Sunday, August 21st, 2022 • Mission Baptist Cincinnati
We started this Sundays' Service with congregational hymns followed by our Adult Choir singing. We then enjoyed a Family singing two songs to conclude the Special Music program.
Pastor Rains then came to the pulpit to preach a sermon entitled “What Did Jesus Say About A Lost Coin?” from Luke 15:8-10. This is a continuation of a series of parables that Jesus preached that emphasized his mission in coming down from heaven into this world, seeking and saving lost sinners. After his opening remarks pastor reads the text verses. He then thanks God in prayer for our church and for the things the Holy Spirit is doing within our church. Pastor prays that God will continue helping our church to grow and also prays for everyone who attends or watches MBC online. He prays for those who are considering trusting Christ will decide to commit to being saved soon. He prayed also for the elderly in our church who are ill. Pastor then reviews last few Sunday messages, now he picks up today's message about the lost coin spoken of by Christ.
• UNEXPECTED Loss
A woman and her coins are the subject of this parable. She had hidden ten coins that she values highly. She discovers she has lost one of the ten. Jesus asks the question...won't she light a candle and sweep her house to find this coin that she knows she had saved? This lady didn't want to lose this coin. She lost the coin UNEXPECTEDLY. We don't know how long it had been since she did an inventory of her valuable coins. It is obvious that she was panicked to discover that she lost a coin from her collection. One of the messages that Jesus is giving us is to be more mindful to keep careful track of our treasures. Is it plausible that this lady was negligent in keeping the coins safe? Pastor draws a conclusion that parents need to keep track of their children (coins) at all times. If we let children be influenced by the world, they might choose the world instead of staying close to their faithful parents and find allegiance with this wicked world. The world tells kids that they are independent of their parents. It's taught in media and in our public schools. Once again, "It takes a village to raise a child" rears its' ugly head. Christian parents: Don't let this happen to your most valuable and loved gifts from God!
• UNAFFECTED Sinner
Focusing on the coin itself, Pastor points to the coin and it being an inanimate object that is utterly unaware and UNAFFECTED of its' lost state. If your children are still living in your home, either attending church or not, you must continually "check-Up" their spiritual condition by shining the light of God's word into their life. Many are lost and don't know it and are not worried about it. Complaints about church, going to church or being too lazy to care about church are warning signs we can't ignore. If we don't crack down on this behavior, it won't be long before they will declare their independence from you and the church and the God you love! It is inherited human nature to prefer sin over obedience to you and God.
• UNEARTHLY Joy
There is hope in all of this. If you are a christian parent, you CAN make a difference and God wants you to take charge of your children's life. If we detect our children are showing signs of being lost, they can be found! The great thing is we can be an instrument of God in reaching them for Christ! We can make God so very happy when we pray and work hard to continue to persuade our kids to come to Jesus. All of heaven celebrates JOYOUSLY when even one child (or anyone) repents and believes on Christ for salvation! Do you want to make God happy? Never forget your most important christian duty...to find the lost and give them the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ!