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Luke 15:1-7 (Common English Bible)
All the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around Jesus to listen to him. 2 The Pharisees and legal experts were grumbling, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose someone among you had one hundred sheep and lost one of them. Wouldn’t he leave the other ninety-nine in the pasture and search for the lost one until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he is thrilled & places it on his shoulders. 6 When he arrives home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Celebrate with me because I’ve found my lost sheep.’ 7 In the same way, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who changes both heart and life than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to change their hearts & lives.
Summary:
Based on the book by Dr. Candace M. Lewis and Dr. Rodney T. Smothers, Resurgence is a movement toward renewal, revival and recovery of relevance in ministry. This month, we explore our calling to surge forward as followers of Jesus and in ministry with our community.
The church is called to celebrate recovery! God rejoices in the salvation and recovery of “the one” who was lost. We are called to celebrate God’s work in each of us. With resurgence, we don’t resent each other, but rejoice for one another! When we are recovered, we don’t return to the family that was, but to new dynamics with new expectations. Let us rejoice together in the new life God brings!
Reflection Questions:
- What have you “recovered” from? Were you the same person after you came back?
- Why is it hard to “go back home” sometimes?
- How is God calling the church to “recover” its relevance in ministry?