Dear Christian friends:

You know that last weekend several of our members and myself attended the International Lutheran Deaf Association (ILDA) Convention at Memphis, Tenn. The theme of the Convention was Go And Tell, about evangelism work, about our responsibility and privilege to go and tell others the Good News about Jesus our Savior.

Two pastors from Wisconsin led the discussion on that: Rev. Martin Kosche from Delavan, and Rev. Gary Bomberger of Madison. (You know that Rev. Bobberger is a son-in-law of Donal Fairmans. Also we heard three fine sermons urging us to go and tell.

Our text here also tells about that responsibility and privilege. It chiefly tells about the pleasure and joy we can have if we obey Jesus and do that work. Searching and finding the lost sinners gives us much joy. Yes, it is hard work and often we are frustrated in that work and often people mock us if we do that work, but nevertheless it is great joy and pleasure when we find someone and help him to believe in Jesus.


We must remember that Jesus wants us to find the lost. Who are the lost ones? Those people who do not yet believe in Jesus. Those people who continue doing wrongs and sins against God. The lost means the sinners.

I think we are glad to win and accept new members in our church if they are nice and respectable people like ourselves. We like to see our church grow. But are we eager and happy to find and win someone who is not nice, who has a bad reputation among the deaf? Would you be glad if a jailbird wanted to join our church? Would you be glad if a former deaf peddler wanted to join our church? Would you be glad if a mentally retarded person wanted to join our church?

The Pharisees and the law teachers in our text were displeased when some people with bad names came to hear Jesus preach. They were very upset and said, "Jesus accepts sinners and eats with them." (verses 1-2) I think we often act like the Pharisees and Law Teachers. That is shame on us.

So Jesus has a good lesson for us about the lost sheep. Another time Jesus said, "they that are well not need a doctor, but they that are sick. I not come here to call the righteous, but the sinners to repentance."

We should think like Jesus. Don't only visit with good church members, but go visit the weak ones and those who have strayed away and are now lost in sin. They need your visit more than the good, strong members.

Some good, regular church members often complain, "Pastor never comes to visit me." But they should not complain about that; it means they are okay, spiritually healthy and not in need of extra attention from him. Pastor should spend most of his time visiting people who are not good members, who are weak, or who have strayed away and are lost. A doctor does not visit the healthy people. Maybe once a year for a check-up. The doctor spends most of his time seeing the sick. The pastor should spend most of his time visiting the people who are spiritually sick or dead. Like Jesus we should leave the ninety-nine good "sheep" and go looking to find the lost sheep.

Jesus wants us to feel worried and responsible about members who stray away or people who have not yet joined the church who are very bad sinners. Maybe a peddler, or drunkard, or prostitute, no-matter how bad they are, Jesus wants us to go and find them. He can change them and make them become new persons.

When we see that happen, someone changes and becomes a believer in Jesus we have great joy.

Like the shepherd here in our text rejoiced when he found the lost sheep, same we will rejoice when through our work someone lost is found. Here's a short story to help you appreciate this idea: Mary and Ann, sitting in church were crying. Why? One year ago their pastor asked them, "Will you teach in Sunday School?" Mary answered, "Yes," and she studied hard to make here lessons interesting and valuable for her class. She visited various homes and invited the children in the neighborhood to come to Sunday School. One girl and her parents accepted Mary's invitation. This Sunday the ten year old girl and her parents were being baptized in the service. Mary was crying because of joy.

Ann, when the pastor asked her to teach Sunday School answered, "No!" She didn't want to get up early on Sunday mornings and study hard. She hadn't won anyone for Jesus. She felt ashamed and guilty. That's why she was crying. (Go and Tell page 17)

How many of you can look around the church today and see someone you found and led to Jesus? If you can see someone here whom you invited and found, you have great joy today. You have experienced the joy of finding the lost ones. There is no greater joy than that.

Not only do you here on earth rejoice, but God also rejoices. All the angels and saints in heaven rejoice, too. Jesus says, "Joy shall be in heaven because one sinner repents." (verse 7)

So I hope you will try harder to find the lost ones and lead them to know Jesus our dear Savior. Take time to do that work. Don't say that you are too busy. Here is a poem that will help you to remember:

What Would He Say?

If He should come today
And find my hands so full
Of future plans, however fair,
In which my Saviour has no share,
What would He say'

If He should come today
And find my love so cold,
My faith so very weak and dim
I had not even looked for Him.
What would He say'

If He should come today
And find that I had not told
One soul about my Heavenly Friend
Whose blessings all my way attend,
What would He say'

If He should come today
Would I be glad, quite glad'
Remembering that He died for all
And none through me had heard His call,
What would He say?

And another more positive poem:
When I Enter That Beautiful City

When I enter that beautiful city,
Far removed from earth's sorrow and care,
I want to hear somebody saying,
“It was you who invited me here.”

One of the great pleasures and joys that I have when I go to the ILDA conventions is to meet again many deaf people whom I found and baptized and led to Jesus. When I go to the ILDA Convention and see them still active members and see them growing in their faith, I have great joy. Same will you!

You want great joy? Then go and look for lost sheep and lead them to Jesus.

Amen.