, and Anecdotes from More Than 30 Years of Preaching and Public Speaking.” iBooks.

Application

Excerpt From: Evans, Tony. “Tony Evans' Book of Illustrations: Stories, Quotes, and Anecdotes from More Than 30 Years of Preaching and Public Speaking.” iBooks.

My advice to you is to spend time with people whom you know have never accepted the Love of God.

Share your testimony. Share what God has done for you.

Share what God is doing for you right here on Tuesday Nights

Invite them on a Tuesday. Some may be more comfortable here than in a church.

2. Every Soul is important to God - Every Cent Counts

We have our favorites when it comes to people

We treat people differently

Sometimes we treat the rich better than the poor

We treat our friends better than those who are not our friends

Jesus does not discriminate

He loves us all the same

What he would do for me is the same he would do for you.

pollonais illustration

“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.” ~ #CSLewis

You are so valuable to God

Imagine if you have a $100 in your wallet but when you check is only $99 - we will say well small thing

Imagine if you have a $100 in your wallet but when you check is only $99 - we will say well small thing

Unless you really greedy or something you will spend whole day looking for that $1

The shepherd had 100 but 1 was missing.

He wasn't satisfied knowing that 1 was missing. 1 of his sheep went missing

How would you feel if one of your sons or daughter went missing.

You would call the police call Ian Alleyne, call everybody

A shepherd could never be satisfied when 1 sheep is lost.

God and all of heaven rejoices when even one sinner turns from his or her own way and accepts Christ forgiveness (7)

This is what brings rejoicing to God

He who win souls is wise

Jesus died so people could live.

What a contrast when we compare the love of God to the so-called love in our culture. Our culture loves you when you are young and beautiful, but God loves you when you are old and not so attractive. Our world loves you when you are a celebrity, but God loves you when you are unknown and a complete nobody. Our world loves the rich and the powerful, but God loves the poor and the weak. Our world loves the extraordinary, but God loves the ordinary—people like you and me. - greg laurie

Application

Today I basically want you to see that you are loved

No matter how far you may have strayed God loves you

You may be a drunkard

Murderer

Your soul is important to God

People will give up on People but God does not give up on his kids

3. No amount of sacrifice or suffering is too great in helping to bring spiritually lost people to God vs 4

To win souls is going to require sacrifice and suffering. Two words we do not like to hear.

You going to sacrifice time, comfort levels, suffer rejection many times.

When we come out here Tuesday after Tuesday it cost us a lot

Danny could be seeing about his child but instead he is here sharing the Gospel.

It doesn’t only start here but right through the week you have to work on preparing a sermon

There is a huge cost to winning people for Christ.

Many of the people you try to reach will reject your message

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing

It cost Jesus his life to save us.

Had he not sacrificed himself we would have still be lost in our sins

The paper boy doesn’t take it personally when people don’t like the news, and neither should we.

You might need to suffer in the sun

- 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

The cost will be high but the price will be worth it

Illustration

“A MAN was out with his wife and they got caught in a terrible hailstorm. This was a massive hailstorm. The hail was as large as baseballs. Under the deluge coming against them, the man realized that if he didn’t do something, his wife would be severely hurt. He quickly draped himself over his wife, covering her with his own body so that instead of the storm hitting his wife, it hit him.

The hailstones seemed to get bigger as the man bent over his wife, protecting her. The large balls came down harder onto the man. They hurt him badly. After a couple of minutes, his ears started bleeding along with some spots on his head. The man tried to lead his wife to safety, but the stones were coming out faster and harder. The pounding stones took their toll. Weakened by the onslaught, the man finally collapsed over his wife, only able to shield her from the danger.

“badly. After a couple of minutes, his ears started bleeding along with some spots on his head. The man tried to lead his wife to safety, but the stones were coming out faster and harder. The pounding stones took their toll. Weakened by the onslaught, the man finally collapsed over his wife, only able to shield her from the danger.

After the storm was over, the man was left with scars from where the balls had battered away at him. The remnants of sores, cuts, and abrasions would forever be reminders to him of the day he saved his wife.

This is a true story. On the local newscast, the man’s wife was asked how she felt about their experience. She said, “Every time I look at that scar, on his head, on his neck, and on his ear, I love him more. Every time I see the scar, I love him more, because he sacrificed himself, for me.”

When you and I get to heaven, Jesus will be the only person in eternity with scars. He will have holes in His hands, holes in His feet, and a hole in His side. He will be your eternal reminder[…]”

Excerpt From: Evans, Tony. “Tony Evans' Book of Illustrations: Stories, Quotes, and Anecdotes from More Than 30 Years of Preaching and Public Speaking.” iBooks.

Application

Take some time from your schedule this week and just share What God has done for you with someone.

Make a decision to sacrifice your life for him as he did for you. Give up your talent to help other people.

the fact that these are top priorities of God should make them top priorities of us as well

the fact that these are top priorities of God should make them top priorities of us as well

Therefore now that you know the priorities of God you need to

Therefore now that you know the priorities of God you need to

Conclusion

Talk about maybe Jesus being the good shepherd or something about salvation

Application

1. Ask God to give us a heart of compassion for the lost. It begins in our heart. Give us a burden. Without a burden we would never do anything

2. See sinners as lost souls who need a saviour and not as sinners. Remember once you were like them.

3. it is in the nature of a sheep to stray but it is the duty of the shepherd to save

4. Main Application is to invite someone next week to hear about the Love of God and what he has done for them.