Finding Our Way Home: God's Call to the Lost
Summary
We all know what it feels like to be lost, sometimes without even realizing it. Just like my friends who drove hours in the wrong direction, we can be so sure of ourselves and yet be completely off course. In life, we often rely on things outside ourselves—technology, routines, or even other people—to guide us, and in doing so, we lose our sense of direction. Spiritually, this is even more true. We are more lost than we know, and we’ve lost more than we realize. This sense of being lost is rooted in the story of humanity itself, beginning in the Garden of Eden. God created us for perfect communion with Him, a place of joy, peace, and fulfillment. But when humanity chose to define good and evil on our own terms, we lost that home, and with it, our sense of belonging and wholeness.
Ever since, there’s been a deep homesickness in every human heart—a longing for something we can’t quite name, a sense that this world isn’t as it should be. We see suffering, injustice, and pain, and we know deep down that we were made for something better. The Bible calls us strangers and foreigners here, because our true home is with God. Yet, instead of turning to Him, we often try to fill that longing with other things—relationships, achievements, pleasures, or approval from others. The story of Leah in Genesis is a powerful example: she tried to find her worth in the love of her husband, but it was only when she turned her praise to God that she found true fulfillment.
God’s heart has always been to bring us back home. He is not a distant, angry judge, but a loving Father who pursues us relentlessly, like a shepherd searching for a lost sheep. No matter how far we wander, He is always calling us back, ready to celebrate our return. The journey home begins with admitting we are lost and trusting Jesus to lead us back. All the exit ramps we take in life will never satisfy; only the Giver of life can bring us home. The invitation is open: come back to the One who made you, who sees you, and who loves you more than you can imagine.
Key Takeaways
- The Danger of Unnoticed Lostness
It’s possible to be completely lost and not even realize it, both physically and spiritually. Our reliance on external guides—whether technology or our own wisdom—can blind us to how far we’ve drifted from our true destination. Recognizing our lostness is the first step toward finding our way home, and it requires humility and honesty before God. [03:02]
- The Deep Homesickness of the Human Heart
There is a persistent ache in every soul, a homesickness that nothing in this world can satisfy. This longing points to the reality that we were created for communion with God, and the brokenness we experience is a result of being separated from Him. Rather than ignoring or numbing this ache, we are invited to let it draw us back to the One who made us for Himself. [11:09]
- The Futility of Seeking Fulfillment Apart from God
Like Leah, we often pour our energy into relationships, achievements, or approval, hoping they will fill the void inside us. But no amount of human love or success can satisfy the longing for home that only God can meet. True contentment comes not from what we do or who we impress, but from turning our hearts to God and receiving His love. [19:36]
- God’s Relentless Pursuit and Tender Care
God is not waiting for us to get our act together before He welcomes us back. He pursues us with the determination of a shepherd seeking a lost sheep, even carrying us when we are too broken to walk. His discipline and care are always acts of love, meant to protect us from harm and restore us to Himself. [21:04]
- The Joy of Returning Home
Heaven rejoices over every lost soul that returns to God. Our journey back is not met with shame or disappointment, but with celebration and embrace. The invitation is to admit our lostness, trust Jesus, and experience the joy of being found and restored to our true home with God. [22:29]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Introduction: Getting Lost on a Road Trip
[03:02] - The Danger of Not Knowing You’re Lost
[05:09] - Our Reliance on External Guides
[06:30] - The Garden of Eden: God’s Original Design
[08:45] - The Fall and the Loss of Home
[09:14] - The Birth of Shame and Separation
[11:09] - Homesickness and the Ache for More
[12:49] - God’s Invitation: Stay the Course
[14:00] - The Story of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel
[16:04] - Leah’s Struggle for Love and Worth
[17:42] - The Futility of Seeking Fulfillment in People
[19:36] - God Sees and Pursues the Unloved
[21:04] - The Shepherd’s Love and Discipline
[22:29] - The Joy of Being Found
[23:30] - Next Steps: Admit Lostness and Trust Jesus
[24:16] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: “Finding Our Way Home”
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### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 3:6-10
The story of humanity’s first sin, the loss of the Garden, and the birth of shame and separation from God.
2. Genesis 29:31-35
The story of Leah, her longing for love, and her turning to God for fulfillment.
3. Luke 15:3-7
Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep, showing God’s heart to pursue and celebrate the return of the lost.
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### Observation Questions
1. In Genesis 3, what changed for Adam and Eve after they ate from the tree? What new feelings or experiences did they have that they didn’t have before?
2. According to the story of Leah in Genesis 29, what did Leah hope to gain by having children, and how did her focus shift by the time her fourth son was born?
3. In the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15), what does the shepherd do when he realizes one sheep is missing? How does he respond when he finds it?
4. The sermon described a feeling of “homesickness” for something better. What examples did the pastor give of this feeling in everyday life? [[11:09]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon says, “We are more lost than we know, and we’ve lost more than we realize.” What does it mean to be spiritually lost without realizing it? How does this compare to being physically lost, like in the road trip story? [[03:02]]
2. Why do people, like Leah, often look for fulfillment in relationships, achievements, or approval from others? What does her story teach about the results of seeking worth in these things? [[17:42]]
3. How does the parable of the lost sheep help us understand God’s attitude toward people who have wandered away from Him? What does it say about God’s character? [[19:36]]
4. The sermon mentions that God’s discipline and care are acts of love, like a shepherd carrying a wounded sheep. How might God’s “discipline” look in our lives, and why is it described as loving? [[21:04]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon talked about being lost without knowing it, like the friends who drove hours in the wrong direction. Are there areas in your life where you might be “off course” spiritually but haven’t realized it yet? What would it look like to honestly ask God to show you? [[03:02]]
2. The pastor described a deep homesickness for something more, a sense that “this world isn’t as it should be.” When have you felt this kind of longing? How do you usually try to fill that ache? [[11:09]]
3. Leah tried to find her worth in her husband’s love but only found peace when she turned her praise to God. Are there things or people you are looking to for your sense of value or fulfillment? What would it look like to shift your focus to God instead? [[17:42]]
4. The sermon said God is not a distant, angry judge but a loving Father who pursues us. Do you ever struggle to believe that God is really for you and not just disappointed in you? What helps you remember His love? [[12:49]]
5. The parable of the lost sheep shows God’s joy when someone returns to Him. Have you ever experienced or witnessed this kind of “coming home” moment? How did it feel? [[22:29]]
6. The pastor mentioned that we often take “exit ramps” in life, looking for fulfillment in things other than God. What are some “exit ramps” you are tempted to take? What would it look like to “stay the course” with God this week? [[12:49]]
7. The first step home is admitting we are lost and trusting Jesus to lead us back. Is there a step you need to take today to move closer to God? What might that look like for you? [[23:30]]
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Devotional
Day 1: Created for Communion with God
From the very beginning, humanity was made to live in close relationship with God, enjoying His presence and the goodness of His creation. In the Garden of Eden, there was no shame, no pain, and no separation—only the joy of walking with God and experiencing His love firsthand. This deep sense of belonging and purpose is what our hearts were designed for, and it explains the longing we sometimes feel for something more in this world. Even when we try to fill that longing with other things, only God can truly satisfy the homesickness in our souls. [07:40]
Genesis 1:1, 27; 2:8 (ESV)
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth... So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them... And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.
Reflection: Where in your life do you sense a longing for “home” or belonging, and how might you invite God into that space today?
Day 2: The Fall—Choosing Our Own Way
When humanity chose to define good and evil for themselves, they broke the trust and communion they had with God, resulting in separation, shame, and a sense of being lost. This decision to go our own way is something we all repeat in different forms, seeking fulfillment apart from God and ending up feeling empty or ashamed. Yet, even in our wandering, God’s heart is not to punish or abandon us, but to call us back into relationship with Him. The ache we feel in this broken world is a reminder that we were made for more, and God is always inviting us to return. [09:14]
Genesis 3:6-7 (ESV)
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
Reflection: What is one area where you’ve tried to define “good” for yourself instead of trusting God, and how can you surrender that to Him today?
Day 3: God Sees and Pursues the Lost
No matter how far we wander or how lost we feel, God sees us and pursues us with relentless love. The story of Leah shows that even when people overlook or reject us, God notices our pain and blesses us in ways we may not expect. Our attempts to find fulfillment in people, achievements, or approval will always fall short, but God’s love is constant and personal. He is the only one who can truly satisfy the longing in our hearts, and He is always inviting us to find our worth and home in Him. [19:36]
Genesis 29:31-35 (ESV)
When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon. Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.
Reflection: In what ways have you sought fulfillment from people or things, and how can you turn to God for your true sense of worth today?
Day 4: The Shepherd Who Brings Us Home
Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to seek out the one who is lost, carrying us back with joy and compassion. No matter how many wrong turns we take or how broken we feel, He never gives up on us. His pursuit is not out of anger or disappointment, but out of deep love and a desire to restore us to Himself. When we finally realize that only He can bring us home, we experience the joy and celebration that comes from being found and embraced by God. [21:04]
Luke 15:4-7 (ESV)
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that 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 his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
Reflection: Is there a place in your life where you feel lost or far from God? What would it look like to let Jesus carry you back today?
Day 5: Admit You’re Lost and Trust Jesus
The first step toward coming home is admitting that we are lost and cannot find our way on our own. Like the friends on the wrong road, we often don’t even realize how far we’ve wandered until we stop and ask for help. God is not waiting to scold us, but to welcome us with open arms when we turn to Him. Trusting Jesus means letting go of all the exit ramps and distractions we chase for fulfillment, and choosing instead to follow the One who alone can lead us home. [24:16]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Reflection: What is one “exit ramp” or distraction you need to let go of in order to trust Jesus fully and follow Him home?
Quotes
Before this, there was no shame. Guys, there was no guilt. It was only pleasures at God's right hand in the garden. And suddenly, boom, we're made aware. And the snake starts whispering in our ears, hey, didn't you know you're naked? Didn't you know you're not good enough for God? Didn't you know that God would kick you out? This was too good to last. You know, you deserve what you did. You're being punished. And we start to listen to the things, the little things that the devil put in our brain. And so we get kicked out of the garden. [00:09:32] (35 seconds)
And I think if we all are truthful with ourselves, we will realize that there's a deep homesickness in us longing for something that we can't quite grasp. Has anybody ever been homesick? Homesick? Y 'all gone to camp, been homesick? Right? Well, I've been homesick before. I was thinking about it. I went to Taiwan. [00:10:07] (25 seconds)
There's a lot of times, and I know this, there's this image we have of God that he's this mean God that just sort of folds his arms and he's kind of just disappointed with us all the time, right? When we screw up, when we sin, when we yell at somebody, when we fail, whatever it is, we think like, oh man, God's got to be so disappointed with us. And we get this image in our head that that's all he does. He sort of sits there and he's like the fun police, and he wants to take away all the good stuff in life. When the truth is, God, anything good in life that's truly good, God created that, and he wants to pour it out on us. That's what he did. That's why he created the garden. And so this idea that God is just sitting there disappointed with you, is so far from the truth. [00:12:04] (45 seconds)
God, since the beginning, has wanted to restore you into a relationship with him. And we are looking for all kinds of other things to go and find our fulfillment. Whatever that is, a relationship, just like it was with Leah. Maybe it's a vice, some sort of pleasure that you'd like to indulge with. Maybe it's sports. Maybe it's academics. Maybe it's something. And you're desperately trying to make someone proud, please another person. When God is telling you right now, guys, no, the only way you're going to find fulfillment is through me. Come on. Let's go back to the garden, guys. Let's go back. [00:20:30] (34 seconds)
And as soon as that lamb was healed, it understood that this was an act of love. Because if you run from the shepherd, you're running to the wolves, right? That shepherd was willing to carry that lamb. That shepherd loved that lamb so much, he was willing to carry it, broken legs and all on its shoulders. So Leah finally has a fourth son and realizes where her true fulfillment's going to come from. [00:21:44] (26 seconds)
You know, one of my favorite words for God is the hound of heaven, baby, the hound of heaven. He's like a bloodhound. And he's coming after every single one of y 'all to bring you back into his family. All right. So what do we do? What do we do? Next steps. Admit you're lost. Like my buddies, they were so stupid. They didn't even know they were lost. Right. [00:23:48] (24 seconds)
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