“…Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.”
Luke 15: 6-7, CSB
It’s tempting to reduce the work of ministry to volunteering at church. Ministry is not less than volunteering, but it is more. The work of the ministry is not about hitting a specific hourly volunteer quota but seeking the lost so they might know Christ.
Loving our neighbors who are far from God should be at the heart of our ministry. Sunday mornings, weekday programs and events can lead to that, but when we put all of our effort into church activities, we miss ordinary—but beautiful—moments to engage and share with those who don’t know about the love of Christ.
Send Network has identified Luke 15 as a key chapter of the Bible because Jesus shares three parables that all point to reaching the “one.” In the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost coin and the parable of the lost son, people who are furthest from Jesus seem to be the most attractive to Him.
One of the most dangerous seasons for a church planter is when they have enough members to keep them distracted from the mission. The work of ministry is the pursuit of those farthest from the kingdom. May we never lose focus on that mission.
Who’s Your One Sunday Initiative
Send Network is launching the Who’s Your One Sunday Initiative to encourage pastors to preach from Luke 15 on February 2nd—Super Bowl Sunday.
Our goal is to have every Send Network church planter and pastor preach an evangelistic message from Luke 15 and give an invitation for non-Christians to be saved and for believers to identify their one.
Join us and take part in the Who’s Your One Sunday Initiative. We believe this will lead to a movement of God through our faithfulness to share. Let us know if you plan to participate by clicking here!
As church planters and pastors, we know you’re busy so to make this as easy as possible so we have provided sample sermons from Luke 15.
We have also released several sermons from pastors in Send Network to encourage and inspire you as you plan this day for your church.
Watch the latest episode of We Are Send Network here. In this episode, Dhati Lewis and Sean Sears, pastor of Grace Church in Boston, talk about Sean’s church planting journey and his passion for Luke 15.
Published January 9, 2020
