ONE FOCUS: "Lost and Found"

Here are the notes from the message at New Life Community Church for Sunday, September 1, 2013.  This is the fifth message in the series ONE FOCUS and is entitled "Lost and Found."  If you would like to listen to this message, you may do so by going to our website at www.newlifesite.com.  God bless!

One Focus, Part 5                                                                               Sunday, September 1, 2013

 “Lost and Found”

By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  John 13:35 (NASB)

¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”  Luke 19:10 (NLT)

Luke, the Gentile

Patrick McManus: 

Seven Steps:

1.      Commit

2.      Pray

3.      Love

4.      Equip

5.      Invite

6.      Share Christ

7.      Disciple Others

I have distilled this down to four:

1.     AWARE

2.     PRAYER

3.     CARE

4.     SHARE

¹ Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. ² But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”  ³ Then Jesus told them this parable:  Luke 15:1-3 (NIV)

Three Stories:

1.     The Lost Sheep.

2.     The Lost Coin

3.     The Prodigal Son

⁴ “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? ⁵ And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶ and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ ⁷ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.  Luke 15:4-7 (NIV)

⁸ “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹ And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ ¹⁰ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”  Luke 15:8-10 (NIV)

¹¹ Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.  ¹³ “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.  Luke 15:11-13 (NIV)

¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.  Luke 15:17-20 (NIV)

Three common threads run through these stories:

1.     Something VALUABLE that is LOST.

⁴ “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.  Luke 15:4 (NIV)

⁸ “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one.  Luke 15:8 (NIV)

²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.  Luke 15:24 (NIV)

Illustration:  Benji and his keys in Jamaica

          3 responses:         “No big deal”

                                      “freak out”

                                      “roll eyes”

Illustration:  Danna Walker and the passport

Illustration:  My iPad in Fayetteville

Principle:  We never need to forget what it means to be LOST.

2.     They made a DILIGENT SEARCH.

⁴ “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?    Luke 15:4 (NIV)

⁸ “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?  Luke 15:8 (NIV)

²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.  But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.  Luke 15:20 (NIV) 

Illustration:  Jerry Wallace and his Bible

Illustration:  Family on vacation that stops at McDonald’s
“Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions – on a sesame seed bun”

3.     There was a great CELEBRATION.

²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’  ²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.  Luke 15:21-24 (NIV)