Lost In The Deep Woods

Lost in the deep woods (Luke 15:8-10)

Text: 15 The tax collectors and sinners all came to listen to Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to complain: “Look, this man welcomes sinners and even eats with them.”

3 Then Jesus told them this story: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep but loses one of them. Then he will leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the open field and go out and look for the lost sheep until he finds it. 5 And when he finds it, he happily puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. He calls to his friends and neighbors and says, ‘Be happy with me because I found my lost sheep.’ 7 In the same way, I tell you there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who changes his heart and life, than over ninety-nine good people who don’t need to change.

8 “Suppose a woman has ten silver coins, but loses one. She will light a lamp, sweep the house, and look carefully for the coin until she finds it. 9 And when she finds it, she will call her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Be happy with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’ 10 In the same way, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God when one sinner changes his heart and life.”

Intro: Hansel Gretel

1. The call of the woods

2. The bread crumbs

3. The birds

4. Lost in the woods

5. Ginger bread houses

6. The witch

7. Fattened up for the kill

It is easy to become lost in the woods when we take our eyes off Jesus

In these days of stress and strain it is easy to lose some of our Spiritual values. We reach the point where we are not living as close to God as we used to. Because we have not been as close to the fire of God, as we used to , we have grown lukewarm, we no longer glow and reflect the image of God like we once did

1. What are the Spiritual values we have lost

A. We have lost the feeling of God’s nearness

1. Remember when you were first saved

2. Thomas lost his feeling of nearness

B. We have lost the joy of Salvation

C. We have lost the sweetness of fellowship

1. with God

2. with other Christians

D. We have lost our feelings of right and wrong

1. things that used to bother us is now ok

E. we have lost the power of prayer

F. We have lost happiness in His Service

2.How did we lose these Spiritual values

A. They may be lost thru sin

1. as clouds block the face of the sun/sin blocks the face of God

B. they may be lost thru neglect

3. How can we find the spiritual values we lost once again?

A. We can find God’s nearness thru Trust and seeking Him

B. We can refind the joy of Salvation thru repentance

C. We renew our fellowship thru spending time

1. with God

2. Christian friends

D. We renew our sense of right and wrong thru reading God’s word

E. We renew the power of prayer on our knees

1. the feverant prayer of a righteous man avails much

a. Jon and the storm

b. fevered woman and hail storm

F. We rekindle the joy of service by getting back in God’s work force