Luke 9:51 (Amplified Bible) “Now when the time was almost come for Jesus to be received up to Heaven, He steadfastly and determinedly set His face to go to Jerusalem.”

John 3: 16-17 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

John 12: 12-19 Jesus’ Triumphant Entry Into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday His Popularity is at its Highest Point

a strong and intentional call John 12: 20-26 Jesus issues a strong and intentional call to sacrifice for the Kingdom of God, just as he is about to sacrifice himself.

John 12: 24-26 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

“The cross is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering which every man must experience is the call to abandon the attachments of this world. It is that dying of the old man which is the result of his encounter with Christ.”

“When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die. It may be a death like that of the first disciples who had to leave home and work to follow Him, or it may be a death like Luther’s, who had to leave the monastery and go out into the world. But it is the same death every time—death in Jesus Christ, the death of the old man at his call.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “The Cost of Discipleship”

John 20: 21-22 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

go and take the gospel to our world, we must ask: For us to willingly go and take the gospel to our world, we must ask: “Where would I be without Jesus?” We Need His Heart for the “lost”!

Luke 15 - The “Lost” Chapter: Context (vs. 1-2) The Lost Sheep (vs. 3-7) The Lost Coin (vs. 8-10) The Lost Son (vs. 11-32)

Luke 15: 1-2 1 Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

2 Purpose of the Parables: 1.) Demonstrate to the “lost” God’s compassionate love and longing for them. 2.) Demonstrate to followers of God what their heart towards the “lost” should be.

2 Responses to the “Lost”: 1.) Heartbreak, which leads to intentional and passionate searching for “lost”. 2.) Joyous celebration when the “lost” are found… when the “dead” are made alive!

after they are found is a reflection How much we celebrate after they are found is a reflection of how valued the “lost” were before. Verses 3-10 (“Friends” & “Neighbors”) Verses 22-32 (“We had to celebrate!”)

Gospel Statistics: A Lost World 4.5 Billion People in the World are, by their own admission, not Christians. 2.25 Billion of them have little or no access to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Gospel Questions: 1.) What are you doing with your life? How are you leveraging your resources, your time, and talents to bring salvation to others in your local & global world? 2.) Are you using your gifts, your time, and your opportunities to enrich yourself, or to bless the world in Jesus’ name?