The Beauty and Risk of Home

Me

Story about vulnerability.

Story of meeting my dad at burger king.

Story of Ashley’s forgiveness.

“Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.” - Dr. Brene Brown

“In the beginning, people think vulnerability will make you weak, but it does the opposite. It shows you’re strong enough to care.” - Victoria Pratt

“If all hearts were open and all desires known - as they would be if people showed their souls - how many gapings, sighings, clenched fists, knotted brows, broad grins, and red eyes should we see in the market -place!” - Thomas Hardy

We

When we are vulnerable we have the greatest opportunity to be loved.

Maybe you are here this morning with lots of pain.

God has a home for you.

Maybe you are here this morning with lots of joy.

God has a home for you.

Together, lets discover the beauty and the risk of home.

God

God uses our vulnerabilities not to condemn but to love.

Adam & Eve

Genesis 3:8–9 ESV

8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

Genesis 3:15 ESV

15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Woman caught in adultery

John 8:2–11 ESV

2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

Prodigal Son

Luke 15:20–22 ESV

20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.

You

Are you in pain?

So is Jesus.

Do you need love and acceptance?

Jesus can provide it.

Do you have joy and love in your heart?

Share it with someone who needs it.

God has placed those who are full of joy and love with those who are in immense pain, not as a joke, but to provide an opportunity to love and to bring all of us together.

The risk of coming home is that your whole heart will be revealed.

But the beauty of coming home is that you will have those who will truly love you even when you have done things wrong.

We

What would our families look like if they felt safe enough to be real and authentic?

What would our communities look like if we showed love when people were vulnerable instead of separation and indifference?

What would our community say about our church if our church was known to love those who were in pain?