Introduction: 
This parable shows us the importance of each and every member of the body.  We can see how much emphasis is placed on restoring even just one erring member. 

I. Jesus is the “Good Shepherd” 

He cares about each of the sheep 
KJV John 10:7-14 
7.  Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 
 8.  All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 
 9.  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 
 10.  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 
 11.  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 
 12.  But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 
 13.  The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 
 14.  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 

He gave his life for the sheep 
KJV John 10:15 
 15.  As the Father knoweth me, even so I know the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 

He is the “great shepherd” 
KJV Hebrews 13:20 
20.  Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 

He has compassion and will feed those without a shepherd – the lost 
KJV Mark 6:34-44 
 34.  And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. 
 35.  And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: 
 36.  Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. 
 37.  He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? 
 38.  He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. 
 39.  And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. 
 40.  And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. 
 41.  And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. 
 42.  And they did all eat, and were filled. 
 43.  And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. 
 44.  And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men. 

Man cannot live by bread alone 
KJV Luke 4:4 
4. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. 

II. We can fall away 

If our hearts are like the rocky soil 
KJV Luke 8:13 
13. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. 

We will die if we live worldly lives 
KJV Romans 8:12-13 
12.  Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 
 13.  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 

Congregations can fall/yet there we a few that did not 
KJV Revelation 3:1-5 
1.  And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 
 2.  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 
 3.  Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 
 4.  Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 
 5.  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 
  

III. If we fall away, we need to come back 

Christ is waiting, repent 
KJV Revelation 3:14-22 
14.  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; these things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 
15.  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 
16.  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 
17.  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 
18.  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 
19.  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 
20.  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 
21.  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 
22.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. 

Repent and turn to God 
KJV Acts 26:20 
 20.  But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. 

Conclusion: 
KJV Amos 4:12 
 12.  Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. 
 
 
 

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