Returning Home: God's Promise of Restoration and Renewal
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound theme of "coming home" to God, drawing from the experiences of the Israelites in exile and the promises of God through the prophet Ezekiel. We began by reflecting on the deep sense of loss and dislocation that the Israelites felt while in Babylonian captivity. They were far from their homeland, Jerusalem, which had been a place of joy and worship but was now in ruins. This sense of being away from home resonated with many of us, as we too have moments when we feel spiritually distant or dislocated from God.
We delved into the emotional impact of being away from home, sharing personal anecdotes about the pain of separation from loved ones and the comfort that home provides. This set the stage for understanding the Israelites' longing for Jerusalem and their despair as they hung their harps and wept by the rivers of Babylon. They were mocked by their captors, who demanded songs of joy, but their hearts were too heavy to sing.
In this context, we turned to the promises of God in Ezekiel 36. God assured His people that He had not forgotten them and that He would bring them back home. This promise was not just about a physical return to Jerusalem but also a spiritual renewal. God promised to cleanse them, give them a new heart, and put a new spirit within them. This transformation would enable them to live according to His decrees and be His people once again.
We emphasized that this promise of renewal and return is not limited to the Israelites but extends to all of us. No matter how far we have strayed or how broken we feel, God is always ready to bring us back home. He knows our struggles and our pain, and He offers us a place of safety and wholeness. This is a message of hope and restoration, reminding us that it is never too late to return to God.
We also discussed the role of the Holy Spirit in this process of renewal. The Holy Spirit dwells within us, guiding us, shaping us, and helping us to live out God's love and compassion. This indwelling presence is a foretaste of our ultimate home in heaven, but it also transforms our lives here and now, making us more like Christ.
In the latter part of our time together, we reflected on the importance of being the body of Christ in the world. We are called to demonstrate God's holiness and love through our actions and words. This includes caring for the poor, the oppressed, and the marginalized, as Jesus taught. We must strive to be more Christ-like in all aspects of our lives, setting aside political affiliations and prejudices to embrace the heart of God.
Finally, we extended an invitation to those who feel distant from God to come home. We sang an old hymn, "Come Home," as a call to return to the loving arms of our Heavenly Father. This was a moment of reflection and decision, encouraging everyone to take that first step back to God, acknowledging their need for His grace and restoration.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Promise of Restoration: God promises to bring us back home, not because we deserve it, but to protect His holy name. This promise is a testament to His unwavering love and commitment to His people. No matter how far we have strayed, God is always ready to bring us back and restore us. This is a powerful reminder that our failures do not define us; God's grace does. [40:33]
2. The Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is not just a guide but a transformative presence in our lives. When the Holy Spirit dwells within us, we are given a new heart and a new spirit. This transformation enables us to live out God's love and compassion, making us more like Christ. It is a beautiful process of becoming more attuned to God's will and purpose for our lives. [46:43]
3. The Importance of Home: Home is not just a physical place but a state of being where we are in communion with God. It is where our hearts find rest and our souls find peace. The promise of God to bring us back home is a promise of spiritual renewal and restoration. It is an invitation to return to a place of safety, wholeness, and health. [47:49]
4. Being the Body of Christ: As followers of Christ, we are called to be His body in the world. This means demonstrating God's holiness and love through our actions and words. We must care for the poor, the oppressed, and the marginalized, as Jesus taught. Our lives should reflect the character of Christ, showing the world what it means to be a holy people. [55:12]
5. Invitation to Come Home: No matter how broken or distant we feel, God is always inviting us to come home. This is a call to return to His loving arms, to find rest and restoration in Him. It is never too late to come back to God. He is always ready to welcome us with open arms, to cleanse us, and to give us a new heart and spirit. [01:04:13]
### Youtube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[35:02] - The Israelites in Captivity
[37:14] - The Pain of Separation
[38:03] - Longing for Jerusalem
[39:49] - God's Promise of Restoration
[40:33] - Bringing You Back
[41:25] - Demonstrating God's Holiness
[42:03] - The Incarnation Continues
[43:10] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
[44:19] - Living in Israel
[46:43] - God Wants to Do Life with Us
[47:49] - The True Meaning of Home
[49:25] - God Knows Our Struggles
[50:32] - Rebuilding Our Lives
[51:26] - Making Us Clean Again
[52:38] - We Are Not Disposable
[53:26] - God Knows Our Future
[54:35] - Our Words and Actions Matter
[55:12] - Caring for the Oppressed
[57:00] - Overcoming Prejudices
[01:01:49] - When Are You Coming Home?
[01:04:13] - Invitation to Come Home
[01:07:34] - Acknowledging Our Need
[01:08:59] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Ezekiel 36:22-28 - "Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes. For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.’”
2. Psalm 137:1-4 - "By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, 'Sing us one of the songs of Zion!' How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?"
3. Lamentations 1:1 - "How deserted lies the city, once so full of people! How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations! She who was queen among the provinces has now become a slave."
#### Observation Questions
1. What emotions did the Israelites experience during their captivity in Babylon according to Psalm 137:1-4 and Lamentations 1:1?
2. In Ezekiel 36:22-28, what reasons does God give for bringing the Israelites back home?
3. How does God describe the transformation He will bring about in the Israelites in Ezekiel 36:25-27?
4. According to the sermon, what role does the Holy Spirit play in our spiritual renewal? [42:03]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the Israelites felt such a deep sense of loss and dislocation during their exile? How might this relate to our own feelings of spiritual dislocation? [38:03]
2. What does it mean for God to give us a "new heart" and a "new spirit" as mentioned in Ezekiel 36:26? How does this transformation impact our daily lives?
3. How can the promise of God to bring us back home be seen as a message of hope and restoration for us today? [39:49]
4. In what ways are we called to demonstrate God's holiness and love through our actions and words, as discussed in the sermon? [55:12]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually distant or dislocated from God. What steps did you take, or can you take, to return to a sense of spiritual "home"? [49:25]
2. How can you be more attuned to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to cultivate this relationship? [46:43]
3. In what ways can you demonstrate God's love and compassion to the marginalized and oppressed in your community? Identify one specific action you can take this week. [55:12]
4. Think about the concept of "home" as a place of spiritual renewal and restoration. How can you create a sense of spiritual home in your personal life and within your family? [47:49]
5. The sermon emphasized the importance of being the body of Christ in the world. How can you actively participate in your church or community to reflect Christ's love and holiness? [42:03]
6. If you feel distant from God, what is one step you can take today to begin your journey back to Him? How can your small group support you in this process? [01:04:13]
7. How can you overcome any prejudices or political affiliations that may hinder you from fully embracing the heart of God and His call to care for the oppressed? [55:56]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Unwavering Promise of Restoration
Description:
God's promise to bring us back home is a testament to His unwavering love and commitment to His people. This promise is not based on our merit but on His desire to protect His holy name. No matter how far we have strayed or how broken we feel, God is always ready to bring us back and restore us. This is a powerful reminder that our failures do not define us; God's grace does. The Israelites in Babylonian captivity felt a deep sense of loss and dislocation, but God assured them through the prophet Ezekiel that He had not forgotten them. He promised to cleanse them, give them a new heart, and put a new spirit within them, enabling them to live according to His decrees and be His people once again. This promise extends to all of us today, offering hope and restoration. [40:33]
Bible Passage:
Ezekiel 36:24-26 (ESV) - "I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."
Reflection:
Think about a time when you felt distant from God. What steps can you take today to begin your journey back to Him, trusting in His promise of restoration?
Day 2: The Transformative Role of the Holy Spirit
Description:
The Holy Spirit is not just a guide but a transformative presence in our lives. When the Holy Spirit dwells within us, we are given a new heart and a new spirit. This transformation enables us to live out God's love and compassion, making us more like Christ. It is a beautiful process of becoming more attuned to God's will and purpose for our lives. The Holy Spirit helps us to navigate our struggles and pain, offering us a place of safety and wholeness. This indwelling presence is a foretaste of our ultimate home in heaven, but it also transforms our lives here and now. [46:43]
Bible Passage:
Romans 8:11 (ESV) - "If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you."
Reflection:
Reflect on how the Holy Spirit has been working in your life recently. How can you be more open to His guidance and transformation in your daily actions and decisions?
Day 3: The True Meaning of Home
Description:
Home is not just a physical place but a state of being where we are in communion with God. It is where our hearts find rest and our souls find peace. The promise of God to bring us back home is a promise of spiritual renewal and restoration. It is an invitation to return to a place of safety, wholeness, and health. The Israelites longed for their homeland, Jerusalem, which had been a place of joy and worship but was now in ruins. Similarly, we may have moments when we feel spiritually distant or dislocated from God. Yet, God offers us a place of comfort and renewal, inviting us to come back home to Him. [47:49]
Bible Passage:
Psalm 84:2-4 (ESV) - "My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!"
Reflection:
Consider what "home" means to you in a spiritual sense. How can you create a space in your daily life where you feel more connected and at peace with God?
Day 4: Being the Body of Christ
Description:
As followers of Christ, we are called to be His body in the world. This means demonstrating God's holiness and love through our actions and words. We must care for the poor, the oppressed, and the marginalized, as Jesus taught. Our lives should reflect the character of Christ, showing the world what it means to be a holy people. This includes setting aside political affiliations and prejudices to embrace the heart of God. By doing so, we become a living testimony of God's love and compassion, making a tangible difference in the lives of those around us. [55:12]
Bible Passage:
1 Corinthians 12:27 (ESV) - "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it."
Reflection:
Think of one practical way you can demonstrate God's love and compassion to someone in need this week. How can you be more Christ-like in your interactions with others?
Day 5: Invitation to Come Home
Description:
No matter how broken or distant we feel, God is always inviting us to come home. This is a call to return to His loving arms, to find rest and restoration in Him. It is never too late to come back to God. He is always ready to welcome us with open arms, to cleanse us, and to give us a new heart and spirit. This invitation is a message of hope and restoration, reminding us that we are never too far gone for God's grace. The hymn "Come Home" serves as a poignant reminder of this call, encouraging us to take that first step back to God and acknowledge our need for His grace and restoration. [01:04:13]
Bible Passage:
Isaiah 55:7 (ESV) - "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
Reflection:
Is there an area of your life where you feel distant from God? What steps can you take today to return to Him and experience His grace and restoration?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Home is not a location. Home is where our hearts are. Home is where our story begins. And I really like what Frederick Buechner says. He says, Home is where when you go, they have to let you in. Isn't that beautiful? That's home. That's home. You don't have to knock on the door. You probably have a key. And if you don't have a key, people are listening for your voice. They're longing to hear your voice." [47:12]
2. "To be a follower of Christ doesn't mean we're always going to be well, physically. To be a follower of Christ does not mean that all of our dreams are going to work out the way we had envisioned them when we started out pursuing a dream. It doesn't mean that. At all. It doesn't mean that there won't be times when we feel dislocated, like we're not where we ought to be or we don't know how to act because our situation is different. There are times like that." [47:12]
3. "God is not neglecting us. He knows where we are. He knows that our lives, our hearts are broken. He knows that the weight of the world is on our shoulders. He knew that about his children. And he says to the prophet, tell them I know. I know. Tell them I'm listening. Tell them I'm hearing. Tell them I'm going to come to them. I'm going to bring you back to a better place. This isn't the end of the world, and this isn't the end of your story. It doesn't have to end in a bad way." [50:32]
4. "God doesn't do that to people. We're not disposable in the mind and the heart of God. We're not just somebody that He can replace easily. We're all significant and important in the purposes. All you graduates, you're important and significant in the purposes and plans of God in this world. One of you may win a Pulitzer Prize some of these days. Please remember us, would you? Just in your acceptance speech say, I wouldn't be here if it hadn't been for Parkview Church of the Nazarene." [53:26]
### Quotes for Members
1. "I will show how holy my great name is, the name which you brought shame on among the nations when I reveal my holiness through you. Through you. You who have deserted me, you who worshiped, you who turned away from me, the day is coming when I'm going to show my holiness through you. How can the world know that God is a holy God? Because the people of God are holy people. That's how they will know. They will not know any other way." [41:25]
2. "He takes that old, cold, stony heart out and tosses it away and gives us a new heart. Gives us a heart of flesh, as he says. So I'm going to take that stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. I will put my spirit in you so that you will follow my decree. And be careful to obey my regulations. And you will live in Israel. That is, you will live at home. You're going to go back home. The land I gave your ancestors long ago, you will be my people and I will be your God. Isn't that good news? It's a promise. I'm going to bring you back home." [44:19]
3. "When you coming? I mean, when are you gonna come? There has to be a moment somewhere down the road. When you come? When you coming? Today will be a good day. Stand with me, would you please? And we're gonna sing this, just the first verse and maybe the chorus a couple of times. This altar is open. Such a good place. This is a place to drive down a stake and kind of get a homestead started in the kingdom. You're invited today, whether you're a guest or this is your church home." [01:05:13]
4. "I think that's what God is asking all of us today. When are y'all coming home? You don't have to stay out there where you are broken and hurting and suffering. When y'all coming? When you coming? Jesus said, come unto me all of you that are weary and heavy laden and I'll give you rest. Take my yoke upon you for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. You'll find rest for your souls. I think there's a big banner hung over the portals of heaven today that says, when are y'all coming? When are y'all coming?" [01:03:24]
5. "He wants to do life with us. He wants to live with us. He wants to walk with us. He wants to shepherd us. He wants to care for us. He's not going to protect us from all that's happening in the world. To be a follower of Christ doesn't mean we're always going to be well, physically. To be a follower of Christ does not mean that all of our dreams are going to work out the way we had envisioned them when we started out pursuing a dream. It doesn't mean that. At all." [46:43]
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?