Baa, Baa, Lost Sheep, 365 DAYS OF LOVE #101

PASSAGE: Matthew 18:12-14, Luke 15:3-7, Luke 23

MEMORY VERSE: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16

NOTES: Matthew 18:12-14: "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost."
Luke 15:6-7: "Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7I 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."
What does it mean to be found?
Luke 23 highlights:
-Before Jesus was crucified, he was taken to trial before an official named Pilate. In v.13, the Bible says that Pilate could find NOTHING wrong that Jesus did--but the people still wanted him to be crucified! Wanting to please the people but knowing the Jesus was innocent, Pilate offered them to choose between Jesus or Barabbas, a MURDERER, to set free. Immediately the crowd shouted for Jesus to be crucified!
-Pilate had no choice but to send Jesus off to be crucified, but even as Jesus was about to be killed on the cross, he asked God to forgive the very people who wanted to kill him! (v.34 "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
-The people continued to mock and insult him on the cross. Jesus gave his last breath when he surrendered his spirit to God (v.46) . He was buried by a man named Joseph who prepared a tomb for him.
Jesus understood that his own murderers were lost without the love of God, which is why he died on the cross for them, and for us. To be found means believing and putting your faith in Jesus' story, and obeying what God calls us to do through the Bible. Every time one of you are found, ALL of heaven rejoices with a giant party celebration! Because of Jesus, we have the opportunity to gain eternal life with Him (transition into memory verse).

ACT OF LOVE: Today was Day 1 of Vacation Bible School! It was a great (and hectic) day of music, Bible stories, skits, crafts, recreation, and learning! My acts of love:
-giving my friend my drink that had more soda in it because they ran out of soda and he only had a tiny bit in his cup
-helping my mom change the smoke alarm