Matthew 11:12 NIV84 — From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.  

Luke 15:1–7 NIV84 — 1 Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all  gathering around to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost  sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

What did Jesus see that others missed?

One is MISSING

1. There is a moment of panic when you realize a person is missing. Jesus  approached people with that same tenacity.
2. Luke 19:10 NIV84 — For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. 
3. Three reasons people are lost 
   1. They wandered—the sheep.
   2. They were dropped—the coin
   3. They rebelled—the son.

One is VALUABLE.

1. To Jesus, people were extremely valuable. 
2. Why are souls valuable? 
   1. THEY LIVE FOREVER. 
   2. THEY ARE MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE (imago Dei).
      1. Spirit 
      2. Ruler 
      3. Relationship 
   3. THEY REPRESENT MORE SOULS. 
   4. THEY HAVE A CALLING.

One is LOVED. Let’s face it—we are talking about God’s kids. He feels it more deeply than any of us.

1. He feels responsible—the sheep. 
2. He feels possession—the coin. 
3. He feels compassion—the son.

One is CELEBRATED.

1. “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons  who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:7 NIV84).
2. With billions of people on the earth, how do the angels rejoice when ONE SINNER REPENTS
3. Notice the ONE always finds ONE, and then everyone rejoices!

What does it mean to focus on one soul at a time?

• I know you want to win the world, but sometimes that keeps us from focusing on ONE.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a name.
• That one name is about to be the object of your searching.
• The faster you find one, the faster you can start a new search.