Luke 15:1-7 – “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh

home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”

Mark 2:17 – “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance”

Luke 19:10 – “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

I. The Shepherd’s Compassion – v.4 A. For a lost sheep - It means to be lost, ruined, or destroyed • God knows you are lost because of the sin of Adam • God knows you are a sinner because you choose to be one • God knows where you are living and where you are headed • God knows that Hell is the end of the road every lost soul

I. The Shepherd’s Compassion – v.4 A. For a lost sheep Isaiah 53:6 – “All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

I. The Shepherd’s Compassion – v.4 A. For a lost sheep Romans 5:8 – “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

I. The Shepherd’s Compassion – v.4 A. For a lost sheep B. For a loved sheep - The shepherd cared about that one little lost sheep John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son”

I. The Shepherd’s Compassion – v.4 A. For a lost sheep B. For a loved sheep C. For the lone sheep ₋ Jesus Christ came into this world, because every lost soul is precious Hebrews 2:9 – “That He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”

I. The Shepherd’s Compassion – v.4 A. For a lost sheep B. For a loved sheep C. For the lone sheep ₋ Jesus Christ came into this world, because every lost soul is precious II Peter 3:9 – “Not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

II. The Shepherd’s Commitment – v.5 A. It was a sacrificial commitment ₋ For the shepherd the search was dangerous and death was a possibility ₋ For the Lord Jesus, death was a certainty John 10:18 – “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it down.”

II. The Shepherd’s Commitment – v.5 A. It was a sacrificial commitment ₋ For the shepherd the search was dangerous and death was a possibility ₋ For the Lord Jesus, death was a certainty John 15:13 – “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

II. The Shepherd’s Commitment – v.5 A. It was a sacrificial commitment B. It was a successful commitment - The shepherd did not stop until the mission was complete / Sheep found - Jesus did not stop on His quest / “It is finished”

III. The Shepherd’s Conquest – vs.6-7 A. It involves rescue - Jesus rescues us from the danger of our sins 1. Penalty of sin 2. Power of sin 3. Presence of sin

III. The Shepherd’s Conquest – vs.6-7 A. It involves rescue B. It involves rest ₋ The sheep has wandered off, but getting home is the responsibility of the shepherd John 10:27,28 – “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

III. The Shepherd’s Conquest – vs.6-7 A. It involves rescue B. It involves rest C. It involves rejoicing ₋ Jesus makes it clear that Heaven gets excited about one lost soul Luke 1:7 – “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety nine just persons, which need no repentance.”