in-depth Sermon Breakdowns
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The Urgent Search: Stop Getting Distracted. Start the Rescue Mission.
When we make the rescue of the lost our priority, everything else fades in comparison, and we experience the true joy of heaven.
Sermon Summary
In Luke 15, Jesus shares three parables that reveal the heart of God for the lost: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Focusing on the parable of the lost sheep, we see a picture of urgent, relentless pursuit—a shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to search for the one that has wandered away. This is not a casual search, but a desperate, determined mission because the longer the sheep is lost, the greater the danger it faces. In the same way, God’s heart aches for those who are far from Him, whether they are outside the church or lost within its walls.
Redemption is not just a theological concept; it is the recovery of what was lost, the restoration of broken lives, families, and relationships. The story of Lou Johnson, who was reunited with his lost World Series ring after decades, illustrates the deep joy and sense of rebirth that comes with redemption. Yet, the value of a human soul far surpasses any earthly treasure. Jesus paid the ultimate price for each of us, not because of our worth in the world’s eyes, but because of His infinite love.
It is easy to become complacent or even pharisaical, forgetting the urgency of the search for the lost. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were offended that He welcomed sinners, but Jesus’ compassion compelled Him to seek out those who were broken and far from God. We must guard our hearts against indifference and remember that the church is not a social club, but a rescue mission. The call is to align our hearts with God’s, to love what He loves, and to join Him in the urgent search for lost souls.
Being lost is not always obvious; sometimes it happens gradually, distracted by the world or even by good things that pull us away from our first love. Whether someone is lost outside the flock or within the house, the Shepherd’s heart is to seek, to find, and to rejoice over every soul that is restored. Our response must be, “Here I am, send me.” When we make the rescue of the lost our priority, everything else fades in comparison, and we experience the true joy of heaven.
“When we make the rescue of the lost our priority, everything else fades in comparison, and we experience the true joy of heaven.”
Watch/Listen
Message Study Guide
Youtube chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:20] - The Story of Lou Johnson: A Picture of Redemption
[02:33] - The Need for Redemption in Our Generation
[03:41] - A Wave of Revival and the Call to Readiness
[04:30] - Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing
[05:23] - The Heart of Christ for the Lost
[06:22] - The Joy of Finding the Lost Sheep
[07:23] - The Good News and the Bad News
[08:55] - Why Sinners Were Drawn to Jesus
[10:29] - The Danger of Pharisaical Attitudes
[15:30] - Understanding Sheep and the Nature of Being Lost
[18:04] - The Subtlety of Drifting Away
[19:36] - Lost in the House: The Parable of the Lost Coin
[23:06] - Compassion: The Heart of the Shepherd
[26:34] - The Urgency of the Search
[29:19] - God’s Rescue Mission Through Us
[33:31] - The Joy of Redemption
[34:38] - The Infinite Value of a Soul
[37:41] - Responding to the Call: Here I Am
[39:49] - An Invitation to Be Found
[42:38] - Closing and Altar Call
Key Takeaways
Redemption Is the Recovery of the Lost, Not Just the Forgiveness of Sin Redemption is more than a transaction; it is the restoration of what was lost, the reclaiming of broken lives and relationships. Just as Lou Johnson’s joy was not in the ring itself, but in what it represented—a piece of himself restored—so God’s joy is in seeing His children brought back from separation. The heart of God is not satisfied until every lost soul is found and restored to fellowship. [02:33]
The Danger of Becoming Pharisaical Is Real for Every Believer It is possible to become so accustomed to the blessings of God and the routines of church life that we lose compassion for the lost. The Pharisees were offended by Jesus’ association with sinners, forgetting that they too were once in need of grace. We must continually examine our hearts, lest we become indifferent or judgmental, and remember that the good news is always good—especially for those who know they need it. [10:29]
Being Lost Can Happen Gradually and Even Within the Church Like sheep, we are easily distracted and can wander away from the Shepherd, sometimes without even realizing it. The parable of the lost coin reminds us that it is possible to be lost “in the house”—to be present in church, yet far from God’s purpose. The call is to return to our first love, to recognize when we have drifted, and to allow God to restore us. [19:36]
The Search for the Lost Is Urgent and Demands Our Full Attention The shepherd does not delay or make excuses; he leaves the ninety-nine and searches until the lost sheep is found. The longer a soul is lost, the greater the danger. We are called to share in this urgency, to prioritize the rescue mission above our own comfort or distractions, and to be willing to be used by God in seeking and saving the lost. [26:34]
Heaven’s Joy Is Found in the Redemption of One Lost Soul The true measure of a church’s success is not in its programs or presentations, but in the restoration of the lost. When one sinner repents, there is rejoicing in heaven that surpasses any earthly achievement. Our value is not in what we can offer, but in the price Jesus paid for us; and our greatest joy is found in joining the Shepherd’s mission to bring others home. [34:38]
Bible Reading
Luke 15:1-7 - Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them." 3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying: 4 "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 "And when he has found [it], he lays [it] on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 "And when he comes home, he calls together [his] friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' 7 "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
Isaiah 53:6 - All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Revelation 2:4-5 - "Nevertheless I have [this] against you, that you have left your first love. 5 "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent.
Observation Questions
In the parable of the lost sheep, what actions does the shepherd take when he realizes one sheep is missing? What does he do after finding it? [06:22]
According to the sermon, who were the people most drawn to Jesus’ message, and how did the religious leaders respond to this? [08:55]
What does Isaiah 53:6 say about the condition of all people, and how does this connect to the parable of the lost sheep?
In Revelation 2:4-5, what does Jesus say is the problem with the church, and what does he call them to do?
Interpretation Questions
Why do you think Jesus chose to compare people to sheep in this parable? What does this say about our spiritual condition and our need for a shepherd? [16:37]
The sermon mentions that being lost can happen gradually, even within the church. What are some ways people can become “lost in the house” without realizing it? [19:36]
The shepherd’s search is described as urgent and relentless. Why is urgency so important in seeking the lost, according to the sermon? [26:34]
The Pharisees were offended that Jesus welcomed sinners. What warning does this give to believers today about our attitudes toward those who are far from God? [10:29]
Application Questions
The sermon warns about becoming complacent or “pharisaical” in our faith. Have you ever found yourself losing compassion for people who are far from God? What led to that, and how can you guard your heart against it? [10:29]
The story of Lou Johnson’s lost and recovered ring was used as a picture of redemption. Is there something in your life that God has restored or redeemed? How did that change your perspective on God’s love? [02:33]
The parable of the lost coin shows that it’s possible to be “lost in the house.” Are there areas in your spiritual life where you feel you’ve drifted from your first love? What steps can you take to return? [19:36]
The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to search for the one. Is there someone in your life right now who is “lost” and needs to be pursued? What is one practical thing you can do this week to reach out to them? [26:34]
The sermon says, “The church is not a social club, but a rescue mission.” How can our small group or church better reflect this mission in our activities and relationships? [23:06]
The joy in heaven is over one sinner who repents. When was the last time you celebrated someone coming to faith or returning to God? How can you make this a bigger priority in your life? [34:38]
The call is to respond, “Here I am, send me.” What might it look like for you to say “yes” to God’s rescue mission this week? Is there a specific step of obedience or risk you feel God is asking you to take? [37:41]
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If you'll join me there, Luke chapter 15. For you Bible scholars, you will know that Luke chapter 15 is one of the pastor's favorite chapters because of the incredible depth and wealth of knowledge and revelation.
Luke chapter 15 contains three parables that Jesus told—three stories that are so central to the gospel, central to our understanding of who Christ is and His relationship to us, the lost.
It's the story of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. I want to take a moment to consider the story of the lost sheep for a few moments this morning.
A message I've titled, The Urgent Search.
I read about a man named Lou Johnson. Lou Johnson was a 1965 World Series hero for the Los Angeles Dodgers. And for 30 years, he was trying to recover the championship ring that he had lost.
In 1971, he had lost the ring due to a robbery. Some drug dealers came and took it from him. He also was involved with drug and alcohol abuse, and it had cost him everything that that magical season had provided to him, including his uniform, his glove, the bat that he used to hit the winning home run in that deciding game.
And when the president of the team learned that Johnson's World Series ring was about to be auctioned on the internet, he immediately paid the price tag of $3,457. He bought the ring before any bids had been posted.
And he did for this man, Lou Johnson, what former Dodger outfielder had been unable to do for himself.
At 66 years old, he had been drug-free for years by this time, part of the Dodger community relationship. The employee acquired the gold ring and put on a big celebration and began to weep when he offered it back to Lou Johnson. He said, "It felt like a piece of me had been reborn."
This is what redemption looks like.
Redemption is when we are able to recover what once was lost.
We are living now, church, in a time where redemption is desperately needed. Redemption in our families, redemption in marriages, redemption in our homes with relationships.
We are living in a time where our nation, for the last 50 to 60 years and plus, has been turning away from God consistently.
But I believe that God is on a search. I believe the Holy Spirit in our generation is seeking and saving that which is lost.
There is something happening in the supernatural realm and our church and our fellowship and each one of us as individual believers—we are either going to be part of that redemption or we're going to miss it.
I read that letter from Pastor Scott Lamb. I'm not sure if you heard that, but it had a profound impact on me when he said these words:
He said, "I believe, my brothers, that we are in the midst of the greatest move of God since the Jesus People movement when I got saved."
Pastor Scott Lamb said that.
And I believe that that's true. I believe there is a wave of revival coming our way.
But I want you to know that just because there's revival doesn't mean revival comes to the Potter's House in Virginia Beach.
God is looking for soil to plant the seeds of redemption in. And our hearts must be ready and willing to receive if we are going to see a redemption of lost souls in our generation.
We cannot be dissuaded. We cannot be distracted. We cannot be diverted.
Pastor Mitchell always used to say, "The main thing is to make sure that the main thing stays the main thing." And that's good advice.
He looked at what God was doing in our fellowship at that time before he passed away in 2020.
And his desire, as well as mine here this morning, is that we can remain on track. We can continue that the church of God will not be diverted from the will of God.
And if we're going to do that, church, then we have to have the heart of God.
We have to love what He loves and hate what He hates.
And my call this morning is to join in with Jesus in this urgent search for lost souls.
Let our minds be fixed on this task that is before us. And every church generation since the time of the apostles, this is our mandate—our mandate.
Let's look at the heart of Christ in this parable from Luke chapter 15, verses 1 through 7. Very familiar, but please pay attention closely this morning.
Jesus said, "All the tax collectors and sinners drew near to Him to hear Him."
That's what you call redemption.
Jesus found the ones that needed help and they drew to Him.
And the Pharisees and the scribes complained, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."
So He spoke this parable to them, saying:
"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness or the dangerous place and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
When he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.'
And I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."
*The Urgent Search.*
I want to pray for a moment.
Lord, we come by the precious blood of Jesus. I pray our hearts, God, would be turned, Lord, from selfish desires, Lord, from the ways of this world, and we would be reminded this morning of the desperate search that You are on, God.
That I pray that You would align our hearts with Yours, Lord, to be involved in this great commission—winning the lost, redeeming those that are in need of redemption.
God, playing our part in that process, that Your church would be on fire for You, Lord, not lost in the difficulties and dangers and diversions of this world.
I'm praying, God, that You would empower us by Your Holy Spirit today.
We give You glory in Jesus' name.
Because people say, Amen.
Let's look at this scripture very quickly this morning.
Verse 1 of our scripture says that all the tax collectors and sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.
Jesus was doing what He did—that is, preaching the good news of the kingdom of God.
That good news, as we spoke about in our Bible study on Thursday, that good news includes the bad news.
You cannot understand good news unless you know the bad news.
The bad news is that we're all sinners. We're all broken. We're all lost. We're all in need of a Savior. That includes you.
And without the bad news, we cannot understand why the good news is good.
And so Jesus preached repentance. He preached, "You must turn from sin to believe in the Lord God, in the kingdom of heaven which is at hand."
And as He preached that message, which included truth, but truth in love, there were many people that were drawn to His teachings.
And it's no wonder, it's no mystery why the people that were most drawn to the teachings of Jesus were the ones that the religious people didn't like.
They were the tax collectors.
Here we go.
Anybody here love the IRS?
So if we are not fans of the IRS today, tax collectors, guess what?
Tax collectors in that day were also pretty unpopular.
Also because they were collecting taxes for the Roman government. And as Jewish people, it was like they had betrayed the Jews among themselves.
And so these were seen as the bad people. The immoral people. The tax collectors. The sinners. The prostitutes. The thieves.
Those who are on the outs.
The liars, the cheaters, the drunks.
And when Jesus came on the scene preaching the good news, you know what? Good news sounded good to them.
Be careful this morning when you get so filled with the Spirit of God that the good news is no longer good to you.
Be careful that you've been to church so much that the preaching of God's good news is boring to you now.
I've heard that a thousand times.
"The good news? Let me hear a different sermon, Pastor."
If the good news is no longer good to you, you're in trouble.
Like the religious people in Jesus' time, the good news had become a burden to them.
It became something they didn't want to hear.
They didn't want to hear the message of Jesus.
They didn't like that the bad people were flocking to Him and hearing Him.
These people that the Pharisees were so upset about—the reason they came to Jesus is because they knew.
They knew that this message was being preached from a place of redemption.
They were not being scorned at.
He was not cutting them down.
He was actually, by preaching the truth to them, raising them up, giving them good news for their lives.
News of redemption.
It's not simple curiosity or seeking a blessing like the prosperity gospel.
News of redemption.
No, they came because they were truly blessed by Jesus' teaching.
Their lives were changed as a result.
The attitude that Jesus highlights by telling this parable—the attitude of the Pharisees—was nothing short of demonic.
Can we be real?
Who gets upset when people are saved?
The devil does.
Satan hates it when Jesus' good work is being done.
And so the attitude of the Pharisees and the scribes, verse 2, says, "This man is receiving sinners and even eats with them."
Ew, yucky.
How could He?
How could He give good news to people who don't deserve it?
That's everybody, by the way.
How could He be kind to people who have made terrible mistakes and sins in their lives?
How could such a great teacher even eat and spend time and relate to those people?
Now, let's just take a moment to recognize that just because Jesus related to these people doesn't mean that He joined in with their sin.
Let's be clear about that.
Jesus was perfectly in the world but not of the world.
And so even though He related to them, He did not enter into their sins.
He was able to relate to bring them in.
And the reason I say that is because some people get the idea, "Well, Pastor, if we're going to reach the prostitutes, we've got to go down to the red light district and spend time in some hotel."
Uh-uh. No, no.
We are in the world. We are not of the world.
We do not cast away restraints to reach the lost.
But what we must do is we cannot turn our hearts off toward even the worst of the worst.
When's the last time you reached out to someone who needed the power of God?
When's the last time you spent time with or even ate with someone you considered to be a sinner?
Because if we are not careful, church, we are not exempt from the danger of becoming Pharisees ourselves.
I am not exempt from the danger of being a Pharisee.
I am not exempt from being so blessed in my relationship with Christ that I don't want to spend time with the wicked, the lost, the broken, the thieves, the liars.
And it's very easy for us to fall into that Pharisaical attitude when we see God moving and we say, "Ew, I don't like that. Why would God save that person?"
The Pharisee prayed in Luke 18 verse 11.
He prayed to himself.
I love that line.
Jesus says that the Pharisee prayed to himself in Luke 18 verse 11.
He said, "God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this guy," the tax collector.
He goes on to say that that tax collector begins to beat his chest and say, "Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner."
And Jesus asked the question, "Which one of these men walks away justified, forgiven of his sins?"
The tax collector did.
And so this is the situation that Jesus is addressing—that the bad people are gathering to Him and becoming good people, and the so-called good people are looking at the bad people saying, "We don't like them."
This is the situation that Jesus uses this parable of the lost sheep.
And I want you to just drink deeply of it this morning because it's so helpful.
Verse 4 of our scripture He says, "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?"
Let's consider what it means for a moment to be lost—the sheep.
We have to understand a little bit about the society which Jesus was speaking to.
Everybody knew what it meant for a shepherd to have a sheep, to have a flock of sheep.
We don't understand that today because we don't see shepherds. We don't see sheep.
One of the greatest things you could ever do is when you travel to other countries, you could go out into the fields, and you can see literal shepherds with literal sheep.
This is one of the things we used to do when we lived in Bulgaria.
We'd drive outside of our town, just a 15, 20-minute drive, and it wouldn't be long until you're driving and up on the hill, you'd see a sheep. You'd see a group of sheep and a shepherd leading them around.
And it was like, wow, it's really a thing. Unbelievable.
And it has been a thing for thousands of years, but you just don't see it. You don't know it.
But when you understand about sheep, you have to understand that it's easy for sheep to get lost.
Sheep do not have good vision.
They're prey animals, which means their eyes are on the sides, which means they can't focus on individual things.
Sheep are more motivated by, you know, their bellies.
And so what can happen is as a shepherd is leading the flock, one little sheep, he's walking along following the little tail in front of him, and he sees a little piece of grass over here.
Ooh, that looks yummy.
And then he takes another step.
Ooh, that's yummy.
And by the time he gets to the third or the fourth piece of grass, the rest of the flock has moved on.
And he didn't notice.
And it's so easy for sheep to get lost because that's what sheep do.
Without the shepherd, you know what happens to a sheep without a shepherd?
What do you call a sheep without a shepherd?
Lunch. Exactly.
It's not long before a sheep is going to be destroyed by an enemy because a sheep on its own has no defense system.
It doesn't have sharp teeth.
It doesn't even have sharp claws.
It is just a walking sandwich for the next person, the next predator to come in and eat.
So it's dangerous for a sheep.
There's a certain kind of excitement in the world, isn't there?
So Jesus, He's making a comparison between us and sheep, and we are more like that sheep that is easily lost than we like to admit.
In the course of our lives, I want to tell you, it's easy for you to get lost too.
In the course of all the distractions, all of the diversions, all of the amusements, all of the entertainment that we are inundated with every day, I want to tell you, it's easy to get lost.
Might as well say amen.
It's easy for me to get lost because our hearts are attracted to so many things that are not good for us.
Our hearts are drawn to that which might destroy us.
And without the influence of Christ, without the protection of the flock around us, guess what you are?
You're lunch too.
You're lunch for the enemy.
He seeks to kill, to steal, and to destroy.
And I want to tell you, he's very good at it.
He's got a lot of experience.
And without a shepherd, without a flock, the world can become attractive and appealing.
Without a shepherd, without a flock, guess what?
YouTube can become quite appealing.
False teachings can be quite appealing.
If the sheep doesn't listen to the shepherd or is not attached with the flock, he can wander off on his own, thinking that he's going to be just fine.
But he's still a lost sheep.
And whether that lostness is lost.
So this first parable, I believe, is being taught to teach about those that are without Christ, those who are detached from His kingdom.
But Jesus also told another parable about the lost coin.
You keep reading that chapter, you'll discover a woman who loses a coin in her own house.
There is nothing more frustrating to me than losing something in my own house.
So frustrating.
Where are the keys to the car?
I don't know.
And you, you know, you spend the whole house, you spend time, you know, moving things around.
And for me, that's very frustrating because I should know where this thing is.
I hate that.
It's in my house.
I saw it in my house, but where is it?
The parable of the lost coin is, I believe, more referring to those of us who can get lost in the house of the Lord.
It's not that you've left the doors.
It's not that you've stopped coming.
It's not that you stopped believing in Jesus.
But we can get lost in the house too.
It's not that you—
Isaiah 53 verse 6: "All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way. The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."
And I tell you, we all need to be found.
Sometimes we get off on a tangent.
Sometimes it's worse than that.
Jesus rebuked the churches of Revelation because even knowing Christ and knowing His will, they still diverted from the plan.
They left their first love.
He said, "I know your works. You've done many great things. You're still doing good things, but your good things have separated you from Me. You're lost. Return to your first love."
Jesus said.
Is it possible that there's still some lost sheep in Virginia Beach?
Is it possible that you might be working next to some lost sheep?
Is it possible that in your family, people that you talk to on a regular basis, is it possible that they are lost sheep?
That having followed the desires of their heart, have been diverted from the plan of God for their life, and now they're separated from the plan of God, the flock, and separated from the shepherd.
It's easy for us sometimes as, you know, faithful people—you’re a faithful person—it can be easy to become like the Pharisee and say, "Well, they get what they deserve. Not my problem."
But that's not the heart of God because that's not the heart of the shepherd.
When Jesus saw the multitudes, remember, these are the same multitudes who in a short order are going to shout, "Crucify Him, crucify Him," and send Him to the cross.
Jesus was not unaware of that.
And yet when He saw the multitudes in Matthew 9:36, the Bible says He was moved with compassion for them because they were weary and scattered like sheep without a shepherd.
Can that still get in here?
You know, when we get saved, the Bible says that God fills us with His Spirit.
You cannot be saved without the Spirit of God.
Part of God's Spirit is a compassion for broken and busted and ugly and lost people.
Because that's who we are.
The church is not just a meeting place.
The church is a rescue mission.
We are supposed to be taking on the will of our Father.
Jesus looked at the multitudes and He saw them with compassion.
Look at them, how broken they are.
They need a shepherd.
In one other instance, Jesus looks out across Jerusalem and He prays, He says, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how I wanted to gather you like a mother hen would gather its chicks."
And what a beautiful, almost a motherly heart of Jesus, our Savior.
Jesus was not some softy, right?
I mean, He flipped over tables in the temple.
He had a muscular attitude when He needed it.
But in that moment...
Jesus was not some softy, right?
Jesus was not some softy, right?
Jesus was not some softy, right?
Jesus was not some softy, right?
Jesus feels the heart of compassion toward His people.
"Jerusalem, I wanted to gather you and take care of you and protect you and be a shelter for you, but all you did was run away from Me. All you did was try to hurt Me."
What I'm saying this morning is that it is incumbent, it is necessary for all of us to make room in our hearts for lost sheep.
You got room in there?
Yes.
We got to take care of our family.
We got to take care of our needs.
We have to take care of all of those things.
We must be responsible.
But we can't forget the lost.
Because here in this parable Jesus tells us about the shepherd.
He tells us what the shepherd's heart is.
Verse 4: "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them—watch—does not leave ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost until," say the word, "until he finds it."
This search is urgent.
Jesus is not putting it off.
You know why?
Because the longer the sheep is lost, the more dangerous the situation is.
If you've ever paid attention to a search and rescue operation, if a child, for example, is lost, nobody knows where the kid is, it's critical that that search begins now.
Okay, we're gonna wait a week and then we're gonna start looking?
No.
We're gonna look right now.
Even if it's three in the morning, we're gonna go through the forest with flashlights because the sooner we can find them, the better.
It's urgent.
It's not time for sleeping.
It's time for searching.
The shepherd is not putting it off.
He's not waiting until he's got all of his ducks in a row.
He's not waiting till he's financially sound.
In fact, he's putting the rest of the flock in greater danger, saying, "Guys, you got to keep it together because I need to go find the lost one."
The shepherd goes after the one that is in the greatest need.
What about us?
The search was urgent to this shepherd.
There was nothing more important.
Do we have that kind of heart and passion for the lost, for the broken, for the sinner?
He didn't seek with complacency or with slowness like there was plenty of time.
Jesus said in Luke 19:10, "The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Pharisees put it off.
Pharisees passed to the other side of the road when the man falls among thieves.
Uh, I'm sure somebody will take care of him.
The Bible uses the word "when he began to seek."
Did you catch it?
I hope you did because I made you repeat it.
In verse 4 it said, "He went after the one which is lost until he finds it."
In other words, he puts off his other priorities.
He continues to search until the sheep is found.
He does not give up.
He does not get diverted.
Oh, church, the American church has become diverted.
American Christianity has become diverted.
We become entertained.
We become hungry for all kinds of itching ears and teachings that make us feel better but ignore the lost.
I want to call this congregation: we cannot be diverted.
As I mentioned at the beginning, there is something happening in the supernatural realm.
I believe there is a wave of revival coming to our city, coming to our schools, coming to our high schools and our universities and our military bases.
There is a renewed hunger for the things of God.
And listen, God can save people however He wants to.
You've heard stories, places like Iran, where it is illegal to have a Bible, to openly speak about Jesus.
You have heard incredible stories of how Jesus reveals Himself through dreams and visions, and people find themselves repenting and speaking in the name of Jesus, even if they've never heard it before.
That's incredible.
God can do that if He wants to.
But I want to tell you, that's not the normal way that God brings His message to the lost.
Far greater and far more commonly, God has put the gospel message in the hands of people like us, people like you.
Now, many people hear a message like this and feel unprepared.
"Pastor, I don't think I have the words to speak.
I'm not sure.
Maybe I don't want to preach a false doctrine.
I don't," you know, and people feel intimidated about talking about Jesus.
Here's why you need the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit can put words into your mouth that make you sound a lot more awesome than you are.
As a preacher, I want to tell you, God has done this in my life over and over again.
You might think that I have wonderful words and powerful sermons, but I'm telling you, I'm just like you.
The Holy Spirit speaks, and He says things that I don't even know about.
And God can use your mouth the same.
Moses said, "Lord, I don't know what words to say."
God said, "You know who made that mouth of yours, Moses? That was Me. I did that. And if I made it, I know how to use it."
But you've got to open it.
Charles Spurgeon said, "If you have no desire to see others saved, you are not saved yourself."
I believe if the Spirit of God lives in you, then the heart of God is being stirred right now—the heart of the shepherd to find the lost sheep.
There's plenty of them.
And the problem with many churches is that we become so focused on myopic issues and self, you know, self-mutilation and arguments within, between one another, that we forget that there's a lost world around our every neighborhood.
Probably your neighbors, my neighbors need Jesus.
They're lost sheep.
Let's put our eyes back where they're supposed to be, brothers and sisters.
Let's close with the results.
Thank you for your patience.
Verse 5: "When the shepherd finds the lost sheep," says, "When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders rejoicing."
I remember so clearly being in Romania for a Bible conference.
Tay is already laughing too.
And Pastor John Dumas was preaching on this very topic, this very sermon, this very scripture.
And as an illustration for what it's like when the shepherd finds the sheep, you know what he did?
He asked another pastor in Romania to go to the local village and find a sheep.
And at this moment of his message, he instructed the pastor to come into the Bible conference carrying a sheep over his shoulders.
You know what the problem was?
When the pastor went to the local village and found that little sheep, he didn't give it a bath first.
And that little sheep was covered in urine and feces.
And in comes this pastor with a shirt and tie, and he's like—you can see it on his face—that this thing was filthy, nasty.
It had not had a bath, not been cleaned for ages.
And here he's like almost not wanting to touch it but carrying it on his shoulders.
And the moment it entered the room, the stench filled the hall.
Here's the thing about sheep.
They don't clean themselves.
I want to tell you, Pastor Christie, that day he was not overjoyed about that thing being on his shoulders.
But I want to tell you, the good shepherd cares about sheep who are filthy and dirty and in need of a good bath.
Hallelujah.
And for joy, joy.
Listen to what He said.
He lays it on His shoulders rejoicing.
He's so happy that He calls His neighbors.
Verse 6: He calls together His friends, His neighbors.
He says, "Rejoice with me, for I found my sheep which was lost."
Listen, if you want to buy a sheep today, can I just tell you?
A sheep is not that expensive.
You can get one for less than 100 bucks.
And it was also true back then.
It's like not that expensive.
It's not like He won a new car.
You know what I'm saying?
But a sheep has more than just monetary value.
See, when I look out across this audience this morning, I'm looking at sheep that have been redeemed.
And your physical body contains no more than $5 worth of chemical compounds.
But the value, the value in the eyes of God is infinite.
Think of what Jesus did to rescue lost sheep.
Whenever you question, "What's your worth to God?" I want you to think about Jesus.
I want you to think about the cross.
Think about the blood.
Think about the cross.
Think about the nails.
Think about the piercings, the insults.
Think about the crown of thorns.
And you realize the price that Jesus paid for a sheep.
He was willing to lay down His life for the sake of the sheep.
And when He finds that sheep, when there is redemption, there is great joy.
Oh, I want to tell you, the Bible does not say there is great joy after the church has a good committee meeting.
The Bible does not say there is great joy when we have a rocking song service.
The Bible says nothing about any joy about having a perfect presentation on the screen.
There is no joy about putting carpet on the floor or completing the church building.
There is no joy about all of the things we worry ourselves.
You know where the joy comes from?
One lost soul repents, turns to Jesus.
There is no joy in all the world than finding a lost soul, a lost sheep.
They rejoice because the labor of the shepherd was not in vain.
There's a personal level here.
Listen to what He said again in verse 6:
"Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep."
And He didn't say, "I found a sheep."
"I found my sheep."
He's personally connected to it.
No matter how dirty, filthy, unclean, depraved.
You know, I pray God give us drunks, drug addicts.
Give us people who failed their families.
Need redemption.
God give us people who don't believe in themselves but You still believe in them.
Isaiah 6 verse 8:
"I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who shall go for us?' Then He said, 'Here I am, send me.'"
Can I tell you that's all God needs from you this morning?
It's just a "Here I am."
What do you want me to do, Pastor?
I want you to pray, say, "Lord, here I am.
I need to be part of the rescue mission."
Because when we are focused on that, church, everything else becomes small and insignificant in comparison.
This is what keeps us on track.
This is how we keep the main thing the main thing.
We are in pursuit of lost souls.
We are winning souls.
We are making disciples.
We are not going to change.
Let's bow our heads and close our eyes.
Oh God.
God, help us.
Thank You.
Thank You that You've allowed us, Lord, to be part of this incredible rescue mission.
Lord, soften our hearts this morning.
Humble us.
Keep us in Your perfect hands, Lord, so that we can be used by Your Holy Spirit to seek out and to save some lost sheep.
Before we close this service, I want to speak to people who are here this morning.
You're seated in one of these comfy blue chairs.
But if you'd be honest for a moment, maybe you'd say, "Pastor, I'm not right with God.
I might be here, but in my heart, I'm lost.
The attractions of the world, the desires of my flesh, have caused me to be separated from the flock, separated from the shepherd.
And as I'm seated here today, I know that I'm not right with God.
I know that if I died, I would not be in His presence for eternity."
You are exactly in the right place this morning because there's good news for you.
The Bible says that while we were yet sinners, Christ came and died for the ungodly.
That is, you don't have to clean up your act first.
You don't have to get religious.
You don't have to purchase a Bible.
You don't have to act like a Christian first.
All He wants from you is a "Here I am, Lord.
I'm broken.
I'm lost.
And I need a new life in Christ."
You can recognize your sin and turn from it today and put your trust and your faith, your hope in Jesus Christ.
The Bible says that you can be born again, a new life in Christ.
That's what it means for the sheep to be found, to be added into the flock, to become part of God's family, the spirit of adoption.
And if you need that this morning, listen, there's an altar here where you can pray.
Say, "God, have mercy on me.
I'm lost.
I'm a sinner.
I'm broken.
And I need a new life with Christ."
If that's you, I want to pray with you.
Would you lift up a hand quickly?
Honest hearts and honest minds right now, we lift up a hand.
"Pastor, pray for me.
I've gotten off track.
I've lost my connection to the Savior."
If that's you, can I pray for you?
Is there anyone here?
Quickly, quickly lift up a hand.
I want to believe God with you.
Is there someone here believing God right now?
You need salvation.
Would you lift up a hand?
Amen.
There's those who may have gotten lost in the house.
The next parable is the parable of the woman who lost a coin in her own house.
And when she lost it, she began to sweep.
She began to clean.
She began to pick up furniture and look around and find that lost coin.
Listen, you have value.
No matter what your spiritual journey looks like this morning, maybe you're saved.
Thank God.
You're on your way to heaven.
But it's possible for us to get lost in the journey.
To get, to make decisions that remove us from God's perfect will and purpose for our lives.
And maybe you find yourself in a moment of separation.
And like David, like David who sinned with Bathsheba, oh, he prayed, "Lord, do not remove Your Holy Spirit from me."
And he indicated that because of the sin that he committed, that his heart had become separated from the God that he loved.
And that's possible for us this morning too.
Maybe you're saved, but you're away from God.
You're lost.
You're a prodigal.
You need to come back home.
I want to pray with you.
Is there someone here quickly to recognize that's the need of your heart?
Would you lift up a hand quickly?
Thank you.
Is there someone else believing God right now?
Thank you.
Someone else, God's speaking to you, the Spirit of God moving on your heart.
Would you respond with these honest hearts today?
Say, "Pastor, I need prayer.
I want to be in the perfect will and plan of God for my life."
Would you lift up a hand with these?
Would you lift up a hand?
Lost in the house.
Prodigal son, daughter, please don't leave this place without having a heart right with God.
I'm not afraid to turn from sin and trust in Christ.
Is that you?
Quickly.
Anyone else?
These honest hearts.
You lifted up a hand.
Would you lift up your eyes?
You're sincere, my man.
You're sincere.
I want to pray with both of you.
Would you come?
We're going to pray right here at this altar.
Thank God.
You can kneel down right here.
We're going to open up this altar for prayer.
God's going to speak to us.
God's going to help us.
Thank you.
Let me speak now to the congregation.
Oh, church, let us not become so callous in these wicked days that we live in, that we lose compassion for the lost and the broken.
I believe that God is putting somebody specific on the heart of God's people today, and you need to find a place at this altar to lift them up.
God, that You would restore the compassion.
God, let me love what You love and hate what You hate.
And if that's the prayer of your heart, I want to open up this altar for prayer.
You want to be part of God's incredible rescue mission?
Let's stand up to our feet.
We open this altar for prayer.
Would you come and begin to believe God with me?
Let's stand up to our feet.
Let's stand up to our feet.
Keep an eye on our Facebook Page for Daily Devotionals based on this message over the next five days.
Written with Love by Pastor Adam Dragoon
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