Podcasts about lost sheep

This is the final of the trilogy of stories Jesus tells to explain the worth of a single soul to God. We had the Parable of the Lost Sheep where the shepherd leaves the 99 to find the 1 who has been lost. We had the Parable of the Lost Coin of the woman who has 10 coins, but when she loses 1 she looks relentlessly until it’s found. Notice the numbers – 1 out of 99 – 1 out of 10 – and now Jesus takes it down to even a more personal and direct number – 1 out of 2 with the Parable of the Lost Son. This is the story we often refer to as the Prodigal son, depending on the translation you’re reading. This story told by Jesus has so many layers and so many life changing truths, we will divide this one into 2 devotionals. Today will be part 1, only covering the first half of the story. Let’s read it together in Luke 15: 11-24: “A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.' So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.' So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.' But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.' So the party began. This is one of my favorite stories in the Bible, and really for many reasons. I’ve been rather open about the 7 year journey with our own prodigal daughter. She walked out of our house at 17 and just never came back. Many times we had no idea where she was or if she was even alive. She made horrible, dangerous choices, and just kept running further and further. The Lord showed me how to wait in hope and faith. He showed me how not to chase her and make things worse. He showed me his faithfulness in the wait. I learned my job was to pray relentlessly for her and always be ready with the welcome home party when she returned. And when our girl finally did return to her family this year, he showed me how he had been allowing my daughter to step into her own testimony of his faithfulness. And yes, we had a party – a wedding party! My prodigal had come home and our relationship continues to grow and flourish every day. It’s truly one of my greatest joys. But this story is also one of my favorites because I realize it’s my own story as well. I am the prodigal. No, I never ran away from my family. No, I’ve never had a wild lifestyle or racked up a bunch of regrets. But gosh have I ever missed out on God’s best by chasing after something else. I am the prodigal. I am the lost one. The Father waited for me to come home and return to his best. Can you see how that’s you too? That’s all of us. The youngest son in Jesus’ story had made a mistake. His mistake was in LOCATION. The provision of his father was in location. He left his father’s house and he struggled fiercely. He ends up living with the pigs, just wishing he could eat the pigs food. But you know what that hunger did – that hunger brought him back home. God lovingly allows us to struggle and suffer when we have chosen to be away from him. He allows hunger because hunger brings us back. Desperation makes us hit our knees. Rock bottom becomes a solid foundation for a turn around. But wow, have you ever noticed that some of us have basements to our rock bottoms? We can go further and further down – further and further away – run harder and harder – make even worse choices with harder consequences … but let me tell you something, THE FATHER IS STILL WAITING FOR OUR RETURN. He’s still waiting for our surrender. He’s still waiting for us to stop running, stop resisting, stop making this worse. The timing of this particular parable is so perfect because just last night I went to a really special service at our church here in Carlsbad, California. Surfers and beach babes basically went to a rodeo at our church. It was the strangest mix of beach people trying to be country. In our church parking lot was a corral surrounded by hay bails and bleachers. In the middle of the corral was a wild horse. Then a legit cowboy enters the corral. Have you heard of this guy? His name is Todd Pierce with Riding High Ministries. In front of a live audience, he trains and rides a wild horse for the first time, all while giving us the most powerful visual of God’s loving patience with us. If you ever get a chance to go see Todd in action, I highly recommend it. I cried through the entire experience. It was one of the most spiritual things I’ve ever witnessed. This horse was 2 years old and up until that week, he had never been touched by a human hand. He had been roped and trailered into California from a ranch in Idaho … and he was NOT happy about it. Todd enters the corral and this horse runs. He wanted absolutely nothing to do with this cowboy. Todd every so slowly works his way closer and closer to the horse as it’s running in circles. He introduces the touch of his rope, then the touch of his hand. Little by little, the horse comes to trust him. But then, the horse would get scared and it would run wild again. Todd explained that this is so often us with God. God begins His work in our lives. He gets closer. He reaches for us. We begin to trust Him. And then something scares us. So we run. But God doesn’t give up. He waits. He tries again. He gets a little closer. And when the horse would refuse his touch, Todd would do something that absolutely broke my heart. He would get down on his knees. He would lower himself beneath the horse and show him tenderness and care. He wasn’t chasing him. He wasn’t forcing him. He was allowing the horse to see that he wasn’t there to hurt him. The horse still had the power to run. And Todd was willing to let him. But as that horse watched this cowboy kneel before him, something began to change. Little by little, he came closer. And closer. And closer. I’m sitting there crying and crying because suddenly I recognized myself. I’m the wild horse. I’m the one resisting. I’m the one who gets scared. I’m the one who doesn’t want to surrender. I’m the one who sometimes runs when God gets too close. And yet…. God waits. God doesn’t stop loving me because I run. He doesn’t abandon me because I resist. He doesn’t force me into surrender. He patiently pursues me. He keeps reaching. He keeps waiting. He keeps inviting me closer. But there was another part of this demonstration that really got me. Todd explained that every horse is different. Some surrender quickly. Some take much longer. Some fight hard. Some even try to hurt him. But ultimately, if a horse refuses to be trained, it loses. Not because the cowboy doesn’t love it. But because the horse cannot become what it was created to be while it remains wild. Think about that. A horse can spend its entire life running wherever it wants, doing whatever it wants, refusing every bit of restraint. That may look like freedom. But it isn’t freedom if it keeps the horse from becoming what it was created to be. A trained horse can do incredible things. It can carry someone into battle. It can help a rancher. It can serve a purpose far greater than simply running wild. But a horse that refuses to surrender to its trainer will never experience that purpose. And I couldn’t stop thinking about how often I do the same thing with God. I want His blessing, but I resist His training. I want His purpose, but I don’t want His process. I want Him to lead me, but I still want to choose the direction. I want the life He has for me, but I don’t always want to surrender the life I have chosen for myself. And maybe that’s the question this parable is asking us: Am I willing to be trained? Because surrender to God isn’t losing my freedom. It’s finally becoming free to be who He created me to be. The wild horse thinks the cowboy is taking something away. But the cowboy knows what the horse doesn’t yet understand: Surrender isn’t the end of the horse’s life. It’s the beginning of its purpose. And maybe that’s what God is saying to you today. You don’t have to run anymore. You don’t have to fight Him. You don’t have to be afraid of what happens when you finally let Him get close. The One asking you to surrender isn’t trying to diminish you. He’s trying to develop you. He’s not trying to take away your purpose. He’s trying to lead you into it. So maybe today isn’t about trying harder. Maybe it’s about stopping. Turning around. And letting the Cowboy come close. Stop running. Stop resisting. Stop fighting the hands that are trying to heal you. Let Him train you. Let Him lead you. Let Him transform you. Because the greatest version of your life isn’t found in running wild. It’s found in surrender. Whether you’re the prodigal running from the Father or the wild horse running from the Cowboy, the invitation is the same—come home. Stop running. Stop resisting. Stop believing that your freedom is found somewhere outside of God’s will. The Father isn’t standing at the end of the road waiting to punish you. He’s watching for you. He’s running toward you. He’s ready to throw His arms around you, put a robe on your shoulders, and celebrate your return. And the Cowboy isn’t trying to break you to ruin you; He’s trying to teach you how to live. He knows what you were created for, even when you don’t. So today, maybe it’s time to stop running and let yourself be found. Stop fighting and let yourself be trained. Stop trying to build your own life and let the One who created you lead you into His. Because surrender isn’t losing the life you wanted. Surrender is finally coming home to the life God created you for. Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

When Jesus tells a story, you listen. When Jesus repeats 3 stories with the same meaning, you REALLY listen. Every story he told during his time here on Earth was of important purpose, but to repeat the same lesson 3 times in 3 ways tells us Jesus desperately wants us to get this message. Today’s parable is part of that trilogy teaching. The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin and the Lost Son. The teaching of the Lost Sheep was recorded by both Matthew and Luke, so we already looked at that teaching earlier in our series. But now as we look at the accounts of Luke, we see the remaining 2 stories taught back to back by Jesus to the same crowd of people. Who were these people in the crowd, and why would they so desperately need to understand this message? This was a mixed crowd of religious leaders, along with as Luke puts it, “tax collectors and other notorious sinners”. These were people who didn’t mix. Religious leaders of this day made very clear distinctions between who was considered acceptable and who was not—who was “clean” and who was “unclean.” And the people Jesus was attracting—the tax collectors and notorious sinners—were the very people the religious crowd believed should be kept at a distance. They didn’t mix. But as Jesus taught this trilogy of stories about the lost, the sinners came crowding in. The people who had been pushed to the edges were now pressing into the center—right there at the feet of Jesus. Why were the unclean and the sinners coming in? Because for the first time, they were being told they belonged, they mattered, and there was a path for them to be made clean. Up until then, as part of the unclean, they had been pushed to the edges. They were the people you avoided, the people you didn’t touch, the people you didn’t invite to your table. They couldn’t simply blend in with everyone else. Their reputation went ahead of them. Their past followed them. Their failures had become their identity. Imagine that for a moment. Or maybe you don’t have to imagine too hard because this is a story you continually tell yourself now. You don’t belong. You’re unworthy. No body wants you. You’ve felt like part of the “unclean”. For these people being constantly told that they’re not good enough, not acceptable, not clean, eventually they started believing it themselves. Maybe they had assumed God was only for the clean people. The religious people. And then Jesus came. And Jesus changed everything. Jesus didn’t stand on the other side of the crowd pointing at them. He moved toward them. He welcomed them. He ate with them. He touched the untouchable. He talked to the unacceptable. He gave dignity to people who had been reduced to their sin. And suddenly, these people who had been told, “You don’t belong here,” were crowding around Jesus because Jesus was telling them something completely different: You matter. You are wanted. You are worth finding. You are not too far gone. That is the setting for these three stories. And that is why Jesus tells them three times, in three different ways: God goes after what is lost. He tells the story of a shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to find one lost sheep. Then a woman who turns her house upside down to find one lost coin. And finally, a father who watches the road, waiting for his lost son to come home. Three stories. One message. God is not standing far away waiting for the lost to find their way back to Him. God is actively pursuing them. And Jesus wants these religious leaders—and every outcast listening at His feet—to understand something that would have been almost scandalous to them: The lost are not an inconvenience to God. They are His pursuit. The very people everyone else had pushed away were the people Jesus was drawing near to. What was literally happening in this moment was James 4:8, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.” The unclean were drawing in close for the first time believing maybe this man Jesus was sharing the Good News with them, and as they came in close, God came in close to them. A message worth repeating 3 times! So today, we look specifically at “The Parable of The Lost Coin”. The short little story tucked in between the other 2 more popular stories of something that had been lost. Luke 15: 8-10 “Suppose a woman has 10 sliver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lot coin.’ In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.'” And here in the crowd were the sinners who were told they were unclean and unworthy of anything from God. They were written off and excluded. Now, Jesus is telling them, YOU ARE LIKE A LOST COIN THAT IS WORTHY OF BEING SEARCHED FOR! What does a coin have to do to be found? Absolutely nothing! The coin doesn’t crawl its way out of the corner. The coin doesn’t shine itself up to be found. No, the owner comes looking and will not quit until it is found! Notice what the woman does when she loses the coin – She specifically lights a lamp and sweeps the entire house in a careful search. This is precisely what God does when he comes looking for one of his lost children. One who has gotten lost in the darkness, swept to the side, fallen in the cracks and been left alone. First, HE SHINES THE LIGHT. What is this light? John 1:4-5, “In HIM was life, and that life was the LIGHT of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” But, the light doesn’t stop with God. Through Jesus, we become his light bearers. Matthew 5:14, Jesus says, “YOU are the light of the world.” Girls, this means for those of us with the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, we carry the light that God uses to search for his lost coins. WE ARE PART OF THE SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM FOR LOST SOULS!!!!!! Are they unclean? Are they not to be touched? Are they to be avoided? NOT ACCORDING TO JESUS!!!!!!!!!! THEY ARE TO BE SEARCHED FOR! Jesus says with this light, the woman sweeps the entire house in careful search. GOD IS WILLING TO GO ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE LOOKING FOR A LOST SOUL. He will move the furniture. He will lift the rug. He’ll turn the sofa upside down. He’s not quitting the search for what is his. Here in the crowd, lost souls are hearing Jesus say that he will not stop caring about them. And here today, those within the sound of my voice are hearing Jesus still saying the same thing – HE WILL NOT STOP CARING ABOUT YOU. No matter where you’ve been hiding – no matter what darkness you’ve been stuck in – no matter how dirty you’ve become – HE WANTS YOU BACK!!!!!!!! You are his daughter. You belong to him. Nothing changes that. Just because the coin was lost didn’t mean the woman no longer claimed it. No, she said, “MY COIN”. It was hers when she held it, hers when it was lost, and hers when she found it. “I have found MY lost coin.” You’ve always been God’s girl. That’s not changing. Let yourself be found! Do you know what will happen when he finds you? A FULL BLOWN CELEBRATION!!!!!!!!! Literally Jesus says “There is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” The angels are throwing a party over every soul who is pulled up out of the darkness. Over every soul who is picked up and dusted off. Over every soul who is restored to the place where they belong. THERE IS JOY WHEN THE LOST IS FOUND! Not disappointment. Not condemnation. Not, “Well, look who finally came crawling back.” JOY! Jesus is painting a picture for these sinners sitting at His feet—and for the religious leaders standing there judging them—that would have been impossible to miss. THIS is how God feels about sinners coming home. And I think sometimes we forget that. We know how to feel guilty. We know how to beat ourselves up. We know how to replay our failures and remind ourselves of every place we’ve fallen short. We know how to tell ourselves that we should have known better, done better, been better. But Jesus tells a different story. He tells us that when we are lost, God searches. When we are in the darkness, God brings the light. When we are buried under the mess of our own making, God starts moving things around to find us. And when He finds us, He celebrates. Girl, let that sink in. God isn’t looking for a reason to reject you. He’s looking for you. You may have wandered. You may have messed up. You may have made choices you wish you could undo. You may feel like you’ve fallen so far into the cracks that nobody could possibly find you. But you are not forgotten. You are not disqualified. You are not too dirty. You are not too far gone. You are still His. The coin didn’t become worthless because it was lost. Its location changed. Its condition may have gotten dirty. It may have been sitting in a dark corner where nobody could see it. But its value never changed. And neither has yours. Let Jesus find you exactly where you are. Because He already knows where you are. He’s already looking. He’s already searching. And when He finds you, He’s not going to pick you up and say, “What a mess you are.” He’s going to say, “There you are. I’ve been looking for you.” And heaven will rejoice. If you’ve believed the lie that you’re unworthy, let Jesus tell you the truth. You are His. You have always mattered. You have never been too far away for His light to reach. And you are worth finding. Because that’s the message Jesus repeated three times so we would never forget it: The lost matter to God. The lost are worth pursuing. And when the lost are found, HEAVEN REJOICES. So, Sis, let yourself be found. Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

In Luke 15:1–7, Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep—a powerful picture of the heart of God for those who are far from Him.Pastor Dave Klassen reminds us that every single soul matters to God. The shepherd does not simply settle for the ninety-nine; he goes searching for the one that is lost until he finds it. And when that sheep is found, there is great rejoicing.This message challenges us to see people the way God sees them—not as unimportant, hopeless, or beyond reach, but as people deeply loved by their Shepherd. As followers of Christ, we are also given the responsibility to reach out to those who are lost, hurting, and searching for hope.Key themes from this message:- Every person matters to God.- God does not want anyone to be lost.- Jesus is the Good Shepherd who cares for His sheep.- We are called to reach out to those who do not yet know Christ.- Finding the lost brings great joy.May this message give you a renewed passion to see the lost through God's eyes and to share the love and hope of Jesus with those around you.Scripture: Luke 15:1–7; John 10:11–12; Psalm 23; Isaiah 40:11; Ezekiel 34:11–12

Matthew 18:12-14, “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.” Here Jesus tells a story that shows the individual value of each and every one of us to the Father. God knows about you. He knows where he wants you to be and when you have wandered off from that place. He doesn’t just stop caring about you when you go astray. In fact quite the opposite. He cares about you so much that he will stop everything to go and find you. Now that is an image of love. You are his child. He cares about YOU. Let’s really examine ourselves – How angry would we get if we have a problem sheep that keeps wandering? It’s wandering causes extra work for us. Every time that one sheep goes astray it takes us away from all our other sheep who are staying put. Eventually, wouldn’t we be willing to just let that sheep go and focus on the 99 that stay where they’re supposed to be? Wouldn’t we label that one wanderer as our problem child and grow in resentment? Wouldn’t we begin to talk bad about that wayward sheep, comparing it to the others who stay close to us? And wouldn’t that one sheep that causes us stress and anxiety be a little harder to love? But Jesus tells us our heavenly Father will relentlessly search for us. He will do whatever it takes. And when he finds us, he will rejoice over us. He will celebrate that we’re no longer lost. The Father isn’t focused on the time and work it took to get that wandering sheep back. He has zero regret and no shame or guilt to put on the sheep – only joy. Could this really be our God with us? Could this truly be the way he looks at us when we wander? Notice Jesus says this sheep wanders away. Away from what? Away from the shepherd’s care. Away from the rest of the flock. Away from where it’s supposed to be. Why would it do that? Why would it leave green pastures? Why would it stray from the clear path? Because a sheep gets another thought in its head and those thoughts lead it’s feet. The sheep doesn’t have to be bad to become lost. It just has to wander. And isn’t that how it happens with us? Most of us don’t wake up one morning and say, “Today I’m going to walk away from God.” We wander. One thought leads to another thought. One desire leads to another desire. One compromise leads to another compromise. One distraction becomes a habit. One hurt becomes resentment. One curiosity becomes an obsession. And before we know it, we’re standing somewhere we never intended to be. My sister, right now at this moment – are you standing somewhere you never intended to be? You didn’t intentionally run off to get here. You wandered here. Now you’re lost. You’re not bad, you’re just lost. The shepherd doesn’t hate you, he lost you. He loves you, so he comes looking for you. Not to punish you, but to bring you back to where is best. The sheep probably didn’t think it was leaving the shepherd. It probably thought, “What’s over here? Maybe there’s better grass over there. Maybe I’ll just wander a little bit. Maybe I want some space. Maybe I want to see what’s on the other side of that hill.” And that’s the danger of wandering. You don’t usually feel lost while you’re doing it. You feel curious. You feel independent. You feel like you’re making your own choices. But eventually you look up and realize, “I’m a long way from home. What have I done and how do I get back to where I was before?” But here’s the heartbreaking part: The sheep doesn’t know how to get itself back. It has wandered farther than it intended, and now it needs someone to come find it. Sheep are inherently directionally challenged. Sometimes you don’t even realize how far you’ve wandered until you’re in trouble. You thought you were just exploring. You thought you were just taking a little life detour. You thought you were just doing your own thing. Until you look around and ask, “How did I get here? Where is everybody? Where is my shepherd?” And now you’re trying to find your way back, but you’re struggling. Oh Sis, you may not be able to see the shepherd from here, but he can see you. The shepherd sees you, he sees the mountain, he sees the cliff, he sees the ditch, he sees the lion, and he sees the path back home. In this parable Jesus doesn’t say, “The shepherd waited for the sheep to figure out what it had done.” He says the shepherd went looking for it. He doesn’t stand on the hill yelling, “You made your choice! You should have stayed with me!” Nope – he goes after it. And when he finds it, he doesn’t punish it. He doesn’t shame it. He doesn’t lecture it about how much trouble it caused. He rejoices. That might be one of the most beautiful pictures Jesus ever gives us of the heart of God. You are not loved because you stay perfect. You are loved because you are His. And guess what – you simply can’t change that. You’ve always been God’s girl and you always will be. There’s no changing the father’s love for you. And when you wander, His love doesn’t wander with you and then disappear. His love comes looking for you. Maybe you’re the one who has wandered. Maybe you’ve been exploring places God never intended you to go. Maybe you’ve gotten distracted. Maybe you’ve followed a thought that led your feet farther and farther away. Maybe you look at your life right now and think, “I don’t even know how I got here.” I want you to hear what Jesus is saying: You are not too far away to be found. The shepherd knows where you are. He knows the path you took. He knows the cliff you’re standing on or the ditch you’ve been stuck in. He knows exactly where you wandered. And He’s coming for you. And when He finds you, He’s not going to say, “I can’t believe you did this to me.” He’s going to say, “There you are.” Because the Father isn’t looking at you thinking about all the trouble you’ve caused. He’s looking at you thinking, “That’s my child.” When the lost sheep comes home, heaven doesn’t throw a party because the sheep finally got its act together. Heaven rejoices because the one who was lost has been found. So maybe today the question isn’t, “How far have I wandered?” Maybe the question is: Will I let the Shepherd find me? Because sometimes coming home isn’t about finding your way back. Sometimes it’s simply about stopping your wandering long enough to hear the Shepherd calling your name. The sheep doesn’t end up back at home because it finally changed it’s mind, got it’s crap together and figured out how to get back. Nope – the sheep only gets back because the shepherd came and got it. The sheep doesn’t have to become smart enough to save itself. It doesn’t have to retrace every step. It doesn’t have to prove that it’s sorry enough. It doesn’t have to find the shepherd. The shepherd finds the sheep. If you’re hearing this, the shepherd has found you and he’s leading you back. Yes – before you know how you’re going to ever make this right again. Yes – before you’ve fixed this entire mess. Yes – before you’ve cleaned yourself up. The shepherd comes and finds the sheep stuck in the briars with its hair all matted, it’s wounds all infected, it’s legs nearly broken, and he carries that sheep back home. Girl, JUST LET HIM CARRY YOU HOME!!!!!!! You’ve been trying so hard to fix this. You’ve been trying to understand it. You’ve been trying to clean yourself up. You’ve been trying to make yourself worthy of being found. You’ve been thinking, “When I get myself together, then I’ll come back to God.” But that’s not how this story works. The Shepherd doesn’t come looking for the sheep after it has fixed itself. He comes looking for the sheep while it’s still lost. While it’s still tangled. While it’s still wounded. While its hair is matted. While its legs are weak. While it’s exhausted from trying to survive in a place it was never meant to be. He finds it exactly where it is. And then He picks it up. And He carries it home. He doesn’t say, “Walk.” He doesn’t say, “You got yourself into this mess, now get yourself out.” He doesn’t say, “I’ll carry you if you promise you’ll never wander again.” He just picks up the sheep He loves. And maybe that’s what somebody needs to hear today. You don’t have to figure out the whole way home. You just need to let yourself be found. You don’t have to fix your entire life today. You don’t have to know how God is going to untangle every relationship. You don’t have to know how He’s going to heal every wound. You don’t have to know how you’re going to undo every mistake. You don’t have to have the next ten steps figured out. You just need to let the Shepherd carry you through the next one. Because the Shepherd knows the way home. He can see what you cannot see. He knows the dangers you don’t know are ahead. He knows the path you need to take. And He knows exactly how to get you back to the place where you are safe, loved, known and fully His. So stop running. Stop hiding. Stop pretending you’re okay. Stop believing that your mess has made you unlovable. Stop thinking you’ve wandered too far. Look up. The Shepherd is already there. He’s been looking for you. And if you can hear His voice right now, that’s not condemnation. That’s your Shepherd calling your name. “There you are.” Not, “What have you done?” Not, “How could you?” Not, “Look at all the trouble you’ve caused.” Just— “There you are. I’ve been looking for you. Come here. I’ve got you. Let’s go home.” And maybe today, that’s all you need to do. Let Him find you. Let Him pick you up. Let Him carry what you can no longer carry. Let Him lead you home. Because you were never meant to save yourself. You were meant to be found. And the Shepherd who left the ninety-nine to come looking for one? He came looking for you. And He isn’t going home without you. Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

This message is from the Sovereign Outreach 4 Grace / SO4G 2026 Midweek - Wednesday Sermon/Lesson Series from the Sermon Audio Broadcast Series. This message was delivered by Brother, Tom Harmon at the Calvary Baptist Church (SBC) in Betsy Layne, Kentucky. The title of this message was 'The One Lost Sheep', the main text was taken from the New Testament book of Luke 15:3-7, as well as several other Scripture verses.

Notice the one that is missing and go find them.

Have you ever lost something? How important was it to you? Jesus told a story about losing a little sheep one time. It turns out that the Shepherd in the story cared a LOT about that sheep.Talk It OverThe Parable Of The Lost SheepHey parents! Use these questions as a guide to talk over this week's lesson about The Parable of the Lost Sheep with your child after they've listened to the episode!Who was today's Bible story about?Jesus.A man had 100 sheep. What sound does a sheep make?Baa.Uh-oh. What happened when he lost one of his sheep?He looked and looked all around to find it. Let's play peek-a-boo! You can pretend to be the sheep and I'll cover my eyes then find you. Ready? Peek-a-boo sheep!How did the man feel when he finally found the lost sheep?He was happy! He asked everyone to come celebrate. Let's jump and clap our hands and celebrate, too.Take some time to pray with your toddler. Encourage your toddler to sit with you and fold their hands, saying something like:God, thank you for loving us. Thank you for making us. Thank you for wanting to be our friend. Thank you that you will take care of us. We love you! Amen!Parent Encouragement - The Parable of the Lost SheepHey parents! Here's something for you to be encouraged by and get ideas to bring this Bible story into your everyday conversation with your child at home!DownloadCraft – I-Spy BagIn this craft, your toddler will make an I-Spy bag filled with hidden items from the Bible story. As they look for the items in their bag, they will be reminded that the shepherd looked for the sheep. He loved the sheep, and God loves us!DownloadActivity – Balloon SheepIn this activity, your toddler will have fun as they find all of the sheep like the shepherd found his lost sheep in our Bible story. The shepherd loved his sheep, and God loves us!DownloadColoring Page - The Parable of the Lost SheepWe have a variety of coloring pages to help your child remember familiar faces from this month's lesson!DownloadNavigating ParenthoodHey parents! Saddleback Parents has great training, tips, and tools to help you win. Check out part 2 of this Two Minute Tip series all about how we can help our kids hold onto faith.Download

Drawing on the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15, George Dunn flips the focus to the 99 who didn't wander off, exploring five traits of sheep as pictures of what faithful discipleship looks like.All Nations Christian Centre is an Elim Pentecostal Church in Reading, UK.For more information, please visit our website: https://www.allnationselim.orgOr follow us on Facebook and Instagram @allnationselim

Download; Andrew Green, The Lost Sheep, Bassett Street Sermons, 8 mins

For some, the Parables of Jesus seem like a complex word puzzle, but for others they are relatable pictures that help make the Truths of Scripture more relatable. That was by God's design. This series we will look to unpack some of the parables of Jesus and see how they connect with our lives today.Text: Luke 15:1-7 Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.com THIS SERMON CAN BE VIEWED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqmshgH0JLqxzRXiEr2QktQ Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) August 2, 2026Worship Service of Bethany Baptist Church (Wendell, NC/Raleigh, NC) Come visit us in person! To learn more about our church visit: https://www.wearebethany.comFollow us on Facebook and Instagram

2026-04-26 - Morning Sermon - Jamie McCormack

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This week Arlo looks for adventure through the telescope in his lighthouse! He is hoping to learn about someone new today. Will learn with the help of his friend Kelby the octopus? Let's find out!For more great stories and things to do, head to Saddlebackkids.comAnd to see the video version of Happy Harbor, check out our youtube channel!Parents, there's plenty for you too at Saddlebackparents.com, and don't forget to subscribe to the On Purpose Parents podcast from Saddleback Parents.Talk It OverThe Parable Of The Lost SheepHey parents! Use these questions as a guide to talk over this week's lesson about The Parable of the Lost Sheep with your child after they've listened to the episode!Who was today's Bible story about?Jesus.A man had 100 sheep. What sound does a sheep make?Baa.Uh-oh. What happened when he lost one of his sheep?He looked and looked all around to find it. Let's play peek-a-boo! You can pretend to be the sheep and I'll cover my eyes then find you. Ready? Peek-a-boo sheep!How did the man feel when he finally found the lost sheep?He was happy! He asked everyone to come celebrate. Let's jump and clap our hands and celebrate, too.Take some time to pray with your toddler. Encourage your toddler to sit with you and fold their hands, saying something like:God, thank you for loving us. Thank you for making us. Thank you for wanting to be our friend. Thank you that you will take care of us. We love you! Amen!Parent Encouragement - The Parable of the Lost SheepHey parents! Here's something for you to be encouraged by and get ideas to bring this Bible story into your everyday conversation with your child at home!DownloadCraft – I-Spy BagIn this craft, your toddler will make an I-Spy bag filled with hidden items from the Bible story. As they look for the items in their bag, they will be reminded that the shepherd looked for the sheep. He loved the sheep, and God loves us!DownloadActivity – Balloon SheepIn this activity, your toddler will have fun as they find all of the sheep like the shepherd found his lost sheep in our Bible story. The shepherd loved his sheep, and God loves us!DownloadColoring Page - The Parable of the Lost SheepWe have a variety of coloring pages to help your child remember familiar faces from this month's lesson!DownloadNavigating Parenthood: Step Up Hey parents! Saddleback Parents has great training, tips, and tools to help you win. Check out part 2 of this Two Minute Tip series all about how we can help our kids hold onto faith.Download

From Pastor David Peck | From the sermon series Parables: Revealing and Concealing the Kingdom. In this series on the parables Jesus taught, we will explore the mysteries of the kingdom the parables reveal to those who have ears to hear. We will seek to apply those lessons to our lives in God's kingdom here and now, while also increasing our longing for His return. 

In this message, the speaker explores the Parable of the Lost Sheep from Luke 15 to reveal the true heart of the Good Shepherd. Jesus notices when even one person is missing and actively pursues those who drift away. No matter how broken or far gone you feel, God's love is determined to find you and carry you home. Watch this video to discover how the Good Shepherd carries the burdens you were never meant to bear. Are you ready to experience the life-changing grace that makes all of heaven rejoice? Join us for this powerful message and see how your story can be transformed today.

This week, Zach continues our Storyteller series by exploring two of Jesus' parables from Luke 15: the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin. Through these stories, he unpacks the depth of the Father's love for us and challenges us to consider how we respond to a God and His love.

We have all experienced the panic of losing something important. Our keys, our wallet, or our phone. Suddenly, nothing else matters until we find it. But what does God do when one of His people wanders? In the Parable of the Lost Sheep, Jesus reveals the relentless heart of God toward His people and challenges us to reflect that same care toward one another. Join us this Sunday as we unpack “God's Relentless Pursuit” from Matthew 18:10–14.

Jesus sends His twelve first, not to the Gentiles or Samaritans, but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. These lost sheep need to hear the message that both John and Jesus have preached: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand!” God's reign as King brings healing from sickness and rescue from demons among those who hear the Twelve's message. God's reign as King will provide for the Twelve as they go, as He provides for their physical needs through the generosity of those who hear and believe. Those who believe the Word will receive peace from God, but those who do not believe are warned that the Day of Judgment is coming as it once came for notoriously wicked places.  Rev. Tim Sandeno, missionary church planter to Spangdahlem, Germany, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 10:5-15.  “The Reign of Heaven Stands Near” is a series on Sharper Iron that studies the Gospel according to St. Matthew. The first evangelist proclaims that God has fulfilled His Old Testament promises by sending Jesus to bring the reign of the heavens among us. As the Son of David, Jesus is the gracious King we need, and as the Son of Abraham, Jesus is the blessing to all the families of the earth.  Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Pastor Appel serves at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, IL. Learn more at flcgodfrey.org. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Year of Parables – Episode 29: In Luke’s version of the Parable of the Lost Sheep, discover how God reveals His love towards sinners and how we are able to help bring joy to those in heaven! Listen to this episode and/or subscribe on ReflectiveBibleStudy.com...

What if God's love is greater than your wandering? In Week 6 of our Parables series, Pastor David Gaunt explores one of Jesus' most beloved stories—the Parable of the Lost Sheep. This powerful picture of God's heart reveals a Savior who actively pursues people who have drifted, wandered, or become lost. You'll discover:    -How much God values every person    -Why Jesus pursues the lost    -What God's love looks like in action No matter how far you've wandered, you're never beyond the reach of God's grace. - NEXT STEPS  Looking to take your next step?  We want to help! Text the word NEXT to 909-281-7797 or visit sunrisechurch.org/nextsteps. - GIVE TO SUNRISE CHURCH Imagine what God can do through our giving. You can give today at sunrisechurch.org/give  - FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SunriseChurchCA  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunrisechurchca  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/SunriseChurch 

In this week's Ears to Hear message, we look at Jesus' parable of the Lost Sheep and the incredible heart of our Good Shepherd. Rather than waiting for the lost to find their way home, Jesus lovingly pursues those who have wandered and rejoices when they are found. Be encouraged by the reminder that no one is beyond God's reach, and that His love continually seeks to restore and redeem.

Jesus didn't just teach people what to believe – He told simple stories with extraordinary meaning that invited them to see the world differently. This summer, we'll explore some of His most beloved parables and discover how they continue to challenge, encourage, and transform our lives today.Thanks for listening to the Christ Church Mequon Podcast. Find your next step and let us know how we can be praying for you at ChristChurchMequon.LIFE/Podcast. Hit that subscribe button and, until next week, God bless.

Luke ch 15 vs 4-7 , Isaiah ch 53 vs 6-8 - Preacher Andrew Martin - Sunday, July 12, 2026

Luke ch 15 vs 4-7 , Isaiah ch 53 vs 6-8 - Preacher Andrew Martin - Sunday, July 12, 2026

What does Jesus actually feel when he looks at you — worn out, knocked flat, barely holding on? The Gospels have a word for it. And it's nothing like the soft, managed thing we usually call "compassion." Today Brandon and Matt dig into Matthew 9:36, the Greek behind two of the most overlooked words in the Gospels, and a gut-level emotion that drove everything Jesus did. Then we close with an imaginative exercise to help you actually receive it — not just understand it. Links: Käthe Kollwitz, The Downtrodden https://i0.wp.com/nmwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/1986.187-GAP.jpg?fit=1200%2C999999&quality=80&format=webp N.C. Wyeth, The Lost Sheep: https://www.manresa-sj.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/11-N-C-Wyeth-The-Lost-Sheep.jpg.webp Join us for an event: https://www.signpostinn.org/events Connect with us: Email us at podcast@signpostinn.org Facebook www.facebook.com/SignpostInn Instagram www.instagram.com/signpostinn Check out our website www.signpostinn.org for more resources! Thanks to Rex Daugherty for creating the original theme music for this podcast. He's an award-winning artist and you can check out more of his work at rex-daugherty.com

We hear people talk about little being much, when God is in it, yet many times when our circumstances seem bleak, we just throw up our hands in defeat. Join us in this program of Woman at the Well Ministries as Kim continues her discussion of God's presence in our problems. We will see that when God is added to the equation, things change. Things aren't always what they seem because God is not bound by natural laws. He is the law.   Scriptures Mentioned in this Episode John 6:1–14 (Feeding of the Five Thousand) www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A1-14&version=KJV Sea of Galilee / Sea of Tiberias (John 6:1) www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A1&version=KJV John 14:6 www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A6&version=KJV Isaiah 64:6 ("all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+64%3A6&version=KJV Romans 3:10 ("There is none righteous, no, not one") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+3%3A10&version=KJV Ecclesiastes 1:9 ("there is no new thing under the sun") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+1%3A9&version=KJV Revelation 3:20 ("I stand at the door, and knock") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+3%3A20&version=KJV Hebrews 11:6 www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+11%3A6&version=KJV Matthew 6:8 ("your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A8&version=KJV Matthew 14:22–33 (Jesus walks on the water; referenced as Peter and the disciples in the boat) www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+14%3A22-33&version=KJV Psalm 121:4 ("He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+121%3A4&version=KJV 1 Samuel 17:47 ("the battle is the Lord's") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+17%3A47&version=KJV 1 Samuel 15:22 ("to obey is better than sacrifice") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+15%3A22&version=KJV Matthew 7:7 www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A7&version=KJV Philippians 4:13 ("I can do all things through Christ...") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+4%3A13&version=KJV John 6:35 ("I am the bread of life") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A35&version=KJV Elijah and the widow of Zarephath (meal and oil) — 1 Kings 17:8–16 www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+17%3A8-16&version=KJV Luke 6:38 ("pressed down, and shaken together, and running over") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+6%3A38&version=KJV Luke 15:3–7 (The Lost Sheep; "the ninety and nine...the one") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+15%3A3-7&version=KJV Acts 10:34 ("God is no respecter of persons") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+10%3A34&version=KJV 2 Corinthians 5:1 ("a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+5%3A1&version=KJV Psalm 121:1–2 ("I will lift up mine eyes...my help cometh from the Lord") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+121%3A1-2&version=KJV 2 Timothy 1:12 ("I know whom I have believed...") www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+1%3A12&version=KJV Did you enjoy this episode? It would make a huge difference to us if you took a minute to leave us a review wherever you listen and share the episode on social media!  Have you listened to our new podcast, The Bible Bit Podcast? These short podcasts come directly from the Bible Bits Kimberly writes each week day and shares to our subscribers via text message. You can learn more about Bible Bits right here. Want the BIble Bits in print? Find them here:  Bible Bit books! Do you want to bring Kimberly Miller and Woman at the Well Ministries to your church, upcoming retreat, or conference? Contact us!  Special thanks to the gospel group Fudge Creek for allowing us to use their song Happy Girl. Woman at the Well Ministries is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving our Heavenly Father and it is through your loving and generous support that our ministry continues to bless others. To learn how to partner with Woman at the Well Ministries, please visit our website.  All of this and more is found on the Woman at the Well Ministries website.

More Than A Story - Parables - "Parable Of The Lost Sheep" - Josh Amstutz

Luke 15v11-32 with Heather ThomasJesus rarely responded to questions with straightforward answers. Instead, he told stories—stories about farmers and feasts, lost coins and generous employers, unexpected neighbors and extravagant grace. In this series, we'll explore some of Jesus' most memorable parables and discover how these ancient stories continue to challenge, comfort, and transform us today. Together, we'll learn what the Kingdom of God is like and what it means to follow Jesus in the ordinary moments of everyday life

Jesus didn't just tell stories—He revealed truth that invites us to look deeper. In this summer series, Reading Between The Lines, we'll explore the parables of Jesus—simple on the surface, but rich with meaning about the Kingdom of God and our hearts. Each week, we'll go beyond the obvious to discover what Jesus is really saying—and how it changes the way we live. • Westbridge Church is people helping people FIND and FOLLOW JESUS! We believe that no matter where you are in your faith, there's always a next step you can take to grow in your relationship with God. As a church, we are committed to continually growing and encouraging others to grow in their faith, connect in community, share God's grace, serve others, live generously, and have serious fun along the way. Learn more: https://westbridgechurch.com/ Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/westbridgechurchmn Current worship: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2lpxmpwwtzhkeebpp8frhihttp://spotify.com/playlist/2lpxmpwwtzhkeebpp8frhi

The Ark Fellowship Cypress, Texas Lead Pastor: Dr. Angela Okotie-Eboh

The Ark Fellowship Cypress, Texas Lead Pastor: Dr. Angela Okotie-Eboh

Pastor Jesse speaks on how God values the one sheep lost from the 99   Main Scripture & Sermon Points: Luke 15:1-7   *This episode was recorded on 06/14/26

A listener named Barbara asks Father Dave about the Parable of the Lost Sheep. She says, "In the Gospel Parable of the [Lost Sheep], Jesus says there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who have no need of repentance. Who is he referring to when he says righteous people, and what makes them righteous?"   

The lost sheep, coin, and sons reveal God’s pursuing love. The Father welcomes repentant sinners with joy. The kingdom is a celebration of grace for the lost who come home. Visit us online at: RenewalChurch.net

This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley sit down with Luke Burgis, the director of the Cluny Institute at The Catholic University of America and the author of The One and the Ninety-Nine: Forging Identity in the Age of Social Contagion. They discuss why we join and leave tribes, how to form a “solid” self and what healthy group identity looks like. In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss Vice President JD Vance's new memoir on converting to Catholicism, the consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and new statutes for the Vatican's commission for the protection of minors. Plus, Pope Leo wraps up his successful trip to Spain on the Canary Islands—but has some trouble getting off them. And in As One Friend Speaks to Another, Zac shares what he's thinking about going into his very first Father's Day. 0:00 Intro 3:30 J.D. Vance's new book “Communion” 9:36 U.S. bishops meet for annual meeting in Orlando 19:44 Pope Leo finishes Spain trip 21:39 Papal plane trouble 24:25 Interview with Luke Burgis 25:52 The parable of the lost sheep 31:16 The age of social contagion 33:56 What Luke learned in seminary 38:05 Is your community good for you? 42:27 People respond to aesthetics 46:30 The importance of distance 48:46 The Catholic Church is unique as a community 57:20 What is the Cluny Institute? 1:02:25 What about AI? 1:05:24 Canonization 1:08:07 As One Friend Speaks to Another Links: The One and the Ninety-Nine: Forging Identity in the Age of Social Contagion Learn more about the Cluny Institute JD Vance writes about his journey to Catholicism in his new book, ‘Communion' Consecration 101: What the bishops' upcoming consecration of the US to the Sacred Heart means Pope Leo XIV approves new statutes for child protection commission Pope Leo ends visit to Spain with a call to repent What's on tap? Sancerre You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.   You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical.  Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all want two things that can seem at odds with each other: to be our own person and to belong. We want to stand apart from the crowd, but we also want to be connected to it. When that balance gets out of whack, we either lose ourselves in tribalism or drift into isolation.My guest today says many of the problems in modern life stem from our inability to hold these two impulses in tension. His name is Luke Burgis, and he's the author of The One and the 99: Forging Identity in the Age of Social Contagion. Today on the show, Luke explains how becoming a true individual can give you the strength to be a part of a community. We discuss the difference between a solid self and a pseudo self — and what role families and rites of passage can play in moving us toward one or the other — why modern politics feels like a dysfunctional family, the dangers of performative religion, and much more.Resources Related to the PodcastLuke's previous appearances on the AoM podcast:Episode #714: Why Do We Want What We Want?Episode #910: Thick Desires, Political Atheism, and Living an Anti-Mimetic LifeThe True Believer by Eric HofferEducation of a Wandering Man by Louis L'AmourAoM Podcast #1,025: The Life and Legacy of Louis L'AmourAoM article with L'Amour's weekly to-do listsAoM article and podcast about C.S. Lewis' The Abolition of Man and the idea of objective valueThe Courage to Be by Paul TillichThe Quest for Community by Robert NisbetAoM Podcast #847: Overdoing DemocracyAoM Podcast #1,010: How to Resist Group Anxiety and Become a Differentiated SelfAoM Article: Becoming a Well-Differentiated LeaderDying Breed article: A New Kind of Monasticism — The Power of Community to Shape the SoulThe Rule of St. BenedictConnect With Luke BurgisLuke's websiteTimestamps0:00 Introduction0:54 Guest Intro: Luke Burgis & The One and the 994:48 The Parable of the Lost Sheep & the Book's Framework10:17 Defining the Self (vs. Identity & Soul)14:37 The Pseudo Self Explained19:40 How to Develop a Solid Self25:35 Louis L'Amour & Education for a Solid Self28:18 Curiositas vs. Studiositas (Ordered vs. Disordered Knowledge)44:30 Tribalism, Politics, & the Pseudo Self45:08 How Undifferentiation Fuels Political Dysfunction51:13 Religion, Performative Piety & the Digital World54:15 What Monasteries Teach Us About Community & Solid SelvesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Given on the Sunday within the Octave of the Sacred Heart, 2026.

Jesus Followers Must Meet Jesus' Expectation of His “Great Commission” By Both “Going” and “Making Disciples” MESSAGE SUMMARY: Jesus, in Luke 15:4-7, tells us, through His Parable of The Lost Sheep, the importance to God of our discipleship: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.".   Immediately before His Ascension into Heaven Jesus told the Apostles and us today, in His Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20, that as we go into our communities and into all parts of the world, we are to make disciples: “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'”. We must begin, as followers of Jesus, to meet His fundamental expectation for us by both going and making disciples!   TODAY'S PRAYER: Abba Father, I open my clenched fists to surrender everything you have given to me. Reestablish my identity in you — not in my family, my work, my accomplishments, or what others think of me. Cleanse the things in me that are not conformed to your will. By faith I unite my will to yours so that the likeness of Jesus Christ may be formed in me. In his name, amen.         Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 85). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, because I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Anxiety. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Peace. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 28:18-20; Matthew 10:16; Matthew 16:24-28; Psalms 29:1-11.  A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Are You Willing to Speak Up and Share, Publicly, Your Relationship with Jesus”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Jesus calls every parishioner to seek out the “lost sheep” in their lives with compassion, courage, and hope. Jeff reminds us that seeking them out is not just the mission of priests or parish programs—it's the calling of every disciple. * Email us with comments or questions at thejeffcavinsshow@ascensionpress.com. Text “jeffcavins” to 33-777 to subscribe and get Jeff's shownotes delivered straight to your email! Or visit https://media.ascensionpress.com/?s=&page=2&category%5B0%5D=Ascension%20Podcasts&category%5B1%5D=The%20Jeff%20Cavins%20Show for full shownotes!

While the podcast team is taking a Radical Sabbatical, Kim is interviewing authors of the books that have had a big impact on her in the past two years.  In this episode, she's speaking with Luke Burgis about his new book, The One and the Ninety-Nine, Forging Identity in the Age of Social Contagion.  Through stories ranging from the parable of the lost sheep to August Landmesser, the only person in a huge crowd to refuse to salute to Hitler, Luke describes the missing skill that makes real community possible: learning how to remain oneself while staying connected to others. He offers practical, tactical advice for how to recognize false belonging, escape coercive dynamics, and pass through the rites of passage that produce people with integrity and courage. This is a book that will help you figure out what YOU want, so that you can go get it rather than being distracted by what others want. Guest Background: Luke Burgis is the director of The Cluny Institute and a professor at The Catholic University of America, where he studies the invisible forces that shape human behavior. He is the author of Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life. He lives in Washington, D.C., and Michigan with his wife, Claire, and their children. CHAPTERS (00:00) Introduction to the Radical Sabbatical and Luke Burgis' Book (02:09) The Meaning Behind 'The One and the 99' (03:24) Exploring the Parable of the Lost Sheep (06:05) August Landmesser: Standing Alone Against the Crowd (10:48) Family Dynamics and the Solid Self (17:55) Education and the Self: Navigating Expectations (22:37) The Role of Technology in Education (29:13) The Loss of Subtle Cues in Communication (31:37) The Evolution of Education and Rites of Passage (35:18) The Importance of Ownership in Learning (37:45) Mimetic Desire and Its Impact on Choices (40:44) Understanding Political Mimesis (46:20) The Tension of Relationships and Community (51:36) Finding Meaning in Tension and Discomfort Connect with the Radical Candor team: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices