Pastoral Ministry

CHRIST FINDING HIS SHEEP THAT ARE LOST

Yes, we are to be a TEACHING CHURCH; yes, we are to be into DISCIPLING; and we are to be into REACHING THE LOST SHEEP OF CHRIST.

Luke 15: 1-10 and Matthew 18:10-14

HERE IS THE GOAL OF PRIORITIES THAT WE AS CHRISTIANS HAVE:

1. To REFLECT the grace of God back to Him in WORSHIP to His glory.
2. To APPLY the grace of God to each other for our EDIFICATION of faith and love to the glory of God
3. To ADVANCE the grace of God to those outside the faith in EVANGELISM for the in gathering of God's elect from every people, tribe, tongue, and nation to the glory of God.

Luke 15:1-15

Afghan given to Charity by Peggy Newman when her mother died

SERMON NOTES FROM MY MESSAGE ON SUNDAY NIGHT JULY 13, 2008

We are to be a TEACHING CHURCH, yes we are to be into DISCIPLING, and also we are to be into REACHING THE LOST SHEEP OF CHRIST.

THE "EASY TO TALK TO" JESUS: Luke 15:1-8

Note who came to hear Jesus teach. Publicans and sinners. "Then drew near unto Jesus." The people of low morals in society. And notorious sinners. The despised, and religiously fallen.

Note: Jesus never drove away a sinner, or the ignorant, or refused a seeker because he was not yet admitted into the church. Note: Jesus was not teaching in a church of the day, either.

OUTLINE:

1. Some of God's Sheep are LOST.
2. God wants His LOST sheep found.
3. Someone must go after God's LOST sheep.

Our Lord Jesus Christ while He was here on earth was continually in the pursuit of lost souls. He was seeking lost men and women. It was for this reason that He came to earth and lived among mankind, even among those who were most evidently lost, that He might find them.

THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP IN LUKE 15 AND MATTHEW 18

1. Luke 15:1 "What! Jesus attracting and eating with the publicans and sinners?"
2. Luke 15:2 "Why didn't the Pharisees want to sit and eat with the sinners?"
3. Luke 15:3 "Why did Jesus give the Parable?"
4. Luke 15:4-7 "The Parable of the Lost Sheep."
   

An explanation of why Jesus gave these parables to the Pharisees and scribes is called an argumentrum ad hominen, an argument to the men themselves. It was a defense of why He drew and ate with publicans and sinners. His rebuttal had two objectives to the men and

IT WAS A PARTICULARLY STRONG ARGUMENT:

1. In the men's case it was only one sheep that they would go after.
2. In Jesus' case it was something infinitely more precious than all the sheep, for it was the soul of man which He sought to save.
3. There was a point He was seeking to address to the Pharisees and scribes
4. Also the point had an unusual power for driving it home to every person.

PARABLE: A Parable is a human story that gives a Spiritual Truth

This parable is an argument which would directly affect the men in their own daily lives.

• "If you men would each one of you go after a lost sheep and follow it in its track until you found it, how much more would I go after the lost souls, and follow them in all their wanderings until I can rescue them?"

The going after the sheep is a part of the parable which Jesus our Lord meant them to observe. It is about how Christ brings a lost soul from sin to grace.