Sermon: The One That Is Lost

Part One: Matthew 18: 11-13

For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.  How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?  And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

We are God’s children.

He loves each of us, and is truly saddened for the one that leaves and is lost.  Think of it this way – if a family member or friend leaves and you don’t know where they are, you would be worried.

In this story the shepherd has 100 sheep.  He knows where 99 are, but one is lost.  He leaves the 99 because he not only knows where they are, he has made provisions for them.  Before he leaves, he feeds them and puts protection in place so no harm will come to them.

God sent his only begotten son, Jesus, to save us.

This is what God does for us.  God sent his son, Jesus Christ, who came into this world to die for our sins and then on the third day rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven to the Father.

But before this, Jesus went about preaching and teaching the Gospel.  This is how he was preparing his flock.  For the ones who accepted him as their Lord and Saviour, they went into the flock of God’s Hand.

Now for those who knew not of Christ, they were lost and had to be found.  Jesus and his disciples had to go out into the wilderness and find the lost ones.

Read all of Matthew Chapter 18

Please return next week for Part Two of the Sermon, The One That Is Lost