1. A Word of Warning (13)
Our ignorance of these matters would do nothing but breed hopelessness.


2. A Word of Instruction (14-17)
a. Reality of the gospel (14)
All this only makes sense if you believe Jesus died for our sins.

b. Return of Jesus with the saints (14)
He is going to be accompanied by all those people who died believing in Him.

c. Resurrection of the bodies of departed saints (16) (I Corinthians 15:12-23)

d. Rapture of living believers (17)
(Matthew 24:40; Romans 14:8; Psalms 116:15; I Cor. 15:53)

e. Reunion of believers (17)
We will get to see our departed loved ones again.


3. A Word of Comfort (18)
“These words” change our attitudes about the difficulties of life.

Christian hope has immediate, practical benefit.

1. The sheep got lost by getting by getting disoriented and separated from the shepherd. (4-7)

When we lose track of our source of our guidance system, we start nibbling on different things that interest us.

How does a sheep get found? The shepherd has to leave the flock, go find the sheep, and carry it back to the fold.
When we are spiritually lost, God provides with the resources to find our way back to Him.


2. The coin got lost because of carelessness. (8-10)
Spiritually, we get lost because of wrong turns we make.
How was the lost coin found? The woman had to realize her coin was lost.
Before we can be saved, we must first admit that we have sinned.


3. The son became lost because of rebellion. (11-32)
We often think we know a better way than what God has instructed and prepared and provided for us to take.
How was the lost son found? He realized his father's way was the best way and the right way after all.
We must discover there is only one way to where we want to be, and that is through faith in Jesus Christ.


There is great rejoicing whenever what is lost has been found.
God wants to find you.  

You cannot be a good father until you are a good man.

God is looking for
1. Men Who Have Learned to Lean. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
a. for Salvation (Eph. 2:8-9)
Salvation depends totally on what God has done for you.
b. for Strength (Is.40:30; Ps. 147:10-11)
You can keep on standing, no matter how much the world knocks you down.
c. for Supply (Phil. 4:19)
Being “breadwinner" is not an excuse to neglect your wife and kids.
d. for Soundness (James 1:5)
in wisdom and reasoning


2. Men Who Have Learned to Lead
a. their Families (Eph. 5:23; 6:4)
Being head of the household is about loving leadership.
b. the Fallen to Jesus (I Peter 3:15)
our most basic and urgent obligation
c. the Fellowship
There has been an epidemic of absentee laymen leaders in the church.

Areas in which we can give to the Lord
1. Time
2. Ability - one ability we can all give to the Lord is availability
3. Self

Principle #1 – You Get Out According to What You Put In. (vs. 6)

God deserves some quantity time, just like your loved ones do.
He can use you as much as you are willing to be used.


Principle #2 – True Giving Overflows. (vs. 7)
It's good to give even if it hurts.
True giving goes beyond making a sacrifice and being a martyr. It flows from the heart.


Principle #3 - Give and You Get More to Give. (8-11)
Some have taken this principle only half-way.
God gives to you so that you can keep giving.


Principle #4 – We Give Only Because of the Gift Given to Us.
a. Every moment we have to breathe is a miracle.
b. God enabled us with different things that each of us can do particularly well.
​c. We love only because He first loved us.( I John 4:10, 19)

If we are serious about following Jesus, it may come to sacrificing everything just for the sake of having Him in our lives.

Old Testament prophets- “to obey is better than sacrifice.”

Revealed in this account
1. God's sacrifice for us is a replica of  Abraham's sacrifice.
vs. 2, 12, 16 “your son, your only son, whom you love.”


2. the principle of substitutionary atonement
God Himself will provide the lamb.”
Jehovah Jireh- “the Lord will provide.


3. absolute belief in the resurrection
It was this kind of faith in the resurrecting power of God
that was credited to Abraham as righteousness.

comparisons between Isaac and Jesus
a. both were born under supernatural circumstances
b. both were described as the chosen seed of their race
c. both became servants to be sacrificed for sin

Romans 12:1- We are to present our bodies as living sacrifices to God.

What are you withholding from God?