
New to Oasis? Please take 30 seconds to fill out a connect card so we can help you get plugged in and answer any questions you have!
Message Notes:
Part 1: The Lost Sheep
Parables of Jesus
Intro Summer Series: Parables of Jesus
What is a parable?
- DEF. = An fictional story anyone can understand, which teaches a deeper truth about how God’s kingdom works.
Parables were designed to do 2 things: They illuminated a truth, or they hid a truth
God
MAIN IDEA:
Jesus teaches us we are all lost without the Father.
But we are valuable to God and He will do whatever it takes to find us.
Let’s look at the Context/Background of these stories:
(1) Jesus had just eaten with the Pharisees and immediately started associating with the tax collectors and “sinners”
(2) These parables were spoken in response to the accusation “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
(3) The Pharisees divided men into two classes: the unclean and the righteous, and they would have nothing to do with the “unclean.” The rabbis were so serious about not associating with the ungodly. They even refused to teach them the word of God.
*The Lost Sheep *
Luke 15:4-7 - 4”Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7I 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. NIV
Lessons we can learn from the Lost Sheep:
Lesson 1: It is important for the sheep to stay close to the shepherd and the flock, or else they are prone to get lost.
“No creature strays more easily than a sheep; none is more heedless; and none so incapable of finding its way back to the flock, when once gone astray: it will bleat for the flock, and still run on in an opposite direction to the place where the flock is: this I have often noticed.” (Clarke)
Lesson 2: God actively searches for you
Vs. 4b - Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
The rabbis believed that God would receive a sinner who came to Him the right way.
**Lesson 3: **He searches with love not anger.
Vs. 5-And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’
- The religious people of Jesus’ day had a saying: “There will be joy in heaven over one sinner who is obliterated before God.”
THINK ABOUT THIS FOR A MINUTE:
He not only finds us, but He also carries us until we have the means to be safe again.
Another example – The Lost Coin
*Luke 15: 8-10 - 8”Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” NIV *
Can’t you see…
We are valuable to God and He will do whatever it takes to find us
**1. Light a lamp= brings to our attention things we are doing.
Holy Spirit, Pastor, friend, spouse, Christian Relative, etc.
- Sweeps the house= does not let us sit comfortably in our hiding place.
Moves chairs, rugs, sweeps everything under couch out from behind.
**
**MAIN IDEA:
Jesus teaches us we are all lost without the Father.
But we are valuable to God and He will do whatever it takes to find us. **
IN CLOSING:
Maybe you are here and you have already found Jesus, but you need to give more attention to those who are still lost.
Luke 19:10 - For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” NLT
**CHALLENGE QUESTIONS:
Are you prioritizing the things in YOUR life that are important to Christ?
Those who are lost.
**
If you prayed the prayer to start fresh with God today text “startagain” (one word) to 97000 so we can connect with you and help you take the next steps in this amazing decision.
My Notes:
Subscribe to the Oasis Church Podcast: {Click Here}
Oasis Church Online {Join Our Online Community}
Watch Past Messages {Click Here}