LUKE 15: 8-10 "REMEMBER THE ONE!"

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 15)

THE PARABLE OF THE LOST COIN

8 “Or what woman who has ten silver coins,, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the silver coin I lost!’ 10 I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”

BIG IDEA: WE MUST REACH THE ONE!

AGAIN, WHAT IS MISSION?

MISSION GIVES US FOCUS. MISSION KEEPS US MINDFUL OF WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT.

IT IS A CLEAR OBJECTIVE THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON FULFILLING…

(((TO MAKE DISCIPLES)))

MISSION ANSWERS THE QUESTION “Why are we here?" It is meant to serve as the backbone of why we do what we do and explain the specific calling God has on us as a church to fulfill.

HOW ARE YOU DOING IN ANSWERING THAT QUESTION?

LEMME BE CLEAR: MISSION GOES BEYOND OCCUPATION OR CAREER!

MISSIONS SPEAKS TO LIFE BEYOND POSSESSIONS!

MISSIONS SPEAKS TO OUR ETERNAL CALLING...

WE SEARCH FOR SIGNIFICANCE - FOR VALUE - FOR PURPOSE…AND ALL TOO OFTEN, WE MISS THAT ALL OF THOSE ELEMENTS ARE FULFILLED IN CHRIST!

VALUE...

THE WOMAN IN OUR TEXT UNDERSTOOD VALUE.

HER STORY IS USED, COMPARATIVELY AND PARABOLICALLY, TO TEACH US HOW VALUABLE SOULS ARE TO GOD!

8 “OR WHAT WOMAN WHO HAS TEN SILVER COINS, IF SHE LOSES ONE COIN, DOES NOT LIGHT A LAMP, SWEEP THE HOUSE, AND SEARCH CAREFULLY UNTIL SHE FINDS IT?...

OBSERVATIONS:

SHE KNEW SHE HAD LOST IT!

SHE KNEW WHERE SHE LOST IT!

SHE KNEW SHE HAD TO WORK TO FIND IT!

BELOVED, WE DON’T HAVE TO SEARCH HARD TO FIND THE LOST - THEY’RE EVERYWHERE!

OUR ISSUE THAT WE OFTEN MISS IS THEIR VALUE!

IF WE KNEW HOW VALUABLE JUST ONE SOUL IS TO THE LORD, IT WOULD SUPERNATURALLY MOTIVATE US TO (MORE INTENTIONALLY) SEEK AND SAVE THE LOST.

VALUE! VALUE!

WHEN THERE IS VALUE, THERE IS A WILLINGNESS TO PRESERVE - TO FIND - TO PROTECT THE VALUABLE...

OUR LACK OF EFFORT DEMONSTRATES OUR LACK OF VALUE ON FINDING LOST SOULS!

IF WE AREN’T CAREFULLY SEARCHING...

IF WE AREN’T INTENTIONALLY SEARCHING...

IF WE AREN’T COLLECTIVELY SEARCHING...

IT COMMUNICATES TO THE LORD THAT WE DO NOT VALUE WHAT HE VALUES...

OUR MISSION AS A CHURCH: IN FULFILLING THE GREAT COMMISSION, WE BELIEVE GOD HAS GIVEN US OUR SPECIFIC CALLING - God is at work at Greater Bethlehem Baptist Church. We are a people discovering Christ, growing in community, and sharing God's love in our daily lives. This is a beautiful cycle of change that never stops—drawing us closer to God, making us who God called us to be, and introducing others to God's abundant life and the purpose they were created for.

Our Mission (in short): To live the life we were created for: Discovering Christ, Growing in Community, and Sharing God's Love.

Tagline: Live the life you were created for.

THE MISSION IS NOT ABOUT US!

IF WE SPEND OUR TIME REJOICING WITH EACH OTHER OVER THE FACT THAT WE’VE BEEN FOUND, WE’RE MISSING OUR MISSION!

HERE ARE OUR PRACTICAL ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK:

HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH A STRANGER. (NOT A SPIRITUAL CONVERSATION. JUST A CONVERSATION).

HAND AN INVITE CARD TO A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND OR NEIGHBOR. (JUST HAND IT TO THEM).

SHARE YOUR STORY WITH SOMEONE YOU KNOW WELL, BUT HAVE NEVER HAD A SPIRITUAL CONVERSATION WITH. (SINCE IT’S SOMEONE YOU KNOW WELL, THIS EXERCISE WON’T BE AS THREATENING).

GO SOMEWHERE YOU’VE NEVER BEEN. (A DIFFERENT MALL. A DIFFERENT RESTAURANT. A DIFFERENT CAR WASH OR DRY CLEANER. JUST GO. NO BIG DEAL. JUST CREATING A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT).

CREATE A LIST OF FOLKS YOU KNOW ARE LOST, AND BEGIN TO PRAY OVER EACH NAME DAILY! (WHEN GOD PUTS THEM IN THEM IN YOUR PATH, DO WHAT IT DO: INVITE, ENGAGE, SHARE, PRAY FOR)!

THE WOMAN IN OUR PASSAGE CAREFULLY SEARCHED TO FIND HER LOST COIN - SHE WORKED FOR IT! WE MUST WORK FOR IT. IT WON’T BE EASY…AND THE RESULTS ARE WORTH REJOICING OVER!

WE NEED TO REDISCOVER THE JOY OF HELPING LOST SOULS MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE LORD!!! THIS IS HOW WE REMEMBER THE ONE!