Luke 19:10 NLT: "For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost."

Luke 15:1-7 NLT: "Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people-even eating with them! So Jesus told them this story: 'If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, "Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep." In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away!'"

Five Steps to Joining the Mission of Christ

1. See the MISSION.

• It's possible for church people to not SEE the mission. The Pharisees completely missed it. They were professional at having church, but were incompetent about God's mission.
• I pray all blinders come off and we SEE the mission of Christ.
• His mission is simple-SAVE PEOPLE!

2. Forsake the DISTRACTIONS.

• Our past - Philippians 3:13 NLT: "No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead."
• Our pleasure - Hebrews 12:1 NLT: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."
• Our pursuits - Luke 14:17-20 NLT: "When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, 'Come, the banquet is ready.' But they all began making excuses. One said, 'I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.' Another said, 'I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.' Another said, 'I now have a wife, so I can't come.'"

3. Embrace the STRATEGY.

• LOVE in our hearts
• GOODNESS in our hands
• GOOD NEWS in our mouths
  • The power of testimony
  • The power of the gospel

4. Join the SEARCH.

Where there is pain, there is potential. When the waters are deep, listen for the cries.

5. Celebrate the ONE.

What is the thing that brings you the greatest joy? Let's radically rejoice when one person finds the Lord!