Faith Talk - December 15, 2024
Sunday: December 15, 2024
Series: Home for Christmas
Sermon: The Way Home
Series: Home for Christmas
Sermon: The Way Home
Scripture
Luke 15:20-21 – So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’
Summary
Based on the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-24), we explored the powerful theme of returning home to God. We learned that God loves us even when we mess up and feel far away from Him. Sometimes we try to live life our own way, which can lead us to feel lost and alone, but God is always waiting to forgive us and restore our lives. When we're ready to come back home to God, He doesn't punish us but instead celebrates our return and gives us a new purpose and hope.
Pastor Brian gave several key points:
Pastor Brian gave several key points:
- Humans have an inherent longing for a place of peace, love, and understanding.
- Sin isolates us and leads to brokenness.
- God is always waiting with the heart of a compassionate father, ready to restore and celebrate our return.
- Coming home requires recognizing our mistakes, confessing our sins, and turning back to God in repentance.
Age-Appropriate Discussions
Families of Adults
Families with Students
Families with Kids
No matter how far you've strayed, God is always ready to welcome you home with open arms, offering restoration, love, and a new purpose.
- When have you experienced a season of feeling distant from God? What brought you back?
- How can we create a gracious environment for family members who may be struggling spiritually?
- How does your experience with your earthly dad reflect the father in our story? If you are a dad, how can you reflect the heart of a compassionate father?
- How does understanding God as a compassionate Father change your approach to faith and repentance?
Families with Students
- What are some ways the "enemy's lies" might try to isolate teenagers from family and faith?
- How can you recognize when you're living life "on your own terms" instead of following God's path?
- Share a personal story of a time you felt lost and how you found your way back.
- What does true repentance look like for someone your age (have each person of each age in the family share)?
Families with Kids
- God loves you no matter what. Can you share a time when someone showed you love even when you made a mistake?
- What does it mean to "come home" to God?
- How can you show love to someone who might feel left out or different?
No matter how far you've strayed, God is always ready to welcome you home with open arms, offering restoration, love, and a new purpose.
Pray Together
Father, we thank You for Your boundless love that never abandons us, Your compassionate heart that sees us from afar and runs to embrace us with grace and restoration. Open our eyes to recognize the lies of isolation and selfish living, giving us the courage to return to Your perfect path. I ask that you forgive our wanderings and heal the brokenness we've accumulated while living on our terms. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and realign our hearts to Your purpose, helping us to live not as servants of sin but as beloved children who understand the depth of Your unconditional love. We commit to follow You as You guide our steps, restore our souls, and help us become beacons of Your transformative grace to a world longing to find its way home. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.
Optional Family Activity: "Coming Home" Restoration Jar
Materials Needed:
Activity Steps:
Conversation Prompts:
Reflection: Use this activity to create a safe space for honest communication, demonstrating that home is a place of love, forgiveness, and restoration.
The goal is to help our family understand that coming home – both to family and to God – is about love, forgiveness, and second chances.
- A clear mason jar
- Colorful paper strips
- Pen or markers
- Small treats or special family privilege tokens
Activity Steps:
- Explain the parable's message of God's unconditional love and restoration.
- Create a family "Restoration Jar" together:
- Each family member writes on a paper strip a time they felt lost or made a mistake
- Fold the papers and place them in the jar
- For each paper, discuss how the family can support each other
- Place a small treat or special privilege token with each shared story
- At the end of the activity, emphasize that just as the prodigal son was welcomed home, family members are always loved and can always come home.
Conversation Prompts:
- How does it feel to share difficult moments?
- What does support look like in our family?
- How can we show love like the father in the parable?
Reflection: Use this activity to create a safe space for honest communication, demonstrating that home is a place of love, forgiveness, and restoration.
The goal is to help our family understand that coming home – both to family and to God – is about love, forgiveness, and second chances.
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