HOCF SERMON 2023

Luke 15: The Shepherd of the Lost Sheep

Luke 15:3-7 the Shepherd of the Lost Sheep

3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7 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.

SERMON:

Good evening Church! Today the Word is pointing us to another yet one of the most famous Parables in the Bible, the Parable of the Lost Sheep. In this parable Jesus used the situation where a man who has a hundred sheep and loses one. Then he leaves the ninety nine others who are safe in the flock and go and look for that one lost sheep until he finds it and when he does, he calls his friends and neighbors to celebrate.

Now this is a very popular story to which almost everyone can relate, because before we found Jesus, we were like lost sheep. Amen? Until a shepherd found us and put us into the flock where we meet other sheep and enjoy sweet fellowship.

Now this story may sound common for many of us because we can relate to the sheep, but the Word tonight is directing us not to the sheep but to the shepherd. To look at not the situation of the sheep who got lost, but have we ever considered the situation of the shepherd?

Now all of us can relate to the sheep because all of us are sheep who once were lost and found, but not everyone is a shepherd. Not everyone leads a flock. Not everyone can actually relate to those who are tasked to oversee a flock.

Now please remember that Jesus is our Chief Shepherd, but there are some of us who were given the task to oversee the flock on behalf of the Lord Jesus. They come to us as our pastors and leaders. And this authority is not something that they want for themselves, but it is something that they are called to do. This is something they are anointed to do.

Recently, some are anointed to become pastors. Pastora Merlyn and Pastora Andrea. As to why they are chosen, only God knows. Many of us may question why the Lord has chosen these people, and some may even think they do not deserve it, but only God knows the heart of each and every person. And if there is anything common about those who are being picked to lead, is mostly those who become leaders are actually good followers. They know how to lead because they know how to obey even to the point of giving up their own happiness for the sake of others. For the sake of God's people.

Many of us do not see the suffering and pain that our pastors and leaders go through behind closed doors but when God allows us to witness makaingon jdu ka, dili jud diay sayon ang mag lead tawo. Lisod man gani mag lead bisan sa mga groupings lang sa eskwelahan. Lisod man gani mag lead sa mga grupo grupo lang sa obrahan na di na nimo kinahanglan tudluan kugn unsa ang maayo na pamatasan, unsa na lang kaha katong mag lead ka usa ka grupo sa mga tawo na ngil-ad batasan unya imong tudluan kung paano mahimong Kristohanon?

Dili sayon mga Igsuon. Kung makakita pa kamo sa pastor nga gahilak kay naglisod, kung makakita ka pa sa pastor nga dili na kasabot sa iyang gibati kay iyang gilukdo ang tanang mga problema ug issue sa simbahan, kung makakita ka pa pastor nga halos di na makahipos sa iyang kaugalingon kay mas pilion pa na unahon ang iyang responsibilidad,kung makakita pa ka pastor na bisan pa iyagn kaugalingon nga pangabuhian kay iyang i sakripisyo makatabang lang sa uban, makaingon jud ka salamat Ginuo kay naa pa mga tawo nga nagasakripisyo bisan dili man unta dapat.

You see, when we see a lost sheep, we can imagine the pain that one goes through. The Prodigal Son shows us a very good picture of what happens when a sheep leaves the flock. Una, sadya ka pa, kay wala na may magbadlong nimo. Unya daghan ka pwede mabuhat. Maghappy happy ka, dili ka maghuna-huna sa kung unsa ang imo nabiyaan kay mas importante nimo ang imong kaugalingon na kalipayan.