Summary: Here are some guidelines for how to seek and save the lost as Jesus taught in the three parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son.

How to Seek and Save the Lost (Luke 15:1-32)

Too many Christians fail to remember that it was said of Jesus, "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save those who are lost." (Luke 19:10) If we want to be like Jesus then we have to share the same purpose, passion and plan of the one who went all the way to Calvary for us.

Billy Sunday (Famous Evangelist): "You can’t hatch chicks under a dead hen."

Elmer Towns: "It takes 3. 3 exposures to the gospel before people become aware of their need for forgiveness."

"It takes, on average, 400 presentations of the gospel before the typical Muslim comes to faith in Jesus Christ."

Illustration: Don’t make people jump through your hoops before you share the message of salvation with them:

I’ll save your life -- if you support Man U

2 hours, 34 minutes ago

LONDON (Reuters) - A Manchester United fan donated cells so his brother could have a life-saving transplant -- on condition his sibling switched his support from arch rivals Manchester City.

Retired management consultant Martin Warburton, 50, asked his brother Paul, 59, to sign a light-hearted contract pledging to join the United fan club.

"We made a great joke of the contract, but he still agreed to sign," Martin Warburton told Friday’s Daily Telegraph newspaper. "I just hope now that it will save his life."

Paul, who had the transplant to fight lymphatic leukaemia, was philosophical over the switch between the fiercely competitive teams.

"I was really lucky that Martin’s cells matched," said Paul. "But he had to be a Reds’ supporter, didn’t he?"

Here are some guidelines for how to seek and save the lost as Jesus taught in the three parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son.

1. Note the DANGER of the lost sheep. Even though it may seem a bit foolish of the shepherd to leave the 99 sheep to search for just one, the shepherd knows that the one who is lost in terrible danger. Only when we realize that people live forever will we be willing to win the lsot at any cost.

Illustrative Song:

Throw out the life line across the dark wave;

There is a brother whom someone should save;

Somebody’s brother! O who then will dare

To throw out the life line, his peril to share?

Refrain

Throw out the life line! Throw out the life line!

Someone is drifting away;

Throw out the life line! Throw out the life line!

Someone is sinking today.

Throw out the life line with hand quick and strong:

Why do you tarry, why linger so long?

See! he is sinking; oh, hasten today

And out with the life boat! away, then away!

Refrain

Throw out the life line to danger fraught men,

Sinking in anguish where you’ve never been;

Winds of temptation and billows of woe

Will soon hurl them out where the dark waters flow.

Refrain

Soon will the season of rescue be o’er,

Soon will they drift to eternity’s shore;

Haste, then, my brother, no time for delay,

But throw out the life line and save them today.

Refrain

This is the life line, oh, tempest tossed men;

Baffled by waves of temptation and sin;

Wild winds of passion, your strength cannot brave,

But Jesus is mighty, and Jesus can save.

2. Note the VALUE of the lost sheep. Since the shepherd knew that the lost sheep was of great value he willing to search diligently. We tend to be diligent to only the tasks that we ascribe great value, worth and desirability. God’s love for individuals is so great that he seeks out each one and rejoices when one is found.

3. Note the PERSISTENCE of the searcher. The shepherd searches, seeks and surveys many places until he eventually locates the lost sheep. There are approximately 3600 unreached people groups in the world that are yet to have clear access to the gospel of Christ. Only through a Spirit led persistence will these people be given an opportunity to hear a convincing presentation of the gospel. We need greater tenacity if we are to finish the job of proclaiming the gospel to all the people groups of the world.

4. Note the LOVE. The shepherd sought after the lost sheep out of love. Jesus said, "He who has my commands and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And I will love him and will disclose myself to him." (John 14:21) Love is not always a warm feeling but a dogged determination to obey God in sharing the gospel with the lost even if it means going to the ends of the earth to do it.

5. Note the PURSUIT. The shepherd pursued the lost sheep and the woman used every light to look in every corner to find the lost coin. The woman swept every nook and cranny of her house until she finally locates the lost coin because she knows there is a reward for her pursuit. Many people give up pursuing the lost because they fail to realize how much it pleases the Lord when the lost are found. "He who wins souls is wise." Let us ask God to give more, pray more and do more as we puruse that which pleases the Lord in seeking first the expansion of His kingdom and righteousness in greater quantity and quality.

6. Note the DISTRESS. A Palestinian woman received ten silver coins as a wedding gift. In addition to their monetary value, the coins held sentimental value like that of a wedding ring and to lose one would cause a great deal of distress (mental and emotional suffering). Let us allow our hearts to broken and burdened for the millions who are dying and going to a Christless eternity in hell. Stop rationalizing away any lackadaisical attitudes you may have about evangelizing the lost.

7. Note the PATIENCE. The father was ready to receive back his soon with welcoming arms. We have to remember that even though we may search out the lost we also have to patiently wait and not force people to come to Jesus. Like the father, God patiently waits for people to come to their senses and repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. Do not grow anxious or force evangelism on people who are yet to respond to the Spirit’s promptings.

8. Note the PARTY. When the repentant son returned, the Father threw a great party to celebrate. Let us not begrudge people who are willing to let the Lord turn their life around. Let us be accepting, loving and forgiving, unlike the older son who grew bitter at the father for welcoming back the prodigal. Too many believers tend to look down at those who are new believers because they have so many hang-ups. Let us rejoice with those who rejoice. Let us get excited about evangelism, missions and outreach ministries instead of just passively looking at it as something for those who are gifted in evangelism.

9. Note the UNDERSTANDING. The sheep was lost because it foolishly wandered away. The coin was lost through no fault of its own and the son left of out selfishenss. Remember how understanding we need to be in seeking and saving the lost. Do not be critical, judgmental or resentful for those who are yet to come to Christ. God’s great love reaches out and finds sinners no matter why or how they got lost.

10. Note the HEART of God. Realize that the Lord longs to see people saved from hell, death, sin and judgment. The Lord’s heart burns with passion to see people saved. Do not think you can please the Lord if your heart does not beat with the same passions as His. "The Lord is not slack concerning His promises, but is long-suffering, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Pet 3:9) It is important that we focus on the word ALL. God wants to see every boy, girl, woman and man on the planet... all 6.2 billion saved. Every single individual is dear to our heavenly Father. Let us pray that God will give us a greater passion, burden and yearning to do all we can to please the Lord in all respects and bear fruit in every good work as we increase in our knowledge of God’s heart.

Illustration: “He who is al­most per­suad­ed is al­most saved, and to be al­most saved is to be en­tire­ly lost,” were the words with which the Rev. Mr. Brun­dage end­ed one of his ser­mons. P. P. Bliss, who was in the au­di­ence, was much im­pressed with the thought, and im­me­di­ate­ly set about the com­po­si­tion of what proved to be one of his most pop­u­lar songs.

One of the most im­press­ive oc­ca­sions on which this hymn was sung was in the Ag­ri­cul­tur­al Hall in Lon­don, in 1874, when Mr. Glad­stone was pre­sent. At the close of his ser­mon Mr. Moody asked the con­gre­ga­tion­ to bow their heads, while I sang “Al­most Per­suad­ed.” The still­ness of death pre­vailed through­out the au­di­ence of over fif­teen thou­sand, as souls were mak­ing their de­ci­sions for Christ.

Some might say do not all religions teach the truth?

Christianity’s claim to exclusivity is not for the religion but for Christ. It is a claim that Jesus is the only true Saviour.

On what evidence do Christians base this claim? Mainly on Jesus’ own words. Jesus claimed to be the only Saviour "I am the way and the truth an dt he life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). From His own words, both Jesus’ followers and his opponents recognized that He claimed to be God, the only one able to save us from sin and death (see also John 20:24-29; John 10:31-33). (Campus Crusade For Christ)

Sankey, p. 112

How to Evangelize online through email by Arthur Blessit

How to Witness on the Internet

I am excited and thrilled to share with you tips, sites and examples of how you can share Jesus with friends and strangers around the world via your computer and the web.

From your own home you can be a living powerful witness for Jesus and the Glory of God. Today you can be a worldwide witness and spread the love of God with others.

You can share the love of Jesus in most nations and go right into people’s homes and businesses and speak to people in a very personal way.

Jesus said “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every person”. The Internet is a new and free way of providing people with a way to share Jesus around the world.

Once it was true that only a few people traveled the world in evangelism and missions. Now it is possible for anyone with a computer and Internet hookup to share Jesus with others around the world 24 hours a day. Age, finances, gender and color, etc. are no longer limitations to worldwide witness. Today many people have best friends in other cities or nations that they have never personally met. The Internet is becoming what the town square once was, a place to meet and chat.

The need for street witnesses, personal witnessing everywhere, tract distribution, personal talking, radio and television ministry, church ministry and all types of sharing and helping others in a personal way has not changed and never will.

This new and modern way is now open via the Internet. Yet there are many forces seeking for the hearts and minds of people on the Internet. There is evil and there is good. Most of us get unsolicited e-mail every day offering all kinds of things. Almost all of it is ‘Spam’ mail sent out in mass mailings.

Your witness will be different.

Please note the following very important tips:

Always in the subject line give your first or last name and put in their name!! I usually put “to Owen from Arthur” as an example. When a person sees their name they know someone took the time to personally type it in and they will almost always read the e-mail.

When you send e-mail your return e-mail address will automatically go with the e-mail so do not think that you are anonymous. This is good as they can respond to you directly.

I will give a number of suggested e-mail ideas. You can change them to fit your own style or use them as they are. Select the one that is most comfortable for you to use or you may use a different one from time to time.

I give several links from my own website so that the person receiving the e-mail can find further information about how to know Jesus or grow in Him. You may add your own homepage or other good gospel links. However I suggest a short list and ones that are to the point.

You will visit many sites that have a “Guest Book” to sign. This is a great place to leave a witness. Make your comment personal. Just one line will do but say something like “Your dog is sure lovely, or your site is beautiful”. Then you can write your message and give a website or two. Not only the person that has the guest book will read it but all the viewers will also see your message. You can just “copy” and “paste” your message in taken from the suggested list below.