THE BEST IS YET TO COME | WEEK 3 | THE ONE
INTRO
We are in week 3 of the “Best Is Yet To Come” series. Reaching the “one” has always been Kensington’s heartbeat.
God allowed us to do it for the past 25 years and we have no plans to stop over the next 25 years. Last week we
talked about it being “Go Time” – responding to the Bible’s direction with action. This week we’re celebrating! We
celebrate because we are God’s unlikely team. We celebrate because we are blown away by his grace. We celebrate
because we are called to work powerfully in the Holy Spirit and touch the whole world! Together we can reach the
“ONE.”
DISCUSS AS A GROUP
Have you ever lost something, retraced your steps, and came up short? Of course, yes, we all have! If it’s something
small like a soccer ball or a water bottle, you eventually stop looking. Have you ever lost something like the family
dog? The more value the lost item has, the bigger deal it is. You search harder, you stress more, and you don’t stop the
search until it’s found. What if it was YOU who were lost? How hard would you expect someone to look for you? How
much value do you have?
THE ONE
We can probably all agree that losing another person would create a range of emotions greater than you could even
imagine. Imagine a child walking away from you in the middle of a busy shopping mall. Adrenaline would overtake
your body; search and rescue mode would kick in high gear. Jesus tells us three short stories, also known as Parables,
to communicate serious loss, an urgent chase, and a joyful rescue. These stories are about you and me. And not only
does God want us to know our value to Him, but He asks us to JOIN in the search and rescue. He asks us to see value
in the single most urgent search and rescue in human history: a pursuit more important than any other pursuit. The
object of this search and rescue is you and me. Now that should get your heart pumping hard!
Let’s look at one of these parables in the book of Luke. Grab your Bible, phone app or follow along below.
READ AND DISCUSS
Luke 15:1-7 (NIV)
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law
muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 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.
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What is your first thought? Please share with the group. At first glance, you might think “why was there little concern
for the ninety-nine sheep left in the open country?” or “is the motivation of the shepherd not to lose his job?”
The sheep were not left unattended. An ancient shepherd would rarely go out alone with one hundred sheep. If a
sheep was lost the head shepherd would leave the rest of the flock safe with the hired helpers while he searched for
the lost sheep. In this same way, Jesus does not leave his followers, but He zealously seeks the lost.
Oftentimes in ancient cultures the shepherds did not own their own sheep. If you were wealthy enough to own
one hundred sheep, you could afford to have someone else watch them. So if your job is on the line or you stand to
lose even 1% of your investment, you run! Jesus is saying in this parable, “You go after the sheep. You chase it with
everything you have!” But what if it was more personal than that?
READ AND DISCUSS
Luke 10:3-4 (NIV)
3
4
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
In today’s culture we just don’t understand the personal relationship and the incredible dedication it took to be a
good shepherd. Sheep are very relational, even though they are timid, afraid, and not very smart animals. They are
completely dependent on their shepherd for all their needs. In this scripture we read that Jesus’ pursuit of the lost in
more personal than our first glance. Jesus knows everyone of us by name.
In this parable, what was the true motivation of the shepherd? Was he concerned about losing his job or stepping
away from the other ninety-nine sheep? No! The motivation is LOVE! Can you consider a motivation greater than
that? Read the following verses. Jesus refers to himself as the shepherd.
John 10:11-15 (NIV)
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does
not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock
and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd;
I know my sheep and my sheep know me — 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for
the sheep.
11
Wow, that’s an amazing relationship. Jesus said that the good shepherd is willing to die for his sheep. In verse
14 Jesus talks about a deep mutual knowledge, like that of the Father and the Son. How do you describe your
relationship with Jesus the shepherd? Do you follow His voice when he calls? Think about this for a moment. Please
share with the group if you feel that God is prompting you to.
REFLECTION
Our wording was tweaked and simplified, but the mission of Kensington has remained the same for 25 years. Read
Kensington’s new mission statement:
To see every[one] transformed and mobilized by Jesus.
Let’s take a look at each piece of this statement.
To See
It can mean to observe.
But it also can mean you don’t stop until the search is over! Like “To see it through!” or “I will see to it!”
But it also means to open our eyes.
Every(one)
Includes everyone.
But also means every “one”!! We need to learn to “see” every “one”!
Do you see every “one”? (What about in your neighborhood? Or your workplace?)
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Transformed and Mobilized
Last week we said “come” and “go”!
Transformed describes the full spectrum of change from salvation to motivation!
Mobilization encapsulates the purpose and mission of every follower of Jesus!
By Jesus
Jesus is the transforming agent!
Jesus is the one who mobilizes us to “go”!
Transformed how? However Jesus transforms people!
Mobilized to where? As long as it’s Jesus doing the mobilizing then our job is to just “go”!
CHALLENGE
How can you join in the search and rescue mission for “the one”?
Invest in people’s lives. People need you to step in. The sinner, as departed from God, is exposed to certain ruin if not
brought back to God. And often the sinner does not desire to return. Christ is earnest in bringing sinner’s home. Our
highest motive is to continue the mission of Jesus, and our greatest joy should be to see the lost found.
Invite them to a weekend service with you. People need to hear that they matter to God. If they matter to God, then
they should matter to us! The urgency is high. There is more at stake than we realize. Jesus reminds his disciples in
John 20:21 “as the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
Invite and Invest. Take a moment to consider who you can invest and invite. Make a list; actually write down some
names. Who comes to mind? Ask God for clarity and boldness to act. Matthew 18:12-14 says “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? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about
the other ninety-nine that did not wander off.” Our Father in Heaven, the Shepherd-King of urges you to join into
the rescue mission for “the one.”
EXTRA READING
The three parables in Luke 15 were addressed to the Pharisees and scribes who were complaining about Jesus
lifestyle and his welcoming of tax collectors and sinners. Go back to the book of Luke and read the other two
parables:
The Parable of the Lost Coin – Luke 15:8-10
The Parable of the Lost Son – Luke 15:11-32
Psalm 23 was written by King David as a profession of joyful trust in the Lord as the good Shepherd-King. In ancient
times the metaphor of shepherd was a royal one, with connotations of strong leadership but tender care. Read Psalm
23:1-6 a few times. Reflect on its sweet words affirming total security under the shepherd’s care.