CHRISTIAN REVIVAL CENTRE
03 FEBRUARY 2017
TOPIC: REACHING THE LOST
LESSON 2: 3 THINGS NEEDED FOR REACHING THE LOST
2. THE SECOND THING NEEDED FOR REACHING THE LOST IS EFFORT.
Read Luke 15:3-5
In these two parables, Jesus emphasizes the effort that went into finding the lost. In the parable of the lost sheep, Jesus said that the shepherd would "leave the ninety-nine sheep in the open country and go after the lost sheep. . ." In the parable of the lost coin, the woman lights a lamp, sweeps the whole house, and searches carefully for the lost coin according to verse 8.
In both cases the thing that was lost had to be sought after with great effort. The shepherd did not wait for the lost sheep to wander home and the woman did not wait for the lost coin to turn up. In our Christian lives and in the church it sometimes seems that we do the opposite. We tend to wait for the lost to come to us. We’re passive rather than active. We’re waiting for people to come to Christ instead of putting effort into bringing them to Christ! I want people to be saved but haven’t went out searching for the lost with great effort. This has to change if we’re to reach the lost like Jesus did.
2. The second thing needed for reaching the lost is effort.
How do we practically practice this principle? What do you and I need to do in order to be following Jesus instructions about giving effort to reaching the lost? There are several things we can do.
First, a significant part of our prayers should be for the lost.
Second, making every effort means that a significant part of the ministries of New Life in Christ should be directed towards reaching the lost. I know that we must also be careful to dedicate a significant part of the ministries toward discipling those who are already Christians. Nevertheless, this is no excuse for not seeking the lost as Jesus instructed us to do.
Third, making every effort to reach the lost means we must be willing to make outreach a significant part of our personal and church spending. These are all practical things we can do to apply this principle that Jesus has shared on reaching the lost. While it is important that the church corporately make every effort to reach the lost, the most important thing you and I need to do in reaching the lost is to do our best to share Jesus with all those we come into contact with.
So far I’ve shared two things necessary to reach the lost like Jesus did.
1. The first thing needed for reaching the lost is compassion.
2. The second thing needed for reaching the lost is effort.
There is also a third thing necessary for reaching the lost found in these parables.
NOTES