Is your church actively seeking sinners?

I have a pastor friend who used to be really disappointed his church was not actively seeking sinners. One Sunday he boldly asked, “Where are the prostitutes?” I know what he meant, but it didn’t go over well at that church, and it shouldn’t be a surprise that he was asked to leave shortly afterward.

Who are the sheep who went astray?

In my Christian life, I have found that people who have wandered away from the flock usually don’t know it. They don’t realize they have become the sheep who has gone astray. It happens so slowly they don’t notice it. One little step at a time, one little mistake at a time, one little sin at a time, and then they look around and don’t recognize their surroundings or even themselves. Nobody recognizes they are going astray, until it is too late.

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him. The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.” (Luke 15:1-2 WEB)

See that you don’t 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. For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost. (Matthew 18:10-11 WEB)

He told them this parable. “Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it? When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing. When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance. (Luke 15:3-7 WEB)

“What do you think? If a man has one hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine, go to the mountains, and seek that which has gone astray? If he finds it, most certainly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. (Matthew 18:12-14 WEB)

Sometimes I have been among the ninety-nine who didn’t go astray. Sometimes I have been the one who did go astray even though I didn’t think so. Thank God he always came seeking sinners, looking for me, always ready to carry me back as soon as I repented.

Have you celebrated with the angels?

In the parable of the sheep who went astray, when Jesus went out and found it, he carried it back to his home. He didn’t return it to the sheepfold with the other sheep. He brought it into a special relationship with him. This is what caused celebration and rejoicing in heaven.

I know Christians who were raised in church, attended church their whole lives, and never got beyond that. They have never shared their faith with anyone. They have never shared the gospel with anyone. They have never experienced the joy of seeking sinners. Why not?

For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:24)

But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.'” (Luke 15:32)

• Ministry of restoration (restoring a right relationship with God) — Has someone wandered from the truth and been trapped by wrongdoing? Are you ready to throw the first stone? Or be part of the ministry of restoration?
• Ministry of reconciliation (how to be reconciled to God) — Ministry of reconciliation – Jesus Christ has already finished the work to restore the relationship between you and God. Won’t you be reconciled to God?
• What is the gospel? — The gospel was proclaimed by the prophets, lived by Jesus Christ, preached by the apostles, and spread through all the world. What is such good news?
• We need a new personal commission — Christians need a new personal commission to overcome the falling away that has happened in the world from wars, famines, pestilence, and disease

Is your church actively seeking sinners?

To return to my friend who asked, “Where are the prostitutes?”, I am proud to say he found a church that is actively seeking sinners. He is actively following the example of his Savior. He is accepting sinners into his church, into his home, and into his circle of friends. He is preaching the gospel to the people who need it most and he is making disciples of all kinds of people.

• As a shepherd looks for his scattered sheep when he is among the flock, so I will look for My flock. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. (Ezekiel 34:12)
• For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)
  
• For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. (Matthew 18:11)
• For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. (John 3:17)
• This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. (1 Timothy 1:15)
• But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:13)
• On hearing this, Jesus told them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17)
• Jesus answered, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. (Luke 5:31)

Before you get all excited about seeking sinners, I must warn you. Sinners are awful people. Sinners are messy people. Sinners are trouble-making people. Are you ready to follow The Great Shepherd who gave his life for these kind of people? Or are you lusting for worldly ease and personal comfort?

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts; who having become callous gave themselves up to lust, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you did not learn Christ that way; if indeed you heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus: that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man, that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit; and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth. (Ephesians 4:17-24 WEB)

• The 2 great commissions (the first commission and the great commission) — Did you know there were 2 great commissions: first commission and great commission. There are many important similarities and some important differences.
• Rightly Dividing the Great Commission — The same disciples who Jesus taught about the Church proclaim the Great Commission to the whole world after waiting to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit
• But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word. (Isaiah 66:2) — Throughout history God has called people to love him more than themselves. On this one will I look: humble, repentant, and trembles at my word.

For deeper study: