Home In His Grace; Growing In Faith (A Homecoming Service Message)

Introduction

Video Ill.: Welcome Home - Playback Media

I say it too: Welcome home!

Home, Sweet Home

By Sermon Central

[(Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (68). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.) From a sermon by Matthew Kratz, Hope that Stands in the Storm]

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The story is told that there was a time during the American Civil War when the rival armies were encamped on the opposite banks of the Potomac River. The Union's band played one of its patriotic tunes, and the Confederate musicians quickly struck up a melody dear to any Southerner's heart. Then one of the bands started to play "Home, Sweet Home." The musical competition ceased, and the musicians from the other army joined in. Soon voices from both sides of the river could be heard singing, "There is no place like home.”

This morning, there’s no place like home! It’s great that you are here today — for we have found that we are home in His grace, as we grow together in faith.

Being home has nothing to do with the building, the pews, the music. Being home means that we are part of a family. It’s a place where we find a sense of belonging, a place of security, a place where we find our identity.  Home is exactly where we are today — in God’s presence, worshipping and growing together.

And, it is all because of God’s grace! Through God’s grace we find common ground, we are all equals before God’s throne. Our past is gone, our future is bright. Through grace we can come home. Through grace, we have a solid foundation upon which we can grow.

This morning, we are part of God’s household, and we can grow in grace and faith together in the family of God.

**I. As we begin, let’s consider that we are Home in God’s Grace.**

Paul writes in Ephesians 2:

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the Chief Cornerstone. 21 In Him, the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit. (Ephesians 2, NIV1984)

**A. Folks, we are no longer strangers because of what Jesus did. **

Through grace, we have become members of God’s household. We have become part of His family because of His grace.

When we live covered by His grace, it does not matter what we have done in the past, what mistakes or missteps we have made.

What matters is that we are washed in His blood, as the old hymn says.

We have been transformed. We are no longer the enemies of God. We are no longer outsiders. We are no longer strangers. We are no longer foreigners. We are no longer aliens.

We now have found a place among God’s family.

We have a place of belonging.

We have eternal security, being marked with the seal of His Spirit. Paul said earlier in Ephesians:

13 … [Y]ou also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession — to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1, NIV1984)

We have a place we can call home — and it is right here, with each one of us around us.

And God’s grace is for everyone of us. There’s not a single person who is too far gone to be able to receive His grace.

God’s love, God’s mercy, God’s grace is for all. Jesus paid the price of the entire world’s sin, not just the sin of the Jews, or the Romans, or any other special groups. His death was for all of us. For God so loved THE WORLD that He gave His Son.

Talk about inclusivity.  There is truly no other place where all is forgiven, where we all have a chance for a complete do-over, where we all can become members of one big family.

There’s a place for everyone in God’s family, in His home.

Clinker Bricks

By Sermon Central

[“Clinker bricks and Ebenezers,” May 2, 1999, Exeter Congregational United Church of Christ Web Site, users.rcn.com.]

More information at http://gatespres.org/ourchurch/

(From a sermon by Larry Wise, Precious In His Sight, 2/24/2010)

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Although at times it seems as though the church is in ruin and rubble, God sees it as a beautiful building.