Lost and found

Topics: lost and found

I. Two ways to be lost!

A. The irreligious way to be lost!

1. However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods (Galatians 4:8).
2. "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Lk 19:10).
3. "And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living" (Luke 15:13).

B. The religious way to be lost!

1. How is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? (Galatians 4:9b).
2. But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62).
3. "Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?" So they said to one another, "Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt" (Numbers 14:3, 4).
4. "But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him" (Luke 15:28).

II. One way to be found!

*The relationship way to be found!

1. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God (Galatians 4:9a).
2. But if anyone loves God, he is known by Him (1 Corinthians 8:3).
3. "And he said to him, 'Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found' " (Luke 15:31, 32).

Sermon by Pastor Rod Akins, January 12^th, 2025

Life group flow and discussion questions

"Lost and Found"

An important Guideline of Life Groups: Don't assume that each person in your Life Group has been saved. Many will come to Jesus on judgment day thinking they are saved, but were only trusting in what they have done, not in what Jesus has done for them (See Matthew 7:21-23 and John 6:40).

Getting Started:

1. When you think of someone who is "lost" spiritually, what do you envision? What is the difference between the irreligious lost and the religious lost?
2. How does the "Prodigal Son" parable (Luke 15:11-32) illustrate that one can be lost in the world or lost in the house?

Discussing Truths:

1. What are some "weak and worthless elemental things" (Gal 4:9) that people turn to today and become enslaved to religious legalism (Colossians 2:16-23)?
2. How can the "weakness" of religion be replaced with the "power" of the Holy Spirit?
3. Why do you think people are tempted to turn back to legalistic practices in their spiritual journey?
4. What point is Paul trying to emphasize when he says, "But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God" (Galatians 4:9)?
5. It's time to grow up spiritually by recognizing that legalism can give an appearance of maturity, but it actually leads to childhood slavery again (2 Timothy 3:5).

Now What? Application:

1. Take inventory of your own walk with God and make sure that our adversary, the devil has not deceived you into trusting in your own goodness instead of our Lord and Savior (review Paul's words to the Galatians: 1:6; 2:21; 3:1; 3:3; 5:4; 5:7).
2. Remember that it is LOVE, not LAW that motivates us in life to live for the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:14), so take time to nurture your LOVE for the Lord and for people.