1. Getting To Know God – Better! (Series) The Lost Sheep Luke 15:1-5

2. THE SETTING OF THE STORY “Now all the tax-gatherers and the sinners were coming near Him. And both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble saying, ‘ This man receives sinners and eats with them.’” (Luke 15:1,2)

3. Getting To Know God – Better! What Is God Like? What Is God Like? Who Does God Love? Who Does God Love? What Difference Does This Make – To Me? What Difference Does This Make – To Me?

4. God In A Box

5. “And He told them this story saying, ‘ What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety- nine… and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 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.” (15:3-6) II. THE STORY WITHIN THE STORY

6. SCENE I: THE WANDERING SHEEP

7. LOSTNESS THE CHARACTERISTICS OF LOSTNESS 1.Confusion 2.Isolation 3.Lonely 4.Vulnerable 5.Hurting 6.Helpless 7.Desperate

8. 1.Will I be missed? 2.Do I matter? 3.Does anyone care? 4.Is there any hope? 5.Can I ever be forgiven? HEART QUESTIONS OF THE HEART

9. SCENE II: THE SHEPHERD

11. SCENE III: THE SEARCH (A race against time)

12. The Question: WHO WILL GET THERE FIRST?

13. SCENE IV: THE FIND “And when He finds the sheep that was lost, He places it on His shoulders and goes home…” (Luke 15:5)

14. “But David said to Saul, “Your servant was tending his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I went out after him and attacked him, and rescued it from his mouth; and when he rose up against me, I seized him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted the armies of the living God.” (I Sam. 17:34-36)

15. “But the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me, in order that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the lion’s mouth.” (II Tim. 4:17)

16. III. THE REST OF THE STORY “Now all the tax-gatherers and sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. And both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:1,2)

17. Questions For Today What Is God Like? Who Does God Love? What Difference Does It Make – To Me?

18. Truth For Today #1 Everyone, at one time or another, is or has been lost! “All we, just like sheep, have gone astray…” (Isaiah 53:6)

19. Truth For Today #2 The only hope for a lost sheep lies in the willingness of the shepherd. “God is not willing that any should perish” (II Pet. 3:9)

20. Truth For Today #3 All of us have but a window of time to be saved. All of us have but a window of time to be saved. “Now is the best time, for today is the day of salvation.” (II Cor. 6:2)

21. Truth For Today #4 “No situation is ever too difficult for the shepherd and no life is ever too lost to be found.” “For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37

22. Truth For Today #5 Every lost sheep who has been found has a story to tell. “…Be ready always to tell your story…” (I Pet. 3:15)