THE PURSUIT: GETTING OUTSIDE THE WALLS

THE PURSUIT: GETTING OUTSIDE COMFORTABLE CHRISTIANITY TO WELCOME THE LOST.

Luke 15:1–7 NASB95

Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He told them this parable, saying, “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? “When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. “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 which was lost!’ “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

GROUPS CAN BE FOR PROTECTION OR EXCLUSION.

WHAT WE LEARN ABOUT LOST PEOPLE IN THIS PARABLE:

LOST PEOPLE KNOW THEY ARE MISSING SOMETHING.

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE LOST PEOPLE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO BELONG TO GOD’S FLOCK.

WHAT THE PARABLE REVEALS ABOUT THE PHARISEES AND THE SCRIBES.

THEY WANTED TO LIMIT WHO COULD BELONG.

LEGALISM AND BAD THEOLOGY BLINDED THEM FROM SEEING GOD AT WORK.

THEY REVERSED THE PLAN OF CHRIST.

ONLY THOSE WHO ARE TRAINED ARE WELCOME.

ONLY THOSE WHO ARE MATURE WILL BE WANTED.

WHAT CHRIST REVEALED IN THIS PARABLE:

NO ONE ELSE NEED TO APPLY.

ALL ARE WANTED.

ALL ARE WANTED.

ALL WHO RESPOND TO JESUS WILL BE WELCOMED.

THOSE WHO COME WILL BE ACCEPTED.

WHEN THEY COME, THEY WILL BE TRAINED TO GROW.

ALL WHO LOVE JESUS WILL BE EXCITED FOR OTHERS TO JOIN.

THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST WILL SEEK TO INCLUDE ALL TYPES OF PEOPLE INTO HIS FLOCK.

Philippians 1:6 NASB95

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

JESUS WANTED THE PHARISEES AND SCRIBES TO CARE ABOUT ALL SHEEP.

JESUS WELCOMES LOST PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. HE WANTS TO SAVE SHEEP AND BRING THEM INTO SAFETY.

YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT USING WALLS TO EXCLUDE PEOPLE, LIKE THE PHARISEES AND SCRIBES DID.

WHAT WAYS DO WE HELP OTHERS EXPERIENCE WELCOME:

PLAY GAMES THAT INCLUDE MANY OR TEND TO EXCLUDE?

PLAY GAMES THAT ARE INCLUSIVE (NUKE EM VS VOLLEYBALL)

COUNTING OFF INSTEAD OF PICKING TEAMS. (EVER BEEN THE LAST PERSON PICKED AGAIN AND AGAIN?)

QUIPLASH RATHER THAN CHESS.

PROVIDING WHERE A PERSON HAS A NEED.

YOU SENSE SOMEONE HAS A FINANCIAL BURDEN. OFFER TO COVER THE COST.

CREATING PHYSICAL AND RELATIONAL SPACE FOR GUESTS IN LIFEGROUPS.

INVITING EVERYONE AND ANYONE YOU MEET TO CHURCH, FELLOWSHIPS, AND LIFEGROUPS.

PRAYING FOR PEOPLE BY NAME.