PREACHER’S NOTE 11 SEPTEMBER 2022
I love Jesus’ stories – rather than just telling people
what to do, He lets us experience why we should
do something. This week we’re looking at stories
about finding the lost. In one, Jesus tells us of a
shepherd who goes looking, everywhere, until he
finds a lost sheep. He puts it on his shoulders and
carries it home, sharing his joy with everyone he
knows. In another, Jesus tells us of a woman who
loses a coin in her home. She drops everything else,
lights a lamp, looks everywhere, and finds it. She
too shares her joy with everyone she knows. We
should have great joy to know that the God who
made everything, who ultimately owns everything,
would drop everything, to find you and me, no
matter where we are or what we’ve done. And
that He tells everyone in heaven, and there’s great
celebration.
But there’s a little detail in both stories that I think
gives us a further insight, and a great job to do. It is
interesting, and alarming, to note that these stories
are not about those out there that have never
been with God – both the sheep and the coin already
belonged to their owners, and were lost right
there! I think Jesus is talking about finding the lost,
right here in our midst. Who are those? Well, think
about how many people have just stopped coming
to DMC. Where are they? I believe we’ve lost them
right among us! The stories tell us God is relentlessly
searching for them, to bring them back home. Are
you sad about people who we used to sit next to,
attend home groups with, share our lives with? Perhaps
it is time to get involved to help to search for
them, and bring them back home, with great joy!
Blessings, Andrew.