3 Lessons From The Land Of The Lost

3 Lessons from the Land of the Lost

Luke 15:4-10

May 21, 2006 FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor

Introduction:

A One difference between Christianity and other world religions. Christianity teaches us that we are lost persons and can not find God by ourselves (e.g. the parables of the lost sheep and lost coin).

1 So God’s Son, Jesus Christ came to find us out.

a In other world religions, on the other hand, a person tries to find God as if God is lost, hidden or unreachable.

b In our faith, God finds us.

2 "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? 5 "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 which was lost!’ 7 "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. 8 "Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 "When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ’Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!’ 10 "In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:4-10 (NASB)

B Jesus told about losing, searching, and rejoicing for the lost. (ETS)

1 Believers are to be looking for the lost. (ESS)

2 I hope you’ll be motivated to reach out to the lost people in your life. (Objective)

3 Who do you need to be reaching out to?

C Let’s look at two of the three lessons from the land of the lost. (T.S.)

D Pray

I God is seeking those who have wandered off. (V.4-7)

A The parable of the shepherd looking for the lost sheep told both sides of a story.

1 The sheep was so stupid he didn’t know he had wandered off.

a Kept head down, gap in the fence, goes through it & away it goes, wandering, until it is lost upon the mountains & it doesn’t know its way back.

b How many people do you know that don’t even know they’re lost? (Not given any real thought to God or eternity)

2 The shepherd went searching for the lost sheep.

a The shepherd left 99, what about those other 99?

aa He left them with neighbors or possibly other shepherds, but they were safe.

bb Perhaps he was the only guy there & he left the 99 unattended; one was worth the risk.

(IL.) Ridge was not in his bed, not in Lake’s room. I didn’t stop until I found him. I didn’t say, "Oh, I’ve still got another boy."

b Losing a sheep was a serious deal

aa Reputation & restitution

bb The shepherd rejoiced when the sheep was found! (Embraced, not chastised)

3 The lost sheep we know have already been paid for by the blood of Christ.

a God is commanding us to look for people who are oblivious to the Gospel.

b "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.

B Have you heard the story of Shrek, the merino sheep that had evaded capture and shearing for 6 years?

1 When he was finally discovered in his high mountain cave of New Zealand by musterer Ann Scanlan, he was almost unrecognizable as a sheep.

a The first thing his rescuer did was pin back his wool so he could see to walk.

b There was such an interest in Shrek’s return that the owner kept him in a pen for weeks so reporters and television stations could broadcast the amazing return of the lost sheep.

c And then, on live television, world champion shearer Peter Casserly shaved off 6 years of matted wool. As the shearer worked, he laid Shrek on his side with a foot of wool as his bed.

2 How much is Shrek’s story like our story, for "we all like sheep have gone astray." But Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross removes all of our sin and guilt that makes us unrecognizable as children of God.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3665735.stm

II God is seeking those who are lost due to the carelessness of others. "Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 "When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ’Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!’ 10 "In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."