One Lost Lamb Matthew 18:10-14 T H E P A R A B L E S O F J E S U S

Matthew 18:1-6 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”

Who Is the Greatest? 6We know that time and time again the disciples asked who is the greatest – Reveals man’s obsession with status 6Time and time again Jesus pointed them in the opposite direction 6Here Jesus uses a child as an object lesson – The child represents what the kingdom should be, will be

The Value of the ‘Little One’ 6The humble believer becomes a “little one” 6Receiving a fellow disciple is akin to receiving Jesus Himself – He gave up all status just as we must 6There is great danger causing a little one—a fellow disciple—to sin 6Jesus uses a scenario of certain death as warning – Wearing a millstone and cast into the sea 6We cannot dismiss the value of any disciple

Matthew 18:10-14 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?”

The Value of the Lost Sheep 6Anyone who keeps livestock assumes a certain percentage will be lost – Disease, injury, predators 6Our Shepherd does not assume losses 6His sheep are His “little ones,” and are of great value – “do not despise” – “their angels always see the face of my Father”

Leaving the Ninety and Nine 6The Shepherd does a radical thing 6With one sheep astray He leaves the 99 behind to rescue the one 6This shepherd is not dealing with a mass of nameless sheep 6Yes, they know His voice 6But He also knows each and every one of them 6His relationship is personal

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

Success & Joy! 6“If He finds it”: Success is not guaranteed – Not from lack of desire on the part of the shepherd 6The rejoicing from success is great 6The joy of recovery even surpasses the joy for the 99 who never left 6Why? – Recognition of the eternal danger of the stray sheep

How Do We Search? 6Christians have walked through our doors for decades 6Many have left and not returned 6God wants them back 6How can we aid in the search? 6A mother wondered that – Godly family, but a child strayed – She consistently sent him Bible verses for years

Caring For One Another 6God’s little ones are highly valued 6We must take seriously God’s command that we not cause a little one to stumble – Have you thoughtlessly discouraged someone? 6All of us know someone—too many someones—who has strayed from God – Who are you thinking of right now?

Caring For One Another 6This week let’s each of us reach out to a little one who has left God’s flock – Perhaps they’ve been waiting for someone –anyone—to show interest 6Imagine how our Shepherd would rejoice to bring him back!

Isaiah 43:1-3 But now thus says the L ORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”