One Lost LambOne Lost LambMatthew 18:10-14Matthew 18:10-14

T H E P A R A B L E S O F J E S U T H E P A R A B L E S O F J E S U SS

Matthew 18:1-6Matthew 18:1-6““Whoever receives one such child in Whoever receives one such child in

my name receives me,my name receives me,  but whoever but whoever causes one of these little ones who causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”the sea.”

Who Is the Greatest?Who Is the Greatest?6 We know that time and time again We know that time and time again

the disciples asked who is the the disciples asked who is the greatestgreatest– Reveals man’s obsession with statusReveals man’s obsession with status

6 Time and time again Jesus pointed Time and time again Jesus pointed them in the opposite directionthem in the opposite direction

6 Here Jesus uses a Here Jesus uses a childchild as an as an objectobject lessonlesson– The child represents what the kingdomThe child represents what the kingdom

should be, will beshould be, will be

The Value of the The Value of the ‘Little One’‘Little One’

6 The The humblehumble believer becomes a “ believer becomes a “littlelittle one”one”

6 Receiving a fellow disciple is akin to Receiving a fellow disciple is akin to receiving Jesus Himselfreceiving Jesus Himself– He gave up all status just as we mustHe gave up all status just as we must

6 There is great danger causing a little one—There is great danger causing a little one—a fellow disciple—to sina fellow disciple—to sin

6 Jesus uses a scenario of certain death Jesus uses a scenario of certain death as warningas warning– Wearing a millstone and cast into the seaWearing a millstone and cast into the sea

6 We cannot dismiss the value of any We cannot dismiss the value of any discipledisciple

Matthew 18:10-14Matthew 18:10-14““See that you do not despise one of See that you do not despise one of

these little ones. For I tell you that in these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in face of my Father who is in heaven.heaven.  What do you think? If a man What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?”the one that went astray?”

The Value of the Lost The Value of the Lost SheepSheep

6 Anyone who keeps livestock assumes Anyone who keeps livestock assumes a certain percentage will be losta certain percentage will be lost– Disease, injury, predatorsDisease, injury, predators

6 Our Shepherd does not assume Our Shepherd does not assume losseslosses

6 His sheep are His “little ones,” and His sheep are His “little ones,” and are of great valueare of great value– ““do not despise”do not despise”– ““their angels always see the face their angels always see the face

of my Father”of my Father”

Leaving the Ninety Leaving the Ninety and Nineand Nine

6 The Shepherd does a radical thingThe Shepherd does a radical thing6 With one sheep astray He leaves the With one sheep astray He leaves the

99 behind to rescue the one99 behind to rescue the one6 This This shepherdshepherd is not dealing with a is not dealing with a

mass of mass of namelessnameless sheep sheep6 Yes, they know His voiceYes, they know His voice6 But He also knows each and every But He also knows each and every

one of themone of them6 His relationship is personalHis relationship is personal

John 10:27John 10:27My sheep hear my voice, and I know My sheep hear my voice, and I know

them, them, and they follow me. and they follow me. 

Success & Joy!Success & Joy!6 ““If He finds it”: Success is not If He finds it”: Success is not

guaranteedguaranteed– Not from lack of desire on the part of the Not from lack of desire on the part of the

shepherdshepherd

6 The The rejoicingrejoicing from success is from success is greatgreat6 The joy of recovery even surpasses the The joy of recovery even surpasses the

joy joy for the 99 who never leftfor the 99 who never left

6 Why?Why?– Recognition of the eternal danger Recognition of the eternal danger

of the stray sheepof the stray sheep

How Do We Search?How Do We Search?6 Christians have walked through our Christians have walked through our

doors for decadesdoors for decades6 Many have left and not returnedMany have left and not returned6 God wants them backGod wants them back6 How can we aid in the search?How can we aid in the search?6 A mother wondered thatA mother wondered that– Godly family, but a child strayedGodly family, but a child strayed– She consistently sent him Bible verses She consistently sent him Bible verses

for yearsfor years

Caring For One Caring For One AnotherAnother

6 God’s little ones are highly valuedGod’s little ones are highly valued

6 We must take seriously God’s command We must take seriously God’s command that we not cause a little one to that we not cause a little one to stumblestumble– Have you thoughtlessly discouraged Have you thoughtlessly discouraged

someone?someone?

6 All of us know someone—too many All of us know someone—too many someones—who has strayed from Godsomeones—who has strayed from God– Who are you thinking of right now?Who are you thinking of right now?

Caring For One Caring For One AnotherAnother

6 This week let’s each of us reach out This week let’s each of us reach out to a little one who has left God’s flockto a little one who has left God’s flock– Perhaps they’ve been waiting for Perhaps they’ve been waiting for

someone –anyone—to show interestsomeone –anyone—to show interest

6 Imagine how our Imagine how our ShepherdShepherd would would rejoicerejoice to bring him back! to bring him back!

Isaiah 43:1-3Isaiah 43:1-3But now thus says the LORD,But now thus says the LORD,

he who created you, O Jacob,he who created you, O Jacob,he who formed you, O Israel:he who formed you, O Israel:“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;I have called you by name, you are mine.I have called you by name, you are mine.When you pass through the waters, When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;I will be with you;and through the rivers, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;they shall not overwhelm you;when you walk through fire when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,you shall not be burned,and the flame shall not consume you.”and the flame shall not consume you.”