11.15.2020 | WELCOME HOME
WELCOME HOME
Romans 15:7 (ESV) – Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Josh McDowell – We are not only facing a pandemic of COVID-19; we are also facing a pandemic of loneliness.
A survey of millennials in 2019 reported that 20% of millennials have no friends.
FOMO – Fear Of Missing Out
Three ultimate questions: Who Am I? Why Am I Here? Where Do I Belong?
Who am I? Identity
Why am I here? Destiny
Where do I belong? Community
Ephesians 2:13 – But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:19 – Now therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.
Ephesians 2:19 (NLT) – You are members of God’s family.
Romans 15:7 – Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, for the glory of God.
Romans 15:7 (ESV) – Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!
The Holy Spirit wants people to feel accepted, loved, and welcomed into the Body of Christ.
YOU ARE WELCOME HERE!
As believers, how do we model the warmth, love, forgiveness, and mercy of Jesus Christ
SEE WITH HIS EYES
Luke 19:2 – Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.
Luke 19:3 – And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature.
Luke 19:4 - So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.
Luke 19:5 – And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him…..
Jesus saw him with the Father’s eyes.
We want to see people through His eyes!
REACH OUT WITH HIS GRACE
Luke 19:5 – And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, ”Zacchaeus, make haste and come down….”
Jesus spoke to him and called him by name.
Father God knows our names!
Isaiah 43:1 – Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
Zacchaeus – pure, innocent
We want to call people into the fullness of their identity and the fullness of their destiny.
LOVE WITH HIS LOVE
Luke 19:5 – Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.
Luke 19:6 – So he made haste and came down and received Him joyfully.
Luke 19:9 – And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because he also is a son of Abraham.”
Luke 19:10 – For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.
1 Corinthians 13:8 – Love never fails.
LORD, HELP ME TO LOVE PEOPLE THE WAY YOU HAVE LOVED ME.
Discussion Questions:
Can you share of a time you struggled with loneliness in your own life?
Is that something you are struggling with right now?
Who is someone you know that is struggling to belong and is feeling left out?
What would the Holy Spirit have you do to reach out to them?
What is one practical step you can take to model the warmth and love of Jesus to others?