Coming Home: How Did I Get So Far Away?

Have you ever felt that you have wandered far from God? Do you wonder how God feels about your life because of that? In this sermon series called “Coming Home” we see that there is no place that we can get to in our lives that is too far for us to be able to come back to God! Coming Home: How Did I Get So Far Away? Luke 15: 11-16 Things that get us off of God’s path... - Slip ups – letting our guard down for a moment - Selfishness – focusing on ourselves - Secret sins – our heart longing for something not good - Silly-ness – taking dangerous things too lightly - Wrong focus – living for something other than God’s purpose - Anger – letting bad feelings stay around too long It's a slow fade when you give yourself away It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid When you give yourself away People never crumble in a day It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade (“Slow Fade” by Casting Crowns) #1. We begin to distance ourselves from God Luke 15: 11-12 #2. We take clear steps away from God Luke 15: 13 The only time to leave is when you know that God is sending you. Prodigal means...“Wasteful or reckless”. #3. We get our lives into a complete mess Luke 15: 14-16 How much do the people helping to make your mess really care about you? “The 24 Hour Rule” If possible, holding off on making a decision or taking some action for at least 24 hours when it involves... #1. Something way outside your norm #2. Something those close to you may not support #3. Something that involves high risks #4. Something that might be very expensive The idea is that if something is a good idea today, it will be a good idea tomorrow/later. (adapted from The Bipolar Workbook: Tools for Controlling Your Mood Swings) Sin will take you farther than you wanted to go, will keep you longer than you wanted to stay, and will cost you more than you wanted to pay.