Seeds: Every Family Tree Begins Somewhere // Homecoming

Seeds: Every Family Tree Begins Somewhere // Homecoming

Pastor Charlie Weir

The Creation Story established these 3 core seed facts.

• Our origin is divine because we were created by God.

• Our capacity is holy because we were created for God.

• Our purpose is to carry life and to give life.

Nothing has the power to cancel out or diminish your divine origin, your holy capacity or your life-giving purpose!

Week 2 Roots & Soil

Your family heritage matters: it informs and influences but it doesn’t determine… for the good or the bad. Your right now family tree is more connected to your right now thinking, decisions, choices and actions than to your past.

• You can’t change your family history but you can change your family’s present and future.

• You can’t change the soil in which you were planted but you can change the composition of the soil you are in right now.

• You can’t change your original root structure but you can put down new (fresh) roots.

Week 3 Family Faith Declaration

• Declarations forge identity, anchor resolve and chart a course. “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord!”

• Humanism is the prevailing religion of the day. Humanism preaches that we are gods.

• There is no life in being gods. There is no better Life than being god’s.

Week 4 Walk the Walk. Talk the Talk.

• We have to stand guard and exceed the influential pace and passion the current culture has for this generation.

• The best combatant for prevalent lies is consistent truth wrapped in a consistent relationship.

• Impress, Talk, Tie, Bind and Write are all action verbs.

Satan wants to shame you and your family. God wants to shape you and your family.

The “Parable of the Prodigal Son” is a story for all of those who have created their own empty circumstances and for the loved ones who have had to watch it unfold.

Slide
Luke 15:11b-12 “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So, he divided his property between them.

Luke 15:13-16 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

When someone decides to walk away from the people (God) who love them it’s not a short walk.

• #1 definition for prodigal is “spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant.”

• Prodigal is a derivative of the Latin prodigere which also means “one who drives away.”

Alone may be the first step back towards home.

Luke 15:17-20a 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

Feeling alone is the first step back home. The second step is hunger/empty settling in. These steps lead to an AHHA moment…

The Greek word for resurrection literally means “to stand up”.

• Repentance is the only path Resurrections.

• Resurrections are always God’s response to repentance.

• Repentance always produces life.

Luke 15:20b

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

Luke 15:21-24

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So, they began to celebrate.

• The robe restored his security.

• The ring restored his identity.

• The celebration restored his significance.

The scandalous promise of God is that He will always meet repentance with resurrection.

Prodigal Approach

• Leave an open door.

• Practice benevolent detachment.

• Embrace a Work/Watch balance. Work with faith. Watch in hope.

• Leave the “ahhas” to God.