Homecoming: Reigniting Passion and Restoration in Faith

The sermon delivered by the speaker revolves around the theme of homecoming and restoration in one's spiritual journey. The speaker begins by sharing their personal experience with the Jesus Revolution movie, which sparked a sellout in their city and reminded them of the powerful Jesus movement of the 1970s. This leads to a call for a homecoming season in the church, inviting believers who have drifted away to reignite their passion for Jesus. The speaker emphasizes the importance of returning to one's first love, doing the first works, and sharing the love of Jesus with others. They warn of the consequences of not repenting and returning to one's first love, symbolized by the loss of the lampstand, which represents guidance and direction in life.

The speaker also shares a personal story from the time before an election, where they felt a still small voice assuring them of a change and a great swing on election day. This moment of prayer led them to believe that God has ordered change for the nation and will pour out His spirit on it. They encourage the congregation to embrace and proclaim the word of God, as it is meant to be shared and amplified.

In an effort to bring people back to God, the speaker recounts how they asked church members to boldly invite people in the community to return to church, resulting in a positive response from over 90% of those asked. They stress the importance of welcoming people back without judgment, drawing parallels to the story of the prodigal son and Samson, who both regained their identity and purpose upon returning to God.

The speaker further illustrates the concept of restoration through the story of David, who brought the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem with joy and worship, symbolizing the retrieval of what was lost in one's relationship with God. They also discuss the importance of creating a welcoming atmosphere in the church and community, likening it to a perpetual fire that believers are responsible for keeping stoked.

The sermon touches on the inevitable loss that comes with leaving something behind, using the example of a homecoming story and the story of a woman from 2 Kings who left her home due to famine and returned to find it occupied. This serves as a metaphor for how the devil can take over when people leave something behind, but also how God is willing to restore what was lost.

Personal experiences of making decisions without seeking God's guidance are shared, including the speaker's wife, Jane, who took a job without consulting God and later found a position that aligned with her passion for pastoral care. The speaker emphasizes the need to seek God's direction before making any decisions and the possibility of regaining what was lost when directed by God.

The congregation is encouraged to return to a place of passion and fervor for Jesus, to regain their song and dance, and to operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The speaker concludes by sharing the journey of their children who had walked away from the Lord but have since moved closer to Him, offering encouragement to those with similar concerns for their loved ones.

Key Takeaways

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Bible Reading

Revelation 2:4-5 (NIV) — > "Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place."

2. Luke 15:20-24 (NIV)
> "So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate."

3. 2 Kings 8:1-6 (NIV)
> "Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, 'Go away with your family and stay for a while wherever you can, because the Lord has decreed a famine in the land that will last seven years.' The woman proceeded to do as the man of God said. She and her family went away and stayed in the land of the Philistines seven years. At the end of the seven years she came back from the land of the Philistines and went to appeal to the king for her house and land. The king was talking to Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, and had said, 'Tell me about all the great things Elisha has done.' Just as Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, the woman whose son Elisha had brought back to life came to appeal to the king for her house and land. Gehazi said, 'This is the woman, my lord the king, and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life.' The king asked the woman about it, and she told him. Then he assigned an official to her case and said to him, 'Give back everything that belonged to her, including all the income from her land from the day she left the country until now.'"

Observation Questions

1. What does Revelation 2:4-5 warn believers about, and what are they instructed to do to avoid losing their lampstand?
2. In the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:20-24), how does the father react when he sees his son returning home?
3. What was the outcome for the Shunammite woman when she returned to appeal to the king for her house and land in 2 Kings 8:1-6?
4. According to the sermon, what percentage of people responded positively when asked if they had thought about returning to church? [12:20]

Interpretation Questions

1. How does the concept of "returning to one's first love" in Revelation 2:4-5 apply to the idea of spiritual homecoming discussed in the sermon? [46:42]
2. What does the father's reaction in the parable of the prodigal son teach us about God's attitude towards those who return to Him? [34:16]
3. How does the story of the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 8:1-6 illustrate the theme of restoration and reclaiming what was lost? [19:35]
4. Why is it important to seek God's direction before making decisions, as illustrated by the speaker's story about his wife's job change? [26:48]

Application Questions

1. Reflect on a time when you felt distant from your faith. What steps can you take to "return to your first love" as mentioned in Revelation 2:4-5? [46:42]
2. The prodigal son was welcomed back with open arms despite his past mistakes. How can you create a welcoming and non-judgmental atmosphere in your church or community for those who have drifted away? [35:27]
3. The Shunammite woman experienced restoration after a period of loss. Is there something in your life that you need to reclaim or restore? How can you seek God's guidance in this process? [19:35]
4. The speaker emphasized the importance of inviting people back to church. Identify one person you know who has drifted away from the church. How can you reach out to them this week and extend an invitation to return? [12:20]
5. The speaker shared a personal story about making decisions without seeking God's guidance. Is there a decision you are currently facing where you need to seek God's direction? How will you go about doing that? [26:48]
6. The sermon mentioned the importance of keeping the spiritual fire stoked. What practical steps can you take to maintain or reignite your passion for Jesus? [16:00]
7. The speaker's children experienced a renewed relationship with God. Do you have loved ones who are far from God? How can you pray for them and support their journey back to faith? [03:12]