Lost And Found #1 Series

Lost and found!

Segment #1

Please take a moment to place your vote. If you have an idea for an improvement, I am very teachable. My e-Mail is pastorbrian@greenrivernazarene.com

Opening remarks

I heard about a little six-year-old boy who restlessly struggled to listen to a rather lengthy sermon. After the service, the little boy asked the question that sooner or later most church kids ask. Dad he said what does the preacher do the rest of the week? The dad replied, “Son, he’s a very busy man! He takes care of church business, visits the sick, studies the bible, … and he has to take time to rest up. You see, preaching in public is not an easy job!” the little boy thought about that for a moment and said, “Well, listening isn’t so easy either!”

Isn’t that true? Out of the mouths of babes… sometimes those kids just tell it like it is!

Let’s see if we can overcome that for the next few moments as we explore God’s word together.

This will be the first of 3 messages entitled Lost and Found

God’s word reads as follows the Parable of the Lost Sheep

Lk 15:3 Then Jesus told them this parable:

Lk 15:4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? Lk 15:5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders Lk 15:6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ Lk 15:7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent

Also found in Luke 15, is the parable of the lost Coin

The Parable of the Lost Coin

Lk 15:8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?

Lk 15:9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’

Lk 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

n There are several common threads to these two parables, this morning I would like for us to notice that Something Valuable was lost!

o The sheep was valuable!

§ Young sheep were valuable for sacrifice!

· Clear back in Genesis 22:7 we see Isaac asking his father Abraham “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

o The sacrifice had to be totally Given! The lamb was killed, the fire consumed the burnt offering. It was the giving of something valuable to God.

o You see, if it is not valuable to you, it is not a true sacrifice!

§ 2Sa 24:24 In Second Samuel, King David affirms this when he said to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

§ Many times we are guilty of giving God our leftovers! We are to give to Him the very best that we have to offer! We are to give to him that which is valuable!

§ Young sheep were also valuable for food

· They were a constant food supply

o They were found where ever the Shepherd was. One of these could feed a couple of families if necessary!

· No refrigeration required!

o Isn’t that great! That is the wonderful thing about a living sacrifice, is that there is no refrigeration required. No more frozen chosen here!

· They even transport themselves

o I think of how many times I have traveled to the grocery store, and packed the food around the store in a kart. Then loaded up in the car, transported it home, and then from the trunk to the cup boards. I packed it in!

o Not so with sheep! As the shepherd moved, so the sheep moved with him.

§ Jesus who is the The Good shepherd tells us that Jn 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

§ Sheep were valuable for clothing

· The wool of a sheep, still remains to this day one of the warmest things that we can wear!

· Our society has made cotton the most popular fabric, but the funny thing is that when cotton gets wet, it looses it’s heat retaining ability

o Just ask any hunter why they wear wool out in the cold woods. It is because the sheep’s wool, helps to keep you warm even when it is wet!