JOY IN HEAVEN
INTRO: LUKE 15:1-10
1: LOOK AT THE CROWD GATHERED AROUND JESUS
A) PUBLICANS AND SINNERS
B) THE SOCIAL OUTCAST
C) MOST EVEN DISOWNED BY THEIR OWN KINSMAN
POINT: THESE PEOPLE ARE THE EQUIVALENT OF WHAT WE CALL TODAY, THROWAWAYS OR LOST CAUSES THOSE WHO AREN’T WORHT OUR TIME.
2: THE RELIGIOUS FOLKS WERE THERE
A) PHARISEES AND SCRIBES
B) THEY HAD A PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS SELF PROCLAIMED TEACHER ( JESUS ) WAS SITTING AND EATING WITH THESE SHUNNED OR UNCLEAN PEOPLE
C) THIS IS STILL PRESENT IN THE CHURCHES CROSS OUR COUNTRY TODAY
POINT: A PERSON DOESN’T DRESS A CERTAIN WAY SO THEY ARE LOOKED DOWN UPON, THEY DON’T NECESSARILY HAVE THE NICER THINGS IN LIFE SO WE TREAT THEM DIFFERENT. HOW MANY CHURHCES ARE IN THIS AREA KNOCKING ON DOORS TRYING TO REACH JUST PLAIN OL COUNTRY FOLKS. NOT PEOPLE OF WEALTH OR OF POWER JUST PEOPLE IN NEED OF THE GOSPEL.
BODY: JOY IN HEAVEN
1: WHAT MAKES GOD SMILE?
A) NOAH IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE
B) GOD SAW THE EARTH AND MAN AND IT REPENTED HIM THAT HE HAD CREATED MAN
C) BUT NOAH FOUND GRACE
WHY?
POINT: NOAH WAS STILL LIVING A LIFE PLEASING TO GOD AND HE WAS STILL LISTENING TO AND FOR GOD TO GUIDE AND DIRECT HIM IN HIS LIFE. HE WAS WILLING TO DO WHATEVER GOD ASKED HIM TO DO.
2: OUR PURPOSE IS NO DIFFERENT TODAY
A) WILLINGNESS TO SERVE GOD
B) WHY?
C) WHEN WE SERVE GOD AND PUT TRUST IN HIM TO PROVIDE FOR US IN OUR SERVICE WE MOST TIMES ARE SURPRISED AT HOW GOD MAKES THINGS FALL INTO PLACE.
D) JESUS GIVES THE EXAMPLE IN LUKE 15
POINT: HE WAS DOING WHAT WAS PLEASING TO GOD, NOT WHAT WAS PLEASING TO THE PHARISEES. HE CAME TO THOSE WHO NEEDED REPENTANCE NOT THE ONES WHO FELT THEY WERE ALREADY RIGHTEOUS.
3: JUST ONE
A) ONE SINNER IN BEING SAVED
B) ONE PERSON WHO DECEIDES TO HAVE A TURN OF DIRECTION IN THEIR LIFE
C) JOY IS IN HEAVEN OVER ONE
QUESTION: HOW DO WE REACT OVER ONE LIFE THAT HAS BEEN CHANGED, ONE SOUL THAT HAS ETERNITY TO SPEND WITH JESUS? HOW DOES IT MAKE US FEEL?
CLOSING: SOME OF US NEED A WAKE UP!!!
1: WE HAVE BECOME DORMANT
A) WE DON’T SEEK OUT THE THROW AWAYS IN OUR COMMUNITY
B) WE AREN’T TRYING TO DO WHAT IS PLEASING TO GOD
C) WHEN WE SEE PEOPLE DOWN AND BUSTED BROKEN AND ABUSED WE JUST TURN THE OTHER WAY
D) WE’RE COLD AND DORMANT WITH NO COMPASSION
POINT: JESUS HAD A MISSION HE SET OUT ON IT AND NO ONE OR NO THING WAS GOING TO GET IN BETWEEN HIM AMD HIS MISSION.
2: OUR MISSION
A) THE GREAT COMMISSION
B) GO GET’EM
C) BRING THEM IN TEACH THEM
D) GIVE THEM AN IDENTITY
E) LOVE THEM AND CORRECT THEM
POINT: OUR MISSION SADLY NOW IS, WELL I HAVE THIS TO DO, OR I HAVE TO GO HERE, OR WELL I JUST DON’T FEEL, OR I JUST CAN’T RIGHT NOW.
MAKE GOD SMILE WHEN HE LOOKS DOWN ON YOUR LIFE.
IT STARTS BY LOOKING UP TO HIM!!!!!!!
