A Heart for the Wanderer
- pastortrevord
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 8 hours ago
OUTLINE:
MAIN POINT: The will of God is for the Body of Christ to participate in the work of restoration of the wandering believers.
I. The Shared Shepherd Role 10-14
II. The Pursuing People of Reconciliation v15-17
A. Go to the Wanderer Alone v15
B. Go to the Wanderer with Witnesses v16
C. Go to the Church on Behalf of the Wanderer v17a
D. View the Wanderer as an unbeliever v17b
III. The Accountable Authority of the Redeemed v18-20
Beyond the Walls
Reasons for Wanderer Restoration:
The Holiness of God Displayed in the Church
The Testimony of Christ’s Church to the World
The Loving Care for People who Profess Christ
Restoration to Save Individuals from Eternal Judgment
Protection of Other Brothers and Sisters in the Church
CR:
cf. 1 Cor 5:1–6:11; 2 Cor 2:5–11; Gal 6:1–5; 2 Thess 3:6, 14–15; 1 Tim 5:19–20; 2 Tim 4:2; Titus 2:15; 3:10; 1 John 5:16; 3 John 1:10; Jude 1:20–23; 2 Thes 3:14-15 James 5:19-20.
Weekly Reading:
Day 1: The Heart of the Shepherd
Matthew 18:10–14; James 5:19–20
Do I notice when someone begins to wander from Christ, or am I too comfortable with the “ninety-nine”?
Who is someone God may be calling me to pursue with love and encouragement?
Does my concern for wandering believers reflect God’s heart for their restoration?
Day 2: Love Pursues
Matthew 18:15; Galatians 6:1
When a fellow believer sins, am I willing to take the first step and go to them?
Do I approach someone who has wandered with the goal of restoration or with a desire to prove them wrong?
Is there someone I need to speak with privately rather than discussing their sin with others?
Day 3: Go Alone
Matthew 18:15–16; Proverbs 27:5–6
Do I tend toward gossip and gathering others to my side before addressing a problem?
How would following Jesus’s command to go “alone” protect both the wanderer and the unity of the church?
Am I willing to have uncomfortable conversations because I love my brother or sister in Christ?
Day 4: Restoration Takes Courage
Matthew 18:16–17; 1 Corinthians 5:6–8
Am I willing to involve others when private attempts at restoration have failed?
Do I take the responsibility of the church seriously to pursue holiness and protect other believers?
When restoration does not happen, am I still willing to remain faithful to God’s Word?
Day 5: The Church’s Authority
Matthew 18:18–20; 1 Corinthians 5:4–5
Do I understand church authority as revealing and affirming what God has already established rather than creating my own standards?
Am I willing to submit myself to the authority and accountability of the local church?
How should knowing that Christ is present with His church change the way I approach difficult matters of restoration?
Day 6: Love Does Not Give Up
Romans 15:1–2; Galatians 6:1–2
Do I tend to give up on people when restoration becomes difficult?
How can I help carry the burdens of fellow believers rather than leaving them to struggle alone?
Is my love for other Christians strong enough to move me beyond independence and inconvenience?
Day 7: Restored to Christ
2 Corinthians 5:17–20; 1 Peter 2:24–25
Have I experienced the vertical restoration that comes through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ?
How does Christ’s work of reconciling me to God motivate me to pursue reconciliation and restoration with others?
Am I actively participating in God’s work of restoring wandering believers, or have I become passive about the spiritual lives of those around me?
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