https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/ValueOfSouls.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n\tby Jeffrey W. Hamilton<\/p>\n\t
Text: Luke 15:1-10<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I. It is far too easy to lose sight of the goal<\/p>\n A. We look at the sin in the world around us, knowing that we are not to get caught\nup in it – Romans 6:1-2\n
B. We don’t want to be influenced by the world – I John 2:15-17<\/p>\n C. But in the effort to maintain our moral purity, we forget that it must be done while\nliving in the world – I Corinthians 5:9-10\n D. We cannot isolate ourselves from the sinners of this world because it is those\nsinner who need the gospel so desperately.\n
1. Our duty is to reach the lost in the world with the gospel – Matthew 28:19-20<\/p>\n
II. People do forget<\/p>\n
A. Mark 2:16-17 – Aid needs to be given to those who need it the most.<\/p>\n
B. The Jews couldn’t see past the sins – Luke 15:1-2<\/p>\n 1. In the confrontations between the Pharisees and Jesus, they could not find\nanything wrong with Jesus so they attempted to pin blame by association.\n 2. “A person who hangs around with sinners must have things in common\nwith them”\n
C. Jesus answers with three parables to explain why we must change our attitude<\/p>\n
1. Luke 15:4-7 – The lost sheep<\/p>\n a. How much effort is one willing to give to bring just one animal\nback?\n b. The scribes and Pharisees were looking at the situation wrongly.\nThey saw sinners. Jesus saw people who needed saving.\n
c. Jesus left his throne of glory to seek and save the lost – Luke 19:10<\/p>\n d. Every soul is precious and God wants every effort made to rescue\nwhat is lost.\n (1) In a way, the lost soul is more important to God because of\nthe fact that it is lost.\n
2. Luke 15:8-10 – The lost coin<\/p>\n a. This parable emphasis the effort a person is willing to give to find\nsomething lost.\n b. How many of you have torn up your whole house just to find an\nitem that could have been replace in less time than it took you to\ntear up the house?\n c. The coin was a drachma, worth about a day’s wage. She had nine\nothers, but the realizes the lost one is valuable enough to put effort\ninto finding it.\n d. People get excited at finding a lost coin, how much more exciting\nis it to rescue a lost soul?\n
3. Luke 15:11-32 – The lost son<\/p>\n
a. Here the emphasis switches from the seeker to the lost.<\/p>\n b. The son who left represents the lost sinners. We learn that the lost\nare in that state by their own choice. They return also by their own\nchoice.\n
c. God wants the sinner back even though they left him.<\/p>\n
(1) He is able to forgive and forget all past wrongs.<\/p>\n d. The joy of return again is expressed, but notice the reaction of the\nelder brother who did not stray.\n (1) The Pharisees and scribes were represented by the older son\nwho was too caught up in his own righteousness to see the\nvalue in another person’s return.\n
III. It is so easy to become self-righteous<\/p>\n
A. We stay on the straight and narrow. We know that what we do is pleasing to God.<\/p>\n B. When we see how the lost are ruining themselves, it is easy to fall in the snare of\npride.\n 1. Our focus becomes what I want, what I need, instead of looking out for the\nneeds of others – Philippians 2:3-4\n
C. The disciples fell into this trap – Luke 9:51-54<\/p>\n
D. This is the trap Jonah fell in<\/p>\n
1. Jonah did not want to teach in Nineveh – Jonah 1:1-3<\/p>\n
a. Nineveh was the enemy of Israel.<\/p>\n b. Jonah was not interested in their salvation, he wanted to see them\ndestroyed.\n 2. When Jonah was forced to go, he taught that they only had 40 days – Jonah\n3:1-4\n a. I’m sure Jonah did not mind that those who heard his message\nwould soon be dead.\n
b. I’m sure the reaction was not what Jonah was expecting.<\/p>\n
c. The people from the lowest to the greatest, turned! – Jonah 3:5-9<\/p>\n
3. So God changed his mind – Jonah 3:10<\/p>\n
4. Jonah was furious! <\/p>\n a. God would not have mercy on him! He made Jonah go and preach\nto his enemies – Jonah 4:1-3\n (1) How soon he forgot his rescue from the whale! Was that\nnot mercy?\n (2) See how he applies mercy to himself, but not to his\nenemies?\n
5. God teaches Jonah a lesson – Jonah 4:4-11<\/p>\n
a. Jonah cared more for the plant than a city full of people!<\/p>\n
b. Jonah had done nothing for the plant, but he did teach a whole city.<\/p>\n c. 120,000 people turned because of one man’s teaching! Should\nGod not have pity on such people?\n
IV. We need to keep our focus.<\/p>\n A. Luke 15:10 – When someone responds to God’s message, there is excitement that\nreaches all the way to heaven!\n B. Each and every person, no matter how high or low stationed in life is important to\nGod.\n C. Ezekiel 33:11 – God doesn’t look forward to punishing the wicked. He will do so,\nbut he would rather that each person turn to him. He leaves the choice to the\nindividual.\n
D. II Peter 3:9 – God would like everyone to turn to him<\/p>\n E. There are precious souls to snatch away from the true enemy. Each one is a\ntremendous victory for our Savior.\n
F. II Timothy 2:24-26 – See how the emphasis is on the lost, and not the saved.<\/p>\nV. If we spend countless hours reaching out to someone lost, is it not worth it if they turn\nback to God?\n A. It is a matter of priorities. Too often we make our convenience and our comfort a\npriority.\n
B. How valuable is your neighbor’s soul to you?<\/p>\n C. And know that God values every one of His children, but to find a lost child is far\nmore important.\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 15:1-10 I. It is far too easy to lose sight of the goal A. We look at the sin in the world around us, knowing that we are not to get caught up in it – Romans 6:1-2 B. We don’t want to be influenced by the world – I John…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[536,451],"class_list":["post-63637","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-preaching","tag-teaching"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":79006,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/we-depend-on-gods-grace-for-salvation\/","url_meta":{"origin":63637,"position":0},"title":"We Depend on God’s Grace for Salvation","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 17, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Raymond Warfel [The first passage was Acts 15:6-11]","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":61949,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-there-meaning-to-my-life\/","url_meta":{"origin":63637,"position":1},"title":"Is There Meaning to My Life?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 22, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Job 14 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0What will have changed because you have lived? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0People have longed wondered what the meaning of life is, but I think it more important to consider what meaning there is in your life. II.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0What is your life? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Perhaps a strange\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":62837,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-inheritance\/","url_meta":{"origin":63637,"position":2},"title":"The Inheritance","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 22, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Revelation 21:6-8 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Christian\u2019s relationship with God is described by several metaphors \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We are servants - I Corinthians 4:1 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The emphasis is on our obeying the will of our Master \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We are priests - I Peter 2:4-5, 9 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We are able to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":28994,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/biblical-paradoxes-in-the-world-but-not-of-the-world\/","url_meta":{"origin":63637,"position":3},"title":"Biblical Paradoxes: In the World, But Not of the World","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 19, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 17:6-16 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A paradox is a true statement that either is contrary to conventional wisdom or is seemingly absurd \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Paradoxes can be a useful tool in teaching because it requires you to think more carefully about what is being said. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Most people, when they\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":26136,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/basically-good\/","url_meta":{"origin":63637,"position":4},"title":"Basically Good","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 20, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"by Garry Floyd I used Ecclesiastes 7:29 to make the point that mankind is not basically good. The \u201cBasically Good\u201d title denotes the idea that mankind\u2019s standard of good, outside of God\u2019s standard, makes it not good, not even \u2018basically good\u2019 as most people think they are. My concern is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":45775,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/peace-perfect-peace\/","url_meta":{"origin":63637,"position":5},"title":"Peace, Perfect Peace","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 27, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: James 3:13-18 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Peace is a commodity much desired and rarely found \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0As Christians we are told to live in peace - II Corinthians 13:11 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0God is a God of peace - Philippians 4:7 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0So we expect that those following His teachings find peace -\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63637","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63637"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63637\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63637"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63637"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63637"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}