Running to Christ: Hope and Redemption for Sinners

 

Summary

In the sermon, the focus is on the profound and transformative encounters between sinners and Christ, as illustrated by two biblical narratives: the demoniac who ran to Jesus and the prodigal son whose father ran to him. These stories highlight the theme of distance and reconciliation, emphasizing that no matter how far one feels from Christ, there is always hope for redemption and a joyful reunion with God.

The demoniac's story serves as a parable for the sinner's plight, illustrating the feeling of being far from Christ due to sin and guilt. This distance is not just physical but also spiritual, characterized by a sense of hopelessness and unworthiness. Yet, the narrative reveals that even in the darkest moments, Christ is willing to cross any barrier to reach and save the lost. The demoniac's act of running to Jesus and worshiping Him, despite his initial state, symbolizes the sinner's wisest course of action: to seek Christ earnestly, even from afar.

The sermon also explores the privilege of the sinner, who, despite feeling distant, can still see Christ and hear of His deeds. This knowledge, though limited, is a beacon of hope, guiding the sinner towards salvation. The demoniac's encounter with Christ demonstrates that even a faint understanding of Jesus can lead to a profound transformation, as Christ is always present and ready to save.

Turning to the story of the prodigal son, the sermon underscores the father's compassion and eagerness to reconcile with his wayward child. This narrative illustrates God's readiness to embrace and forgive those who turn back to Him, no matter how far they have strayed. The father's actions—seeing his son from afar, running to him, and embracing him—mirror God's boundless love and mercy towards repentant sinners.

Ultimately, the sermon calls for a response of worship and faith, encouraging those who feel distant from God to run towards Christ and experience His saving grace. It reassures that God's love is ever-present, and His desire to reconcile with His children is unwavering.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Distance from Christ: Many feel a profound distance from Christ due to their sins and past actions. This separation is not just physical but deeply spiritual, creating a sense of hopelessness. Yet, recognizing this distance is the first step towards reconciliation, as it opens the heart to the possibility of Christ's transformative power. [01:29]

2. The Sinner's Privilege: Even those who feel far from Christ have the privilege of knowing about Him and His deeds. This knowledge, though limited, serves as a guiding light, leading them towards salvation. The demoniac's story illustrates that even a distant view of Christ can ignite a journey towards redemption. [11:22]

3. Christ's Readiness to Save: Christ is always willing to cross any barrier to reach and save the lost. His presence among sinners, as seen in the demoniac's story, demonstrates His boundless compassion and power to heal and transform lives. This assurance encourages sinners to seek Him earnestly. [14:39]

4. God's Compassionate Embrace: The story of the prodigal son highlights God's eagerness to forgive and embrace those who return to Him. The father's actions—seeing, running, and embracing—reflect God's boundless love and mercy, offering hope to all who seek reconciliation. [26:23]

5. The Call to Worship and Faith: The sermon encourages those who feel distant from God to worship Christ and place their faith in Him. This act of worship, even in its simplest form, opens the door to experiencing Christ's saving grace and the Father's compassionate embrace. [18:57]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:17] - Introduction to the Theme
- [00:37] - The Running Encounter
- [01:10] - The Sinner's Distance
- [02:06] - Feeling Unworthy
- [04:03] - Christ's Journey to Save
- [04:53] - Hopelessness and Salvation
- [06:09] - The Demoniac's Transformation
- [07:16] - Knowledge of Christ
- [09:24] - Spiritual Distance
- [11:22] - The Sinner's Privilege
- [14:06] - Christ Among Sinners
- [15:29] - The Demoniac's Worship
- [18:57] - Worship and Faith
- [24:22] - The Father's Compassion
- [30:09] - The Father's Embrace

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Mark 5:6 - "But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshiped him."
2. Luke 15:20 - "But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him."

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Observation Questions:

1. In Mark 5:6, what action does the demoniac take upon seeing Jesus, and what might this signify about his state of mind or heart? [01:10]

2. How does the father's reaction in Luke 15:20 reflect his feelings towards the prodigal son, and what does this reveal about the nature of their relationship? [26:23]

3. According to the sermon, what are some of the barriers that sinners feel separate them from Christ, and how are these barriers addressed? [01:29]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the significance of the demoniac's limited knowledge of Christ and his subsequent actions? [11:22]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon interpret the act of the demoniac running to Jesus as a metaphor for the sinner's journey towards redemption? [15:29]

2. In what ways does the father's compassion in the story of the prodigal son illustrate God's readiness to forgive and reconcile with sinners? [26:23]

3. What does the sermon imply about the role of knowledge, even if limited, in guiding sinners towards salvation? [11:22]

4. How does the sermon describe the transformative power of Christ's presence among sinners, as seen in the story of the demoniac? [14:39]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. What steps did you take, or could you take, to bridge that gap and seek reconciliation? [01:29]

2. The demoniac ran to Jesus despite his condition. What are some practical ways you can seek Christ earnestly, even when feeling unworthy or distant? [15:29]

3. Consider the father's eagerness to embrace the prodigal son. How can you demonstrate similar compassion and readiness to forgive in your relationships? [26:23]

4. The sermon highlights the privilege of knowing about Christ's deeds. How can you deepen your understanding of Christ to strengthen your faith journey? [11:22]

5. Worship and faith are emphasized as responses to feeling distant from God. What specific acts of worship can you incorporate into your daily routine to draw closer to Christ? [18:57]

6. Reflect on the barriers that might be preventing you from experiencing Christ's saving grace. What steps can you take to overcome these obstacles? [01:29]

7. How can you share the hope of redemption and reconciliation with someone who feels far from God, using the stories of the demoniac and the prodigal son as examples? [14:39]

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing Spiritual Distance
In life, many individuals experience a profound sense of distance from Christ, often due to their sins and past actions. This separation is not merely physical but deeply spiritual, leading to feelings of hopelessness and unworthiness. However, acknowledging this distance is the first step towards reconciliation. It opens the heart to the possibility of Christ's transformative power, as seen in the story of the demoniac who, despite his initial state, ran to Jesus and worshiped Him. This act symbolizes the sinner's wisest course of action: to seek Christ earnestly, even from afar. [01:29]

Isaiah 59:1-2 (ESV): "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear."

Reflection: What specific actions or thoughts in your life contribute to your feeling of distance from God, and how can you begin to address them today?


Day 2: The Guiding Light of Knowledge
Even those who feel far from Christ have the privilege of knowing about Him and His deeds. This knowledge, though limited, serves as a guiding light, leading them towards salvation. The demoniac's story illustrates that even a distant view of Christ can ignite a journey towards redemption. This awareness, however faint, is a beacon of hope, encouraging individuals to move towards the light of Christ's love and grace. [11:22]

Psalm 119:105 (ESV): "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively seek to learn more about Christ and His teachings this week, and how might this knowledge guide your actions and decisions?


Day 3: Christ's Boundless Compassion
Christ is always willing to cross any barrier to reach and save the lost. His presence among sinners, as seen in the demoniac's story, demonstrates His boundless compassion and power to heal and transform lives. This assurance encourages sinners to seek Him earnestly, knowing that no matter how far they have strayed, Christ is ready to welcome them with open arms. [14:39]

Luke 19:10 (ESV): "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."

Reflection: Consider a barrier in your life that you feel separates you from Christ. How can you invite Him to help you overcome this barrier today?


Day 4: Embraced by God's Mercy
The story of the prodigal son highlights God's eagerness to forgive and embrace those who return to Him. The father's actions—seeing, running, and embracing—reflect God's boundless love and mercy, offering hope to all who seek reconciliation. This narrative reassures us that no matter how far we have strayed, God's compassionate embrace is always available to those who turn back to Him. [26:23]

Micah 7:18-19 (ESV): "Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea."

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you need to seek God's forgiveness and embrace His mercy? How can you take a step towards reconciliation today?


Day 5: A Call to Worship and Faith
The sermon encourages those who feel distant from God to worship Christ and place their faith in Him. This act of worship, even in its simplest form, opens the door to experiencing Christ's saving grace and the Father's compassionate embrace. It is a call to respond with faith, trusting in God's unwavering love and desire to reconcile with His children. [18:57]

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV): "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."

Reflection: How can you incorporate a simple act of worship into your daily routine this week to draw closer to God and strengthen your faith?

Quotes

"These two texts have a measure of apparent likeness the man runs to Jesus from afar and the father runs to The Prodigal from afar they both run and when two run to meet each other they soon meet when a sinner is running to Christ and the father is running to the sinner there shall be a happy meeting before very long and there shall be joy in heaven and Joy on Earth." [00:00:37]

"Well now when our Lord went to gadara as far as I can see he crossed the Sea of Galilee and endured that storm at night in order that he might heal one man and he went back again well content when he had wrought that one Miracle it may be that you are a man of that kind as far off from any likeness to Christ as that poor demoniac was and he may have come here at this good hour with the intent to save you." [00:04:03]

"Some also are a far off from Christ as to knowledge of him they know but little of the Christ of God they have heard his name they have some dim Notions about him but as yet they only see him a far off in these days when the gospel is preached at so many street corners and when there is a sanctuary in almost every street it is astonishing what gross ignorance there is about him whom to know is life eternal." [00:07:16]

"Though he must have known very little about Christ yet he ran to him and worshiped him a little knowledge like the Star of Bethlehem May suffice to guide to Christ those who are willing to follow its light a faint gleaming of what Christ is may burn and glow into a more complete and perfect knowledge of him and by that knowledge you may be brought into the Liberty where with Christ makes his people free." [00:08:59]

"Those of you who only see Christ in the distance who do not know much about him and cannot get at him do at least know that there is such a person you have heard and it is the best news you ever did hear that the Son of God came down to live among men and took our flesh and became man of the substance of his mother and that though he died upon a cross yet he is risen from the dead and he still lives." [00:11:22]

"Now turning to my second text I must briefly remind you of the secret hope for Sinners that while you are yet a great way off the father himself will see you and will run to you while you are running to his son the father will run to you and you and he shall meet in Christ the only safe meeting place for God and man." [00:24:22]

"I wonder what father will say to me he says I do not know how I can ever face him I've treated him so badly that I must have broken his heart I fear he is angry with me and I do not think I can bear his wroth I'm ready to humble myself and say father I have sinned but oh what a wretch I am he will hardly know me." [00:25:29]

"His father saw him and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him oh dear Hearts if I knew there was a poor soul here beginning to seek the Lord Lord how glad I should be to speak with him and there are some of my dear Brethren here who are always on the lookout for any in whom there is the faintest beginning of a work of Grace." [00:26:23]

"God at this moment sees all the sin of the whole of your life he sees all your Brokenness of spirit all your doubts all your fears all the strugglings against sin and all the strivings of his Spirit he takes it all in with a single glance and comprehends and understands it all and though you are a great way off the father sees you and he sees you with a father's eye too." [00:27:39]

"Moreover God sees with a compassionate eye his father saw him and had compassion on him the two things went together I know a sister in Christ who did me great good one day I had helped a man many times poor wretch that he was I never clothed him but he sold the garments in a day or two I never helped him but he sank into deeper degradation than before." [00:28:09]

"Now I must close for our time has gone the last point to be noticed is the action of the sinner's father no sooner did the father see his son coming back than he ran when God runs it is quick running he ran and fell on his neck and when God Stoops to fall on a sinner's neck it is wondrous condescension this is compassion like a God and kissed him." [00:30:09]

"What I am longing for is that God's blessed Spirit may move some of you to run to Christ if only in the poor way that I have set forth just for a few minutes quietly worship Him and while you are doing that may the great father come in with all his omnipotent love and put away your sin and change your nature and receive you into Eternal Union with himself to the praise of the glory of his grace." [00:31:39]

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Transcript
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