Jesus Was Missional:

He Was Passionate for People

By Rick Hermann

“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’ So, He told them this parable: ‘What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.’” Luke 15:1-7

Jesus went to parties that were full of sinners. He touched untouchable lepers and healed them. He cared deeply about people. He came to seek and to save those who were lost. Many times when Jesus would see a crowd, the Bible says that, “He had compassion on them.” The word for compassion means to feel it in your intestines, like a gut punch. Jesus cared so much for people that it made Him ache inside.

   Have you ever lost something so expensive or valuable that it made you feel sick? Recently, my wife lost her phone on a family vacation. After two days of actively searching, we finally found the phone. People are so much more valuable than phones, but sometimes we just walk by others without a thought that they may be a lost soul. The same way a shepherd looks for his lost sheep, and we look for a lost phone, that’s how much Jesus says we should care about lost souls.

ACTION POINT

At Christ Place, we’ve often talked about our B.L.E.S.S. strategy. It’s our way to reach lost people we love in our sphere of influence. We have been challenged to list the names of five people we want to see come to Christ; we call it our My5 list.

B.L.E.S.S. is an acronym that stands for:

• Begin with Prayer
• Listen
• Eat a Meal
• Serve
• Share.

Will you take the next step to bless someone in your My5 list today?

STUDENTS

Pray through and create a My5 list if you haven’t already done so. Ask for opportunities to B.L.E.S.S. those on your list.

KIDS

Discuss with your kids one person they know who does not know Jesus. Begin praying each night for that child.

PRAYER

Jesus, help me to care about lost people the way that You do. Help me to share my faith with them. Help my family to be a family that cares about lost people and helps them come to faith in You.