Message Guide – The Way Home, Week 2 | “At” Doesn’t Mean “In”
Through his parables, Jesus has a lot to teach us about how we should approach those who are lost.
Key Takeaways
Being at church isn’t the same as being in church.
In The Parable of the Lost Coin, a woman loses a coin – not out in the world, but right in her own home. Similarly, we can become lost even when we are at church. This could be in response to being hurt or offended, or maybe simply feeling unseen.
We can even become disengaged on purpose, out of a spirit of hatred – of ourselves, others, and even God. Though we may go through the motions of being at church, we may not personally feel his power or love.
God does not want us to be spiritually disengaged or lost. He sent Jesus to find us. He illuminates our lives so that we can see his truth, and he sweeps us out of the places we have been hiding. He searches for us until we are found because, like a valuable coin, he believes we are worth it.
We do not have to stay lost in God’s house. When we allow the lamp of God’s truth to light up our life; and the broom of God’s love to sweep us out of where we’ve been hiding, we’ll find out we are home.
If we are already feeling connected and engaged in church then it is our turn to search like Jesus searches by serving, giving, and helping anyone who is lost.
Pray
Prayer is our time to talk to God. Let this prayer inspire your conversations with God this week.
Father, thank you so much for your undeserved love and grace for me. Thank you for knowing me completely and loving me entirely. Lord, I repent for being disengaged spiritually. I repent for allowing past experiences or fears keep me from obeying your word about being in community. Lord, I repent for every area of my life where I have not made obedience to you a priority.
I will serve you in the way you desire and require of me. I will love you, not just with my words, but with my actions. I will anchor my identity and my actions in what you say about me.
Lord, thank you for your lavish love for me. Thank you for viewing me as lovable enough to give everything for. Please help me to love you with the same fire that you love me, and to view myself the way you view me. I believe you’re at work in my heart, Lord, and I thank you for what you’re doing deep down inside of me. In the mighty, majestic, matchless name of Jesus, amen.
Worship
Bring the worship set from this weekend into your Slot and Spot and praise God for sending Jesus to search for you.
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. – Romans 5:8
- Faithfulness – Lakewood Worship
- That’s My King – Cece Winans
- Reckless Love – Cory Asbury
Learn
This week, read through the scripture shared in the message and dive deeper into God’s word.
Read
Watch
- Luke 14-15 from Bible Recap
Listen
- Luke 15 from Through the Word
Reflect
Reflect on these questions during your slot and spot/discussions with others.
Have you ever been hurt or humiliated by someone or something that you had wanted to be a part of?
- What about the interaction affected you? What was your response?
- How could the interaction have played out differently in a way that did not hurt you? What can you learn from this in the way you interact with others?
Did you know that we can be in God’s “house” (his church; a community of faith) and still be lost? Have you ever been physically present but felt emotionally or spiritually disconnected while at church?
- Consider some of the points that Pastor Mark suggested might be keeping us disconnected: hurt or offense, hate toward yourself/others/God, resistance to the correction God’s truth.
- What do you think most keeps you feeling lost?
When we allow God to illuminate our lives with his truth he will show us the way home.
- What disconnected part of your life is God illuminating right now? What truth is that light revealing to you? What would it look like to begin to apply that truth to your life now?
- How is God sweeping through your life right now? What have you gotten comfortable with that is actually keeping you far from him and his people? What would it look like to apply this correction to your choices? What benefit do you think that would bring to your life?
- Is there a part of you that feels resistant to allowing God’s truth to influence these areas? Why?
Next Steps
- Whether you are feeling lost, or ready to partner with Jesus to help others find the way home, it is time to get engaged with our church community. Not part of the J-Team yet? Go to Plugged In and discover what it means to find your place, purpose, and part on our J-Team.
- This week pray about who Jesus is calling you to lead to him. A great way to do that is to invite them to church with you next week.
