The Host: Where He Invites
Key Takeaways
The ache for home is real and universal.
Every human heart carries a longing to finally arrive home and never have to leave, a feeling of divine design that points us to God.Home is not behind you.
Nostalgia, regret, and the longing to recover what is lost can cause us to look back, but Christian hope offers us something far greater than our past.The destination of Psalm 23 is the presence of God.
The shepherd has been leading his sheep to not only a place, but a person—unbroken, eternal communion with God himself.The invitation is both future and present.
Through his Spirit, his Word, his church, and worship, God invites us to make our home in his presence now and rest in the truth that we will one day also experience this home by sight.False homes promise rest but produce restlessness.
When we do not know what to do with our ache for home, we fill it with lesser things (relationships, accomplishments, comfort, control) that were never meant to be dwelt in the way we were made to dwell with God.
Study Questions
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The psalmist describes the green pastures, still waters, and dark valleys as part of the journey home rather than destinations in themselves. How does viewing your current circumstances as part of a larger movement toward God change how you experience them?
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J contrasts the hope offered in the movie "Field of Dreams," which imagines home as something behind us, with the Christian hope that home is ahead of us. How does reorienting your vision of home from the past to the future change the way you live in the present?
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God does not merely promise to return what we have lost, but promises to give us himself. How does the promise of unbroken communion with God speak to losses or regrets you are carrying right now?
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J describes the 'already and not yet' reality of the Christian life, in which we can begin experiencing the presence of God now through the Spirit, the church, and worship. What practices or communities have given you the clearest foretaste of that future home?
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The Son left his Father's house and entered our exile so that exiles could be brought into his Father's house. How does the truth that Jesus himself experienced exile and displacement deepen your trust in him as a shepherd who genuinely understands your journey?
Seeking God’s Face Devotional
This year, we’ll be using the devotional “Seeking God’s Face” for our personal daily discipleship.
This Week’s Liturgy
Call to worship
Psalm 36:7-9
Leader: How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
All: They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.
Confession of FAITH
New City Catechism Q & A #33
Q: Should those who have faith in Christ seek their salvation through their own works, or anywhere else?
A: No, they should not, as everything necessary to salvation is found in Christ. To seek salvation through good works is a denial that Christ is the only Redeemer and Savior.
Confession of sin
Father, you have made us to dwell with you, yet we confess that we search for home in lesser places. We look to possessions, relationships, substances, and accomplishments for the peace and belonging only you can give. Forgive our wandering hearts and unhealthy choices. By the power of Jesus, our Good Shepherd, lead us home to dwell and be satisfied by you alone. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Isaiah 43:25
I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.
This Week’s Playlist
Looking Ahead
Invite a friend, bring the kids, and join us this Sunday at 9 or 10:30 a.m.