“God Values the Lost” Luke 15:1-32 Sunday, January 29, 2017 Introduction: I Have Some Bible Projects That I Need to Finis
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“God Values the Lost” Luke 15:1-32 Sunday, January 29, 2017 Introduction: I have some Bible projeCts that I need to finish for two reasons. One reason is that the projeCts will help me learn more about the Bible. The other reason is that I am running out of years. Let me explain. 1. One Bible projeCt I have finished was to write some notes on the opening page of eaCh Bible book some baCkground information about eaCh book. 2. A Bible projeCt I started in DeCember is to write some background for each of the 150 Psalms. There are thirty-four Psalms without any inscriptions, but there are one hundred and sixteen with insCriptions. 3. A Bible projeCt that I may never finish, but I might, is to title each Chapter in the Bible. There are 1189 chapters in the Bible. I may never finish this projeCt, but I may. An example of what I am talking about is our Scripture Chapter today—Luke chapter fifteen. Open your Bible please to Luke 15 and let me show you what I am talking about. Text: Luke 15 • In most Bibles, passages have headings that tell what the following verses are about. • What I want to do is have a simple title for each chapter. • The title I have written in my Bible for Luke 15 is “Lost and Found.” Here is what we know. God values the lost (Romans 5:8). The Bible says, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God not only values the lost, but He also rejoiCes when they are found (15:6,9,32). This is the lesson that Jesus taught in the three parables in Luke 15. 1. We value the lost by understanding that they are without spiritual understanding. • Sheep lack understanding. They do not have the Capacity to find their way home when the wander from the shepherd. • A dog, a Cat, a Cow, or a horse understands how to find their way home. Application: We must understand that a lost person has no spiritual understanding. They have no spiritual understanding beCause they do not have the Holy Spirit in them to show and teach them. Illustration: This is why a lost person can hear a gospel sermon or gospel music and not respond unless the Holy Spirit ConviCts them. 2. We value the lost by understanding that they do not know they are lost. • The Coin in the parable had no life. • A Coin is a Coin. It Cannot understand anything. • A lost Coin is just lost. It will remain lost until it is found. Application: We must understand that a lost person does not know they are lost. 3. We value the lost by understanding that at some point in their liFe they deliberately made a bad choice. • The prodigal son in the parable made a bad ChoiCe. • He Chose the way he wanted to go. Application: We must understand that a lost person has made a ChoiCe. He has chosen the way of the world rather than the way of God. Conclusion: If Jesus came to seek and save the lost, and He did, we should do the same. How can we do it? 1. We can do it by making an eFFort. • The shepherd made an effort to find the lost sheep. He left the 99 to find the one that was lost. • The woman who lost one Coin lit a lamp, swept the house, and searChed carefully until she found the lost coin. • She made an effort. Application: Our ChurCh must always make an effort to reaCh the lost. This is why Jon and I always tell how to be saved at the end of our sermons regardless of what we have preaChed. This is why we sing “People need the Lord.” This is why we have speCial programs. This is why we had Dr. Kendall. This is why tonight James Brown will be here to preaCh. This is why we have the Singing Christmas Tree. This is why we ask you to invite people to ChurCh. 2. We can do it by remaining redemptive. • The Prodigals Father remained redemptive. He had Compassion. • He did not give a leCture. • He remained redemptive. Application: Lost people do what they do because they a lost. Lost people act like lost people because they are lost. Saved people should act like saved people beCause they are saved. When a lost person is found and Comes to Jesus, we should welcome them with redemptive open arms rejoicing! Conclusion: This morning you Can make a good deCision by trusting Jesus to save you. If you are not sure of your salvation, you can make a good decision by settling your salvation. Your part is to simply make an effort by taking the first step and God will be with you to lead you in His way. .