This past Sunday, I began a series of messages on the parables of Jesus recorded in Luke 15. My pastoral concern is that our congregation would have the heart of God toward lost people. And lost people matter to God. So they should matter to us.

Here is the sermon skeleton from Sunday’s message.  

Title: “The God of the Missing Sheep”

Text: Luke 15:1-7

Series: “Lost People Matter to God” (Luke 15)

Outline: Jesus teaches us that lost people matter to God by describing how a good shepherd responds to a missing sheep.

I. The Shepherd’s Purposeful Neglect (15:4)

    A. The number of the sheep teaches us that God loves us personally and individually.

    B. The nature of the sheep teaches us that God we cannot get back to God on our own.

II. The Shepherd’s Relentless Pursuit (15:4)

     The fact that the shepherd searches for the missing sheep until he finds it teaches us that the Lord will not give up on you.

III. The Shepherd’s Joyful Discovery (15:5-7)

    A. Consider what the shepherd does not do when he finds the missing sheep: he doesn’t get angry.

    B. Consider what the shepherd does when he finds the missing sheep: he rejoices.

Conclusion: Your attitude toward lost people reveals what your true relationship with God is.