 Scripture Reading: Luke 15:1-10 NASB95
Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. [2] Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” [3] So He told them this parable, saying, [4] “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? [5] When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. [6] And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ [7] I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. [8] “Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? [9] When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!’ [10] In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” How wonderful is it when a sinner comes to a place of repentance and puts their faith in Jesus? I think that too often, we who grew up in the church, may not fully appreciate the salvation of a lost person as much as we should. Perhaps our attitude should be more in line with heaven where "there is joy over one sinner who repents!" Why is this important? If the church does not place a high value on the salvation of a person, then the church will not make much of an effort to reach lost people. As it is with all people, "we" will not make the necessary investments with our time and resources if evangelism is not important to us. The church needs to be energized by our high calling of reaching the lost sheep! In light of eternity, there are very few things in this life as important as winning the heart of an unbeliever to Christ. This is a central purpose to our calling as Ambassadors for Christ. We represent Christ to a world shrouded in darkness. We proclaim the Gospel to people who need what only Jesus can give. As followers of Christ, we are salt, we are the light of the world, and we are the reason that some lost sheep will be found. Questions to Consider:
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 Scripture Reading: Matthew 9:35-38 NASB95
Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. [36] Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. [37] Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. [38] Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” Jesus' description of the harvest has been used to whip up fervor for foreign missionary work. No doubt, that is apropos to the subject of missions; however, one does not have to travel to a foreign land to bring in the harvest. For most of us, the harvest is waiting one step out the front door of our house or apartment. What has become apparent in recent years is the fact that we are living in a Post-Christian America, and many people have never heard the Gospel message. If in your next trip to town, you happen to "look" around at the people, you will find people who match Jesus' description. "Distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd." This is often the driving force behind drug use and suicide. People feel lost, isolated and unloved. All they really need to turn their lives around is a relationship with Jesus. This is where "we" come into the picture. As followers of Christ, we are called to be His ambassadors. We represent Jesus to the harvest of people who need to know Jesus. What we must do is to prepare strategies to connect these people to Jesus by proclaiming the Gospel. We must "go out" with this message to reach people who are not inclined to walk into a church building. In this Post-Christian America, it has never dawned on many of these lost people to walk into a church on a Sunday morning. So, we take the Gospel to them. Questions to Consider:
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