Leading the Lost into Life: The Parables of Luke 15

1. Session 7: Doin’ the stuff –leading the lost into life The three parables of the ‘lost’ (Luke 15) ‘By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently.’ ‘Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it?’ ‘Count on it—there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.’ ‘Count on it—that’s the kind of party God’s angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God.’ “His father said, ‘Son, you don’t understand. You’re with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours—but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he’s alive! He was lost, and he’s found!’”

2. It’s about expressing the Father’s heart to the lost and broken • How we view the city is of crucial importance: • A ‘younger brother’ mindset would to be to see the city as existing for his pleasures and wants; consumer mindset. • An ‘older brother’ mindset would see the city as a threat, to be judged and condemned. • A ‘Father-heart’ perspective sees the city as the focus of compassion - he embraces the city’s pain, covers its shame; the Father always has enough to meet every need – a mindset of abundance. • Our words (or the heart behind are words) of crucial importance: • Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. (Proverbs 11:11) • Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit – you choose (Proverbs 18:21) • The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life (John 6:63) • When you enter a house, first say peace to this house. If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him….. If not it will return to you’. (Luke 10) • ‘We want to speak words that carry the favour of God, and that the Holy Spirit finds irresistible and lands upon, so that our community and the people we meet become a resting place for the Holy Spirit’ (Alan Scott)

3. The ‘miracle question’ model What it isn’t: • A magic formula that if you use word for word will lead someone to Jesus. Its power comes from a heart surrendered to Jesus and an awareness of who you are in Christ. We hear the words Jesus proclaimed over Peter and the church: ‘Whatever you do I will back up from heaven’ What it is: • Like lines on the road to point you in the right direction • The vehicle on the road is the Gospel message, which you want to reach its destination • The Holy Spirit is steering you around any obstacles

4. What do you think is the greatest miracle God could ever do for you? • It’s done already; a very costly and precious gift • Imagine a door – you on one side, Jesus on the other • You have heavy rucksack – stuff you’ve done wrong, hurts and burdens • He has no rucksack, but a gift in his hand which he wants you to have • He wants to exchange your rucksack for his gift • The gift is eternal life – a life with Jesus which can start right now • The door represents your heart • Its handle is only on your side – he will never kick it down, he loves you too much • What if that door was there right now – what would you do? • I can show you how

5. Session 8: Ministry on the front line – how to stay the course

6. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take you stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Ephesians 6:10-13 “Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you…” James 4:7 “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” Psalm 62:1-2 “’Stop grumbling among yourselves,’ Jesus answered. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day…” John 6:43-44

7. But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel. 2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the region.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.” 4 So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, 5 who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water….(Joshua 7:1-5) 10 The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. 12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. (Joshua 7:10-12)

8. Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. 2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.” (Joshua 6:1-5)

9. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us…” 2 Corinthians 5:17-20

10. “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3