By Lane Corley
ALEXANDRIA, La. – Luke 15 is foundational for church planters who want to reach the lost:
Am I approachable by lost people? “tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to him” (v. 1)
Am I spending time with the lost? “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them” (v. 2)
Do I place greater value on one lost person over a crowd who are right with God? (v. 7, 10)
Is my search for the lost careful, deliberate, diligent, risky? (v. 4, 8)
Do I have compassion or contempt for those far from God? (v. 20, 28)
Reaching the lost may mean:
- You’ll be misunderstood by religious people.
- You should focus on fewer people, rather than large crowds.
- You are engaging in careful, deliberate, diligent, time consuming work.
- You’ll lay aside contempt for sin, to throw your arms around sinners.
- You’ll start celebrations in heaven.
Let’s make it about the lost.
Lane Corley is a Louisiana Baptist church planting strategist and pastor of the Bridge Church in Madisonville.
