Return to 2006 Sermons Page



TITLE: 99 Sheep

TEXT: Luke 15:4-7 4“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

PROPOSITION: God has given us the task of finding lost sheep and bringing them back with rejoicing.

QUESTION: How?

KEY WORD: Questions

SCRIPTURE READING: Same

  1. Why isn’t 99 sheep enough? (4) “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?

  1. Some think – Good riddance, “Who needs him anyway?”

  2. Every human you meet – Has eternal soul – Will spend eternity somewhere

  3. Every soul has value, worth to God.

  1. Why leave them “in the wilderness”? (4)

  1. Something more important elsewhere.

  2. Firemen – cats from tree – not when house is burning

  3. What is more important than getting 99 sheep safely to fold?

  4. ANSWER: Finding one that has gone astray.

  1. Why is the shepherd happy? (5) And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

  1. He found the lost one.

  2. Was dead, lost, - Now alive, on his shoulders.

  3. He had done his job. Hired for this work.

  4. Psalm 126:6 He who goes forth and weeps, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with, bringing his sheaves with him.

  5. Sometimes we are busy with everything else

  6. 1 Kings 20:39-40 39Now as the king passed by, he cried out to the king and said, “Your servant went out into the midst of the battle; and there, a man came over and brought a man to me, and said, ‘Guard this man; if by any means he is missing, your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.’ 40While your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.”

  1. Why the party? (6) And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’

  1. Joy is contagious. You are happy – others will know.

  2. Genuine joy is shared.

  3. He has friends and neighbors – social beings

  4. Rejoice with those that rejoice” Rom. 12:15

  1. Has heaven rejoiced lately? (7) I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

  1. Three groups that need repentance –
    Those lost in sin – “alien sinners”
    Those who have wandered away.
    Those who do not care that others are lost.

  2. Heaven rejoices when one repents – turns away from sin

  3. Earth also rejoices – shepherd, penitent sinner, concerned Christians

 


Return to 2006 Sermons Page