One third of Jesus’ teachings were stories and parables

· Parable (παραβολή: Parabole) literally means to place something beside something else. It means to take something that’s known and place it next to the unknown. Jesus is saying, I am going to take something you know about and use it to teach you something new. A Harvard study showed that even if a speaker is organized, has clear facts, and great visuals, the most effective way to get people to obtain and remember information is through illustrations and story telling. Today’s parables reveal the heart of Jesus and His mission to reach the lost today.

V1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to hear Jesus but the Pharisees and teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them”

· Jesus’ ministry is increasing in popularity and everyone is drawn to Jesus, even the people on the outskirts of society. Now you have tax collectors and people who are living lives of sin coming to hear Jesus and it’s making the Pharisees angry and uncomfortable. The Pharisees are outraged that Jesus ate with sinners because if you ate dinner with someone it means that you were aligning yourself with that person.

If you want to reach the lost, you need to be willing to get your hands dirty

· When you look at Jesus you see that ministry isn’t done from a distance, you’ve got to be with the people that society rejects. The only difference between you and a notorious sinner is that is that you said yes to Jesus and they haven’t yet. Jesus was present with sinners but He was always set apart because He is holy. In the same way, when it comes to Crossroads, come as you are, but don’t stay as you are!

V3 Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the 99 in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? V5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home

· An adult sheep weighs about 100 pounds, but the shepherd doesn’t say, you walked out here, you’re walking back! This is a sheep that’s tired, wrecked, and has no strength left to walk home. The shepherd is so loving and gentle with his sheep, carries it on his shoulders and brings it home. Reference Romans 5:6

The shepherd isn’t mad, he’s so excited that it makes him want to throw a party to celebrate

· Context: Jesus was addressing the Pharisees who are judging him for reaching the lost. Jesus has a heart for the lost, but the Pharisees have a heart for the law. Pharisees had a common expression: “There will be joy in heaven over one sinner who is obliterated by God. Jesus responds and says, the real joy in heaven is that there are people who don’t deserve to be there, who have been lost and found.

Jesus continues in a second parable and says, “Suppose a woman has 10 silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?

· The coin is called a drachma and it’s worth a full day’s wage. In that culture a groom would give his bride a garland to wear around her head with these ten coins as a symbol of their marriage. This is the equivalent of saying, ladies, imagine you lose your wedding ring, it’s extremely sentimental.

The coin is an object, it’s not like the sheep, it doesn’t know that it’s lost, but it contains tremendous value to the owner.

· In the same way, the owner is Jesus, and He is searching high and low to seek and save the lost because you have tremendous value to Him. You are made in His image and His likeness, even if you are lost you are still His child. He took His time creating you, knitting you together in your mother’s womb, you are fearfully and wonderfully made. God has a plan and purpose for your life, you’re not here by accident, you are precious to God

Enjoy the 99, but don’t forget the 1 that’s lost. Enjoy the 9 coins you have, use them wisely, but don’t forget the 1 that got away

· Never lose sight of what’s important and the mission you have in front of you. I want to encourage you as you go out into the world this week to look for opportunities to reach the lost for Christ!

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Facility Maintenance / Updates: Sewage Pump Installation The church will be closed to all group activities on Monday, April 20th, and Tuesday, April 21st, of next week while the water supply is temporarily shut down for Phase 2 of our construction.