The One

Big Idea

Jesus was known for welcoming sinners and eating with them (Luke 15:2). His focus was on the lost. In fact, Jesus was so dedicated to those who did not know the Father’s love that he left the crowds to find “the one” lost sheep.

Jesus continues to seek and save “the one”, those who do not know about their salvation through his sacrifice, but now he wants to use us to share this good news. When we partner with Jesus on this mission, we rediscover his love for us.

In this series, we’ll study four of the many parables Jesus uses in the Gospels to teach people about God’s love for them. Although we are all “the one” who is lost, we’ll learn how God uses us to spread the Gospel with those around us. In the end, you’ll be encouraged to take a next step in joining Jesus on his mission to find those who don’t know him.

Series Breakdown

August 8/9, 2020: Jesus Seeks “The One”

After the Pharisees accuse Jesus of associating with sinners, Jesus tells the Parable of the Lost Sheep. He uses this story about a shepherd who left his flock to find a stray sheep to explain the importance of every single person. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Every life is important to God, which is exactly why it’s important for Christians to share the Good News of Jesus with the world.
Sermon Text: Luke 15:1-10

August 15/16, 2020: We are “The One”

Jesus’ story about the Lost (or Prodigal) Son is one of his most famous parables. We see from the younger son how we can rebel and run away from God, getting lost in earthly desires. But this story describes another way we can be lost, too. Like the older brother, we can trust in our own performance and reject God. Jesus tells this story to show that he is looking seek and save both kinds of people. He loves both the rebellious prodigal and the self-righteous religious person.
Sermon Text: Luke 15:11-32

August 22/23, 2020: Whatever It Takes to Reach “The One”

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager is one of Jesus’ strangest stories. He tells a story about a corrupt manager, but yet he tells us we can learn something from this wicked man. He says that Christians should be just as zealous about reaching the lost as criminals are about their selfish gain. Jesus wants us to be completely committed to reaching “the one” lost person in our lives.
Sermon Text: Luke 16:1-9

August 29/30 2020: Using the Word to Reach “The One”

How can we partner with God and reach “the one” God has placed in our lives? We can-not trick people into the Kingdom or sell them on Jesus. He tells the story of The Rich Man and Poor Lazarus to show us that if a person will not listen to the Word of God, they will not listen to anything else we have to say. Jesus says that it is the Word of God that really leads people to believe in him.
Sermon Text: Luke 16:19-31