Message Summary

The sermon focuses on Jesus' parable of the lost sheep, exploring how we are all both a little lost and a little found. Pastor Glenn challenges the traditional interpretations of seeing ourselves solely as either the lost sheep or the searching shepherd, suggesting instead that we exist in the 'messy middle.' The message emphasizes that God cares deeply for those who are lost and that our own experiences of feeling lost can help us connect with and help others who are feeling similarly.

What's the most memorable time you've ever been physically lost (like in a new city or on a hiking trail)? How did you eventually find your way?

Key Verses

  • Luke 15:4

  • Luke 15:5-6

  • Luke 15:7

Study Questions

  • When was a time in your life when you felt spiritually or emotionally lost? What helped you find your way?

  • How does viewing yourself as both 'lost and found' change your perspective on your spiritual journey?

  • Why do you think the Pharisees struggled so much with Jesus welcoming sinners and eating with them?

  • The sermon suggests that sometimes being lost isn't our fault. How does this perspective change how we view and treat others who seem lost?

  • What does it mean that 'none of us are found until all of us are found'?

  • How can our own experiences of feeling lost help us better connect with others who are struggling?

  • What barriers might prevent us from reaching out to those who seem lost?

  • How can we create a more welcoming community for those who feel lost or disconnected?

Life Application

This week, identify one person in your life who might be feeling lost or disconnected. Make a specific plan to reach out to them - whether through a phone call, invitation to coffee, or simple message letting them know you're thinking of them.

Key Takeaways

  • We all exist in the 'messy middle' - being both a little lost and a little found

  • God celebrates when lost people are found, without requiring perfection or complete transformation

  • Our own experiences of being lost can help us connect with and help others

  • The shepherd's goal isn't uniformity but gathering all sheep safely together

  • God's grace works through the cracks in our lives to bring new growth

A Prayer For the Week

Lord Jesus, thank you for being our Good Shepherd who seeks us when we're lost. Help us to embrace both our lostness and foundness, and use our experiences to reach out to others who feel lost. Give us courage to be vulnerable and compassionate as we connect with those around us. In Your name we pray, Amen.

5 Day Devotional

The Space Between Lost & Found

Life isn't always black and white. Sometimes we find ourselves in the gray areas, especially in our faith journey. We might feel simultaneously close to God and distant, confident yet questioning. This reality isn't a sign of failure - it's part of being human. Just like a sheep that gradually wanders from the flock, we might find ourselves drifting not because of intentional rebellion, but because life's circumstances have slowly led us away. The beautiful truth is that God understands this complexity and meets us exactly where we are.

Bible Verse

"Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, 'This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.'" - Luke 15:1-2

Reflection Question

In what areas of your life do you feel both lost and found? How does acknowledging this tension affect your relationship with God?

Quote 

"Maybe we're not only lost, maybe we're not only found, but maybe we're always a little bit lost and a little bit found."

Prayer

Loving Shepherd, thank you for understanding the complexity of our hearts. Help us embrace the journey of faith, even when we feel caught between lost and found. Give us peace in knowing that You are with us in every step. Amen.

God's love operates differently than human love. While we often want explanations, demand changes, or require promises before extending forgiveness, God simply welcomes us back. There's no interrogation, no guilt trip, no list of requirements. This unconditional acceptance mirrors the heart of the shepherd who, upon finding his lost sheep, simply rejoices. This profound truth should transform how we view both our own moments of wandering and how we respond to others who feel lost.

Bible Verse

"And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home." - Luke 15:5

Reflection Question

How might your relationships change if you adopted God's approach of unconditional welcome rather than judgment or demands?

Quote 

"When he finds you, he won't ask you any embarrassing questions, won't lay a load of guilt on you, won't make you do anything at all. We'll just scoop you up in his arms and take you back to the flock and call for a big party."

Prayer

Father, thank you for your unconditional love. Help us extend the same grace to others that You so freely give to us. Transform our hearts to reflect Your accepting love. Amen.

DevotionalOur struggles and wounds aren't just scars to hide - they're bridges that connect us to others who are hurting. When we've experienced feeling lost, we develop a unique capacity to understand and comfort others in similar situations. This isn't despite our wounds, but because of them. God uses our experiences, even the painful ones, to create authentic connections and bring healing to others.

Bible Verse

"Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.'" - Luke 15:6

Reflection Question

What painful experiences in your life have equipped you to better understand and help others? How can you use these experiences to show God's love?

Quote 

"It is our wounds that make us able to connect with other wounded people."

Prayer

Gracious God, thank you for not wasting our pain. Use our wounds as channels of Your healing love to others. Help us see our struggles as opportunities to connect and serve. Amen.

Sometimes life feels broken, cracked, and imperfect. Yet it's often in these very cracks that God's light shines through most brilliantly. Like a flower pushing through a crack in the pavement, new life can emerge from our brokenness. God specializes in using our imperfections as opportunities for growth and transformation. When we feel most broken, He's already at work bringing beauty from ashes.

Bible Verse

"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." - Luke 15:7

Reflection Question

Where do you see God bringing new life through the broken places in your life? How can you remain hopeful during times of brokenness?

Quote 

"The tiniest crack in our life. And God will find a way to bring new life there."

Prayer

Creator God, thank you for being the God of new beginnings. Help us trust Your ability to bring beauty from brokenness and hope from despair. Make us vessels of Your transforming power. Amen.

We're all on this journey together, each of us experiencing moments of being both lost and found. Our shared experiences create a beautiful tapestry of community where we can support and encourage one another. When we recognize that none of us has it all figured out, we can drop our pretenses and create authentic connections. This is how the shepherd's flock grows - not through perfection, but through genuine fellowship.

Bible Verse

"Then Jesus told them this parable: 'Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.'" - Luke 15:3-4

Reflection Question

How can you help create a community where people feel safe to be honest about their struggles and journey of faith?

Quote 

"Maybe none of us are found until all of us are found. Think about that a minute. Maybe none of us are really found until all of us are found."

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for creating a community of believers. Help us support one another with grace and understanding. Make us instruments of Your love and acceptance to all who feel lost. Amen.