“How to …” Sermon Outlines 2. How to Avoid Being L-O-S-T

How to Avoid Being L-O-S-T

“For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost” (Matt. 18:11).

I. L-ost Love

“Thou hast left thy first love” (Rev. 2:4).

A. In m4arriage—it is sad to hear the words, “I don’t love him [or her] anymore.” Where children are involved, it is still more difficult.

B. Churches sometimes lose their love. The members find fault, criticize, and complain. This always spells defeat if love is not restored.

C. The remedy for lost love is repentance, faith, and, perhaps, restitution (Rev. 2:5).

II. Lost O-pportunities

“Whosoever shall save his life shall lose it” (Mark 8:35).

A. Almost everyone has lost opportunities pertaining to finances, jobs, and health.

B. Many have lost opportunities to help others, to witness, to win souls to Christ.

C. Some opportunities are lost forever. Some may be recaptured. New opportunities must be seized and utilized.

III. Lost S-oul

“What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:37).

A. Loss of finances can be sad. Loss of health, even worse. To lose one’s soul is the most devastating loss of all.

B. There are two conditions of the soul that determines its destiny—to be saved or to be lost.

C. The power of choice is ours. Through God’s love all may be saved (John 3:16).

IV. Lost T-ime

“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved” (Jer. 8:20).

A. As long as time remains, love can be recaptured, opportunities retrieved, fortunes regained, health restored.

B. When time has run out, it is too late for the soul that is lost. How much time is left for you?

C. We are only sure of the now. Now is the accepted time. Now is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2).

3. How to Avoid Excuse-making

How to Avoid Being L-O-S-T

Matthew 18:11–14 KJV 1900

For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Matthew 18:11 KJV 1900

For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

Text

Matthew 18:11 KJV 1900

For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

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How to Avoid Being L-O-S-T

L-ost Love

Revelation 2:4 KJV 1900

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

A. In marriage—it is sad to hear the words, “I don’t love him [or her] anymore.” Where children are involved, it is still more difficult.

B. Churches sometimes lose their love. The members find fault, criticize, and complain. This always spells defeat if love is not restored.

C. The remedy for lost love is repentance, faith, and, perhaps, restitution.

Revelation 2:5 KJV 1900

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

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Lost O-pportunities

A neighbor knocked at the lazy man's door and told him of a position he could get by going after it. "Um," said the man, "it appears that considerable effort will be involved." "Oh, yes," said the neighbor, "you will pass many sleepless nights and toilsome days, but it is good pay, and a chance for advancement." "Um," said the man, "and who are you?" "I am called Opportunity." "Um! You call yourself Opportunity, but you look like Hard Work to me!" And he slammed the door!

Mark 8:35 KJV 1900

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

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A. Almost everyone has lost opportunities pertaining to finances, jobs, and health.

B. Many have lost opportunities to help others, to witness, to win souls to Christ.

C. Some opportunities are lost forever. Some may be recaptured.

New opportunities must be seized and utilized.

Lost S-oul

Marco Polo’s Father

Marco Polo is one of the most famed explorers of history. It seems he inherited the travel bug from his father. In 1260, when Marco polo was 6, his father and uncle traveled to Mongolia (part of modern day China). When they arrived there the Mongol emperor revealed an interest in Christianity. He asked the brothers to take a letter to the Pope requesting as many as 100 wise men to spread the Gospel among his subjects.

Three years later the brothers arrived home, and two years later set out on their return trek. Did they take the 100 wise men with them? No. Just two friars, for this was all the church felt they could spare. And even those two didn’t make it, turning back shortly into their journey.

What a tragedy! Imagine if the Kublai’s request had been fulfilled. Perhaps the whole history of China may have been changed.

Mark 8:37 KJV 1900

Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

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A. Loss of finances can be sad. Loss of health, even worse. To lose one’s soul is the most devastating loss of all.

B. There are two conditions of the soul that determines its destiny—to be saved or to be lost.

C. The power of choice is ours. Through God’s love all may be saved

John 3:16 KJV 1900

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

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Lost T-ime

Illustration: You’ve inherited over one-half million-in fact your inheritance averages out to be 573,450-no, not in dollars but in something more important, TIME. The average person lives approximately 573,450 hours. But, your hours are running out. I know because mine are too.

Jeremiah 8:20 KJV 1900

The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.

A. As long as time remains, love can be recaptured, opportunities retrieved, fortunes regained, health restored.

B. When time has run out, it is too late for the soul that is lost.

How much time is left for you?

C. We are only sure of the now. Now is the accepted time. Now is the day of salvation

2 Corinthians 6:2 KJV 1900

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

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Illustration: You’ve inherited over one-half million-in fact your inheritance averages out to be 573,450-no, not in dollars but in something more important, TIME. The average person lives approximately 573,450 hours. But, your hours are running out. I know because mine are too.

Why Be Lost?

When the Squalus crew realized they had taken their last dive and that they were lying helpless at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean 240 feet below the surface, they sent up smoke flares and a buoy. Would one of the sister ships find them, and if so could they be rescued? Their help must come from above, and in agonizing silence they waited.

Within an hour after that fatal dive the submarine Sculpin set out in search. In a few hours the red smudge was found, then the buoy. But 24 hours passed before actual rescue work could be started. A giant 10-ton diving bell dipped and rose again and again, each time taking several men alive from those awful depths, until all 33 men who were alive in the submarine had been rescued.

When that huge diving bell came for the Squalus crew not one sailor refused to be rescued, but all gladly accepted the way to safety. Will you not today accept God's way of salvation for you?

3. How to Avoid Excuse-making

Spray, R. E. (1984). “How to …” Sermon Outlines (pp. 8–9). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.