You Belong Here

WE EXIST TO HELP PEOPLE KNOW JESUS AND FIND PURPOSE

WHY CHURCH? WHAT SHOULD IT BE?

JESUS DEFIED ALL THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE

Luke 15:1–2 NIV

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

ROLLING OUT THE RED CARPET FOR PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY DON’T BELONG

FIRST CHURCH EXPERIENCE — AWKWARD CHRISTIAN SAYINGS

SAVED — WEARING HATS — SHORTS — ROCK MUSIC IN CHURCH

I DON’T KNOW IF I REALLY BELONG HERE...

HAVE YOU EVER FELT LIKE YOU DIDN’T BELONG?? — THIS FEELINGS COMES BACK EVEN AS A CHRISTIAN

1ST TIME - 1000TH TIME — STRUGGLING — CLOSE TO GOD — FAR FROM GOD — DOUBTING GOD — YOU BELONG HERE

1 John 3:1 (NLT)w

1 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!...

YOU BELONG HERE! — IN THE HOUSE OF GOD — WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD — IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD — SO WELCOME HOME

JESUS MADE IT A PERSONAL MISSION TO TRY AND GET PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THIS

Luke 15:11–16 NLT

11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. 13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

I AM THE PRODIGAL SON EVERY TIME I SEARCH FOR UNCONDITIONAL LOVE WHERE IT CANNOT BE FOUND

RELATIONSHIPS — SPORTS — CAREER — POLITICAL OPINION

A LOT OF TIMES WE GO SEARCHING FOR OTHER LOVE BECAUSE WE THINK WE LOST GOD’S LOVE — BECAUSE OF MISTAKES

Romans 8:37–39 NLT

37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

THERES NOTHING YOU CAN DO!

Luke 15:17–20 NLT

17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” ’ 20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

ISN’T IT CRAZY THAT IT WAS WHEN HE STARTED WALKING BACK HOME THAT HE STARTED THINKING HE WASN’T ENOUGH?

Mark 9:20 NLT

20 So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth.

AS SOON AS HE GOT CLOSER TO JESUS THAT’S WHEN THINGS STARTED TO SEEM WORSE

ONE STEP TOWARDS JESUS AND SATAN WILL START THROWING A FIT — He’ll pull out all the stops — THIS IS WHEN YOU GOTTA KNOW WHO YOU ARE!

RECAP THE ENDING OF THE PRODIGAL SON STORY

Hebrews 4:16 NLT

16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.