Thursday, September 1, 2016

When The Lost Are Found

"So Jesus told them this parable: “Which one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go look for the one that is lost until he finds it? Then when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing. Returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, telling them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.’" Luke 15:3-5

“Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search thoroughly until she finds it? Then 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.’" Luke 15:8-9

"Bring the fattened calf and kill it! Let us eat and celebrate, because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again—he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate." Luke 15:23-24



Jesus told these three powerful parables to illustrate His attitude toward the lost. He longs for them. He loves them. He looks for them hoping they will receive His love.

Peter said it this way, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."


Jesus portrays His love for lost people in two ways. First, we see His love demonstrated in the urgency with which He searches for the lost - the sheep, the coin and the son. When we lose something we love it shows!


Second, Jesus' love for the lost is shown in the way He celebrates when the lost is found! When the lost sheep was found and brought back to the fold there was a great celebration! When the lost coin was found and returned to its proper place there was a celebration! And after the lost son returned there was a banquet to celebrate his return!

The three parables also demonstrate what Jesus hopes for those who follow Him.

He wants you to seek lost people with an urgency. If lost people really matter to you it will show. You will intentionally and persistently look for opportunities to win their friendship so you can witness to them so you can win them to faith.

When you do win them there should be a great celebration to match the celebration happening in Heaven! A celebration like we had at FredWes last Sunday when we baptized eight new believers!

From the day FredWes was launched it has been about reaching the lost. Actually, before it was launched it was about reaching the lost. That is what fueled the vision and lead Pastor Gerald and Brenda to Fredericksburg. It has been the driving force in every location and relocation the church has had. It must be the driving force behind our relocation to New Post and the Capital Campaign to help us get there.

If if becomes about anything other than reaching lost people it isn't worth doing.

What is it worth to you to reach a lost family member or friend?

Think about it.

September 3, 2016

"Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming to hear him. But the Pharisees and the experts in the law were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." Luke 15:1-2

I want you to notice two very different attitudes toward sinners and one important attitude by sinners.

The differences in these attitudes mark the difference between a dynamic church and a dying church.

So, let's look at this!

First we focus on the Pharisees. Based on their complaints toward Jesus it is quite apparent how they felt about the tax collectors and pharisees. They weren't very subtle about it so I'm sure those two groups felt the disdain and rejection of the religious establishment of their day.

Also, I'm fairly sure the tax collectors and sinners heard the Pharisees and they criticized Jesus for the company He was keeping.

On the other hand, Jesus welcomed tax-collectors and sinners. He did it for a very simple reason, He came to seek and save those who are lost. He was drawn to their spiritual hunger and their openness to the truth of His teaching. And, unlike the Pharisees, these guys were very aware of their sinfulness.

Let me ask you, would you rather go to a place where you don't feel welcome or to a person who is always glad to see you?

So did the tax collectors and the sinners. As the text says, "All the tax-collectors and Pharisees were coming to hear Him."

Well, no wonder sinners and tax-collectors (all of them) came to hear what Jesus had to say. Through His compassion toward them and dialogue with them He had won a measure of their trust. His words contained truth and life and love while the Jewish religious leaders spoke prejudice and criticism.

The Pharisees and religious leaders symbolize a church that is dying. A church that is legalistic, self-focused, self-satisfied, self-righteous and suspicious of anyone who isn't exactly like them. I wouldn't go to a church like that and neither would you. So, why would you think a lost person would show up there. In fact, if you care about lost people you pray they don't go to a church like that either!

Unfortunately there are far too many churches like that.

Contrast that to a dynamic church that wants sinners to come and welcomes them warmly into their fellowship! A dynamic church speaks truth and honors God's Word and challenges hearers to apply it to daily living. A dynamic church is committed to praying for lost people and intentionally builds relationships with lost people so that the Holy Spirit begins working in lost people to draw them toward worship and the Word.

This is the vision I have for FredWes. This is what "loving people to LIFE means"! We want to be people who build winning relationships with unsaved people so they feel comfortable when we invite them. We want to welcome them warmly when they come to investigate faith at FredWes. We want to lovingly confront them with the simple truth of the Gospel.

There are reasons churches die and there are reasons churches become dynamic. This story clearly illustrates the difference.

Will you help me make FredWes a place where lost people want to "come and hear"?
















When The Lost Are Found

"So Jesus told them this parable: “Which one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go look for the one that is lost until he finds it? Then when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing. Returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, telling them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.’" Luke 15:3-5

“Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search thoroughly until she finds it? Then 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.’" Luke 15:8-9

"Bring the fattened calf and kill it! Let us eat and celebrate, because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again—he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate." Luke 15:23-24



Jesus told these three powerful parables to illustrate His attitude toward the lost. He longs for them. He loves them. He looks for them hoping they will receive His love.

Peter said it this way, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."


Jesus portrays His love for lost people in two ways. First, we see His love demonstrated in the urgency with which He searches for the lost - the sheep, the coin and the son. When we lose something we love it shows!


Second, Jesus' love for the lost is shown in the way He celebrates when the lost is found! When the lost sheep was found and brought back to the fold there was a great celebration! When the lost coin was found and returned to its proper place there was a celebration! And after the lost son returned there was a banquet to celebrate his return!

The three parables also demonstrate what Jesus hopes for those who follow Him.

He wants you to seek lost people with an urgency. If lost people really matter to you it will show. You will intentionally and persistently look for opportunities to win their friendship so you can witness to them so you can win them to faith.

When you do win them there should be a great celebration to match the celebration happening in Heaven! A celebration like we had at FredWes last Sunday when we baptized eight new believers!

From the day FredWes was launched it has been about reaching the lost. Actually, before it was launched it was about reaching the lost. That is what fueled the vision and lead Pastor Gerald and Brenda to Fredericksburg. It has been the driving force in every location and relocation the church has had. It must be the driving force behind our relocation to New Post and the Capital Campaign to help us get there.

If if becomes about anything other than reaching lost people it isn't worth doing.

What is it worth to you to reach a lost family member or friend?

Think about it.