2. Refocused

3. My heart was in my throat…

4. I didn't rejoice over: - My wife - My pets - My possessions I rejoiced over my son!

5. You have been rejoiced over

6. Brought to shore Ready to rescue more

7. Brought to shore Ready to rescue more And then something happened

8. - He's about me

9. - I need to get through this

10. - They deserve it or I feel sorry for them…

11. - Theology and knowledge Became the goal

12. "I'm focused on God (and me)" And I've forgotten Why Christ came And bled and died

13. But how can I love God And not share his heart?

14. God loves people Far from him And has made you his Minister and Ambassador (2 Cor. 5)

15. Fast food= 1 hour So Jesus hangs out at the watercooler

16. The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he”

17. Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?”

18. So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to him.

19. Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”

20. So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

21. Sharing the gospel With a Samaritan Woman

22. "I get fed by sharing the gospel..."

23. "I get fed by sharing the gospel..." - Creation - Fall - Redemption - Restoration

24. "I am fed. I am nourished. I am satisfied"

25. Your greatest needs are not met by Seeking to have your needs met But by investing yourself in God-given opportunities As God leads

26. The basis of our healing Is not found in Receiving But in Giving

27. Jesus just gave us a Perfect Picture of that

28. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.

29. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together"

30. Jesus connects Being Fed and Rejoicing To reaching people With the message of the gospel

31. Not everyone understands…

32. Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

33. "We've given our lives to Serving God And they've never even cared!" (Until now…)

34. So he told them this parable: Lost Sheep

35. And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

36. 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 that was lost.’

37. Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

38. Lost Coin

39. And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

40. Parable of the Older Brother…

41. And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.

42. Free will… (It can be enough rope To hang ourselves with)

43. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.

44. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.

45. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. Does he deserve it?

46. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

47. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

48. God will allow circumstances To bring us to the point Of repentance

49. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!

50. Well, you deserve it I'm busy seeking my next breakthrough I have my own trials Was this predestined or free will?

51. They all miss the Person In need of the forgiveness Of a Father Who loves people far from him

52. I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’

53. Fake Repentance= "Sorry I got caught in this situation It's not my fault!" I'll say what I need to say…

54. Real Repentance= Humility and Change of Heart

55. And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

56. Everything he has done Is repugnant But nothing stops The Father's love

57. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

58. But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.

59. Your actions don't determine God's love

60. Your actions don't determine God's love But when you understand it God's love determines your actions

61. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

62. "We serve a God who solves a problem with a party"- Jon Acuff He's not looking to punish you- He's looking to Celebrate your return

63. “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

64. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’

65. How should he feel?

66. But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father…

67. ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.

68. ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. You're not rejoicing over me!

69. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’

70. And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found’” - Luke 15:1-31

71. He missed out on rejoicing And being filled Because his eyes were on himself Not the need of his brother

72. God has rejoiced over you

73. God has rejoiced over you Now he invites you to Rejoice with him over another

74. The invitation is clear Rejoicing, satisfaction, filling Are not found in seeking Those things

75. Your greatest needs are not met by Seeking to have your needs met But by investing yourself in God-given opportunities As God leads

76. You were rescued

77. Why Don't We Rescue? - They don't deserve it - I'm busy getting stronger - I memorized the Rescue Manual!

78. I don't want to make him mad I want her to like me I don't want to seem "pushy"

79. I have my own needs… House Health Food

80. It scares me…

81. None of our reasons Change the fact Every person…

82. You were rescued To rescue You were found to find You were loved to share that love

83. The experience of God- And the blessings that come with it Come from sharing the Heart of God and doing The work of God

84. To seek and to save…?

85. God, make me aware. Break my heart. Give me spiritual eyes. Give me the cajones to share the Truth of your Gracious Offer

86. As a people, Give us a warm Fellowship An atmosphere of increasing excellence A great desire to invite, welcome and show great love towards

87. We've been rejoiced over Want to relive it? Share it with someone- And rejoice over them

88. Creation Fall Redemption Restoration Where are you?