Sunday Reflections

Here are some thoughts from a great day:

• It was week two in our Come Home series.  We talked about the older son in Luke 15.
• You can listen to the message here.
• You can be so close to the things of God but still miss God!
• The older son lost perspective of all that he had. 
• The older son judged his life by the younger son.
• People who appear close to God but are still far from Him:
• Justify their actions.  
• Become overly critical of others.
• Secretly celebrate the misfortunes of others.
• Write-off people.
• Struggle to see their own imperfections.
• All these add up to the older son missing the point: The younger son came home!
• The religious leaders were so close to Jesus but still missed Him.  They were good at diagnosing problems but not ever doing anything about it.  Do you show up to find fault or to help someone?
• The older son was more concerned about his own circumstances than he was that his brother came home.
• If you appear close to God but you are truly still far from Him, then two things need to happen to come home: 
• 1) Realize the standard is God not others.  We all have fallen short of God's standard! (Romans 3:23)
•  2) Recognize you aren't loved because you're valuable; you're valuable because you're loved by God. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
• If you are still breathing, it is not too late to come home!  If you are still breathing, God isn't finished with you yet.
• You can't earn God's love.  You receive it!
• If you can't celebrate and help lost sons and daughters to come home, then you are in danger of missing the party!  Yes, Heaven is a huge party!
• We sang Forever Changed after the message.  The song has some incredible truth in it.
• Someone else gave their life to Christ!  That is awesome.  
• We had several others recommit their lives to Christ!  That is awesome.
• A couple who gave their lives to Christ last week came back this week and served too!
• We wrap up our Come Home Series this coming Sunday.  We will be in Luke 15 again.  Read through it this week!