Explore a heartwarming invitation to spiritual enlightenment with International Gospel Hour. Host Jeff Archie leads us through biblical lessons, emphasizing the tragic consequences of living outside of Jesus. Discover how free resources like the ‘Reasons to Believe’ book or online Bible courses can support your faith journey, inviting you to draw closer to the shepherd and to bring back those who have unconsciously strayed. Join us as we engage in a reflective discussion aimed at guiding each listener back to the pathways of faith and righteousness.
My, could not Jesus draw a crowd, as we would say? People from every lifestyle like you and I. Well, let’s draw near to the teachings of Jesus. Coming up from the International Gospel Hour, stay right here.
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Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour.
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For 90 years, churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through International Gospel Hour. You are about to listen to another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, starting now.
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Well, thank you to our J-Web, and greetings to all of you. We are honored for each and every listener of the International Gospel Hour radio broadcast. Thank you for being with us today. I want to give you something a little special. we are going to share with you a free book giveaway for this broadcast. We have the book from our friends at ApologeticsPress.org, Reasons to Believe by Eric Lyons and Kyle Butt. Here’s all you need to do to get this free book. That’s right, friends. We don’t want your money. We will not ask for your money from International Gospel Hour Broadcasts. All you have to do is call us toll free at 855-444-6988. That’s 855-444-6988. And leave your name, address, and just say, Reasons to Believe. That’s all. Now you can go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com. Click on the contact tab and leave us the same information, your name, address, and just type Reasons to Believe in the message box. And we will send that free book to you as soon as possible. Again, that’s our book giveaway for this broadcast, Reasons to Believe, from our friends at Apologetics Press, Eric Lyons and Kyle Butt. Friends, you know, being lost and outside of Jesus Christ is indeed a tragedy. We strongly appeal in light of Scripture for each listener of the International Gospel Hour to look at your life in light of the Scripture within our studies and make changes needed in your life. We will help you in every way toward that end for a new beginning. As there were those that drew near to Christ to hear Him, We do so today, beginning with Luke, the 15th chapter, when the Bible in Luke 15, beginning with verse 1 says, Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to him to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, This man receives sinners and eats with them. And verse 3 says, So he spoke this parable to them, saying, And we’re going to continue with that parable study from Luke 15 in just a moment. But first, here’s a few words from our J. Webb.
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The best way to reach us is our toll free number at 855-444-6988. You can request free Bible study courses, ask a question, or make a comment. The number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That number again is 855-444-6988. If you can, give us a quick call and let us know where you hear International Gospel Hour. Tell us what city and what radio station. Thanks and keep listening.
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And friends, indeed, we’d like to know where you’re listening to our broadcast from. And while you’re at it, just say reasons to believe and leave us your name and address as we open the broadcast with that. We’ll be glad to send that to you. But if you just want to say, hi, I’m listening to you on, and let us know the station or the podcast site, that will be just fine. Thank you very much. You know, the parables in Luke 15 shows God’s attitude toward the lost, and it’s tragic to be lost, friends. But many are lost, and they’re not aware of it. So the parables from Luke the 15th chapter show the different ways for people to be lost. Let’s consider, if you will, the tragedy of carelessness or the parable of the lost sheep. Let’s go back to Luke 15 and read verses 4 through 7. What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. Friends, here men are compared to sheep. Well, in Isaiah 53 and verse 6, did not the prophet say, All we like sheep have been led astray. And the charge to the elders at the church at Ephesus in Acts chapter 20. In Acts 20 and verse 28 they are depicted as shepherds. To take heed unto yourselves and over all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. That you may feed the church of God which he has purchased with his own blood. So it’s as elders that oversee a congregation are shepherds in charge of sheep. And you know, many individuals, like a sheep, are lost by unconscious straying. It’s easy for a sheep just to wander away as they’re grazing or eating and they wander from the flock. That’s why they need shepherds. In Hebrews 2 and verse 1, the Hebrew writer says to the Christians there, Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away or let them slip. In Matthew 9 and verse 36, Jesus saw the multitudes and was moved with compassion for them because they were weary and scattered like sheep having no shepherd. So many are lost because they stray unconsciously. Many become absorbed in other matters. I think about Luke 8 and verse 14, the parable of the sower and the seed, and how the seed hit the ground and how it rooted up, but other things choked it out. There were other matters that overtook them. In Luke 12, verses 16 through 21, the parable of the householder, who looked upon his wealth and thought that would be all that he would need, until the Lord told him, You fool, this night your soul will be required of you, and then who will those things be that you have brought forth? Many are careless because of a lack of knowledge. That was Hosea’s plea, the Lord through Hosea the prophet, and Hosea 4 and verse 6, My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. And even standing on Mars Hill amongst all the idolatry, Paul told them in Acts 17 and verse 30 that the times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commands men everywhere to repent. Friends, we need to think on these things. You see, sheep need guiding. And indeed, Jesus is that good shepherd, John 10 and verse 11. And the sheep must hear his voice, John 10 and verse 16. So when we look at the parable of the lost sheep, Are we careless with our souls? And do we need to be brought back to the shepherd? Friends, let’s think on these things. And I want to pause here and let’s listen to our J-Web with our online offer study of the Bible. Maybe, friends, you’re living a careless life. You’ve allowed yourself to wander and Let’s bring it back to the Word of God, and maybe this tool will be of help to you. Here is our Jay Webb.
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How about an online study of the Bible? That’s right. The World Bible School has a free online Bible study available. Just go to worldbibleschool.org and register. A study helper will assist you in answering questions and provide feedback for your lessons. That’s the free online study at worldbibleschool.org. Sign up today. Tell them the International Gospel Hour has sent you.
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And now, friends, let’s consider the next parable from verses 8 through 10 of Luke 15 as we think about the tragedy of uselessness or the lost coin. Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the peace which I lost. Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Friends, let’s think about a useless coin. Well, it is out of circulation. And it’s not being used. Have you ever considered a useless church member is a lost church member? A useless church member that is not amongst the other coins or among the other members fails to set a proper example, Matthew 5, 13-16. A useless church member can be one who has just totally quit. To where in Luke 9, verse 62, we become as individuals with our hand to the plow and we’re looking back. Or the tragedy of Galatians 5, verse 4, when there were those that wanted to follow another direction or go back to the law of Moses and The Apostle Paul said that they had fallen from grace. Friends, when we think about drifting like that lost sheep, or the lost coin who just has quit, or there’s uselessness, and friends, Jesus is looking for you. He has come to you through His Word. Will you be found today and respond to Him? You know, we can believe in Christ and embrace His teaching of repentance and confession and baptism and to be added to the church. Friends, we want to help you toward that end. We’ve offered our online Bible study. We’ve shared with you our toll-free number. Maybe you do not have online access. We will mail you a Bible study by mail. Would you like that? Friends, if you just call us at 855-444-6988 and say, Home Study, leave us your name and address, we’ll send it to you. That’s 855-444-6988 and we will send that study to you. It is a tragedy to be lost. and from the parables, the brief discussion of the lost sheep from Luke 15, 4-7, and the lost coin of Luke 15, 8-10. We can be found, and our Lord is seeking us. Allow me to pause at this point before we wrap up our broadcast with a special thank you to my friend, Phil Leonard, and a gift he granted unto me, both he and his mother, 60 years in the pulpit, a book about his late father, Charles Leonard, whom I was privileged to know, for the Leonard preached the gospel from Michigan to Mississippi, and we are honored to use his work just as we have today here on International Gospel Hour. And with that being said, friends, we’re going to continue this study together next time as we’ll stay in Luke 15. But thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour broadcast. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, as always, keep listening.
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Thank you for listening today. May this study prompt your search of God’s word for his will in your life. To assist you in your study or to listen to our other programs, please visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com. To God be the glory.
