If You've Gone Astray.

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 The parable of the Lost Sheep, taught by Jesus Christ, is one of the most beloved  stories in the Bible, a favorite for Sunday school classes because of  its simplicity and poignancy.

Speaking to a group of tax  collectors, "sinners", Pharisees, and teachers of the law, Jesus asks them to imagine that they had a hundred sheep and one of them strayed. A  shepherd would leave the ninety-nine sheep and search for the lost one until he found it. Then he would put it on his shoulders with joy, take  it home, and tell his friends and neighbors to rejoice with him, because  he had found his lost sheep.

Jesus concludes that there will be  more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to repent.  But the lesson doesn't end there. Jesus goes on to tell another parable of a woman who  loses a coin and searches her home until she finds it (Luke 15:8-10). He  follows with yet another parable, that of the lost or prodigal son, the  stunning message that every repentant sinner is forgiven and welcomed  home by God.

The Scripture

The Lost Sheep
Luke 14:3-7
And he spoke the Parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an  hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, does not leave the ninety and  nine in the wilderness, but go after that 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 unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was  lost.  I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in Heaven over one  sinner who repents, more than over ninety and nine just person, which  need no repentance.

The Lost Sheep
Matthew 18:11-14 
For the Son of Man is come to save that which was lost.  How do you think?  if a man has an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, does he  not leave the ninety and nine, and go into the mountains and seeks that which is gone astray?  And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoices more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which  went not astray.  Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in  Heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.