Sermon Summary: Spooking the Herd: Church Habits that send people running – Part 2
Scripture: Luke 15:1-7

This message explores how church culture can unintentionally “spook the herd” — especially when we treat church like a Country Club, only welcoming those who look, think, or act like us. In Luke 15, we see that people who were nothing like Jesus actually liked Him. His willingness to befriend those labeled as outcasts caused tension with religious insiders, but Jesus wasn’t afraid of their opinions — because lost people mattered deeply to Him.

Too often, our fear of being judged by other Christians keeps us from reaching out. But Jesus challenges that mindset. He meets people where they are in order to lead them to something better. He values every person — so much so that He would leave the 99 just to find the one who’s wandered off.

As followers of Christ, we’re called to do the same. Befriending someone or showing acceptance doesn’t mean we’re endorsing sin — it means we’re reflecting the heart of God. When we shift our focus from comfort to compassion, the church begins to look more like Jesus.

Bottom line: If unbelievers matter to God, they should matter to us.

Challenge: Identify one person you’ve kept at a distance because of your differences — and take a step toward them this week.