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SERMON SERIES: INTRODUCTION

The Familiar Road Home Focal Scriptures:

Sermon Outline:

Luke 24:13-35

Introduction 1. The Familiar Road Home 2. Knowing Scripture but Missing Jesus 3. A Distorted Worldview Leads to Missing Jesus 4. Embracing Jesus Tramsforms a Life

Genesis 3: 1–10 Ephesians 4:13–16 Luke 4: 1–10 Key Truths:

Introduction:

Sometimes the busyness of life hinders us from seeing Jesus. If we miss the Person of Jesus, we miss a transformed life.

n order for us to pass on a genuine and Bible-centered faith to others, it will require our firm embrace of the essentials of a life-changing walk with Jesus. For parents to impart a Biblical worldview and transforming faith to their family, they will need adequacy in both knowing and living out the unshakable truths of faith in Jesus. For each of us to live out our role of fulfilling the Great Commission and seeing others live as followers of Jesus, will call for an intimate walk in the foundations of a first-century faith.

When we believe the truth, come to know and belong to the Person who is Truth, we can then become that truth in relationship with God and others. When we experience truth in the person of Jesus, we’ll be energized to become “doers” of the truth and have no problem sharing about our faith in Him!

In this message, we will look at the journey of the Emmaus road disciples (Luke 24) and possibly find parallels with our own life journey. It is often easy to miss the foundational essentials of our faith, just as the Emmaus disciples missed the person of Jesus. The journey of the Christian life is primarily to be an intimate and loving relationship with a person named, Jesus. And it is Jesus who will impart to us a contagious faith that can be shared with others. Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10 NIV). Quietly reflect on the person of Jesus. Pause and reflect on your image of Him. Imagine the divinely human, Son of God drawing close to you. Slow down and focus on Him. Quiet the noise of your life and of your mind. Invite Jesus to reveal Himself, His life, His love and His truth to you … even as you prepare to share His truths with others. Take the next few moments, before you begin the rest of your preparation, and ask Jesus to reveal Himself to you. Ask His Spirit to speak to your spirit. Let this time of preparation be first and foremost a time of intimacy between you and Jesus. Accept His invitation: Be still and know that I am God.

SERMON SERIES: INTRODUCTION 1. The Familiar Road Home

“A

nd behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.” (Luke 24:13-16)

Focal Scriptures: Luke 24:13-35 Genesis 3: 1–10 Ephesians 4:13–16 Luke 4: 1–10

Everyone travels familiar roads. You probably have favorite routes to the grocery store, school, and home. Familiar pathways can reveal different things though when we walk or bike the journey instead of riding in a car. We can miss a lot on a familiar path if we’re fiddling with a cell phone or checking the radio. Yet sights, sounds and smells seem to come alive when we slow down and enjoy the moment. Imagine enjoying an early-morning walk down the main street of a neighborhood subdivision. Driving and walking yield two entirely different experiences. We hear the conversations of the bicyclists as we walk; we smell the flowers along the path. We come across a squirrel or a cherished family pet. We miss all of that in the car. Familiar roads are just different when you’re walking them. Regrettably, we may miss the squirrel or the smell of the flowers from the convenience of our car, but that ultimately may not make much of a difference in our lives. What about our faith journey? What about the familiar road of our spiritual walk? What if we fail to perceive something really important? What if we are missing valuable treasures along our journey? What if we are overlooking Someone who is vital to our spiritual walk? And worse yet, what if we are missing a cherished relationship along this familiar path? What we need on this familiar road are a few markers—reminders of the key points of treasured interest along our destination. We need a guide, a handbook if you will, for what the Christian life is all about and how we can enjoy the richness of an intimate walk with Jesus. In order to capture the joy of the Christian journey, we need to remember the One who is on this road with us and the truths of our faith in Him. We’ll need to revisit our unshakable truths. The Unshakable Truth book, study guide and video series by Josh and Sean McDowell highlight twelve essential truths which are foundational to imparting a Biblical worldview, rejuvenating our spiritual journey and living out a transforming faith. Josh and Sean explain how these twelve truths must be seen within the context of relationship in order for them to mark the way toward a faith that’s relevant. The McDowell’s explain that truth was meant to be proclaimed in the context of relationships so it would reach both our intellect and our emotions. It is relational truth that each of us needs and craves. This combination of relationship and truth will be our key to a rich, meaningful, contagious walk with Jesus so that it can be passed on to others.

SERMON SERIES: INTRODUCTION Many of Us Have Lost Our Way on the Familiar Road

Focal Scriptures: Luke 24:13-35 Genesis 3: 1–10 Ephesians 4:13–16 Luke 4: 1–10

The first century church faced a materialistic, immoral, and corrupt culture, and yet it grew. With all of our resources, communication tools, and mission emphases why are thousands of American churches closing their doors each year? Many, if not most denominations are in retreat. Many ministries and churches are struggling to survive. America is the most churched country in the world and yet leads the world in many issues of social dysfunction (divorce, children born outside of marriage, and violent crime). All across the faith/denominational spectrum, whether it be Catholic churches, Mainline Protestant, Evangelical, Charismatic or Pentecostal, the surveys of church health, relevance and spiritual formation are not encouraging. We face a significant disconnect between orthodoxy, biblical accuracy, and orthopraxy, the authentic living out of real Christianity in relationship with Christ. Why? Tragically, in American culture our Bible beliefs seem to be a mile wide, but our practice of them seems only an inch deep. What about your journey? Have you been on the familiar road, following Jesus and yet the practice of your faith seems lacking?  Do you know more truth (at times) than you live out?  Do you ever wonder about the relevance of your faith—does it really make a difference in your life?  Do you find it hard to make your beliefs consistent with your life choices?  Have you ever found it difficult to communicate what you believe about Jesus, the Bible and your faith?  Have you struggled to talk about your faith with your children, teens and those who don’t know Christ?  Have you come to a personal faith in Christ, been redeemed by Him, restored by Him and yet struggle to find a deep sense of intimacy with Jesus? Colossians 3:16 “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly …” Pastor/Leader: Can you think of an example in your life where you have been preaching or teaching more than you are living? For instance, you may be preaching a series on the Lord’s Prayer, but how do those closest to you, experience your companionship in prayer? In other words, are you close enough friends with Jesus to let him prompt you to pray with your spouse? Can you think of a time when you have experienced some of the disconnectedness that is described in the questions above? Share your responses with the congregation/participants. Humbly declare your own need for both spiritual truth and a deep personal relationship with the One who is Truth and brings life transformation.

Reflect on a time, either recent or in the past, when you were preaching/teaching more than you were living. First declare your gratitude for how God has redeemed you and called you into this personal relationship with Him.

SERMON SERIES: INTRODUCTION I am so grateful to be a part of God’s family, redeemed of the Lord and called to minister to His people because _______________________________________ Yet, I recall preaching on ____________________________________________ and in my own life _________________________________________________

Focal Scriptures: Luke 24:13-35 Genesis 3: 1–10

(For example: I recall preaching on Psalm 127 and how children are gifts from the Lord. And yet in my own life, I had become so preoccupied with ministry that I had missed slowing down enough to really know my own children.) Or recall a time, either recent or in the past, when you struggled to talk to your children about your faith, struggled to experience a deep, personal intimacy with Jesus, or knew more truth than you were living out.

Ephesians 4:13–16 Luke 4: 1–10

Experiencing the Truth of His Word Pause during the sermon/teaching session and invite the congregation/participants to experience some of God’s truth. Invite them to experience God’s truth—right here and right now. “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so ...” (Psalm 107:2 NASB). Take the next few moments and reflect on your own spiritual journey. Have you been redeemed of the Lord? Have you come to know Jesus in a personal way? Let’s first acknowledge and express our gratitude for being reconciled to God. “I am grateful to be redeemed of the Lord because …” Next, reflect on your own spiritual walk. How might you benefit from a greater connection of knowing truth and being able to live out truth? Which one of the questions above might be a struggle for you? “I am grateful to be redeemed of the Lord and yet I …” (For example: “I am grateful to be redeemed of the Lord and yet I don’t feel comfortable talking about spiritual things with my kids.” “Or I am grateful to be redeemed of the Lord and yet I don’t always feel like my faith makes an impact on my life. I seem to struggle with the same things all my friends do. And sometimes it seems worse because as a Christian, I’m ‘supposed to’ be able to handle life’s challenges.) Can you see it? Many of us know a great deal of spiritual truth. We are familiar with the Scriptures. And yet, just like the Emmaus road disciples, we often miss the personal, life transforming power that comes when we truly have been with Him.

SERMON SERIES: INTRODUCTION 2. Knowing Scripture but Missing Jesus? (Vss.17-21)

“O

ne of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, ‘Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?’” Luke 24:18

Focal Scriptures: Luke 24:13-35 Genesis 3: 1–10 Ephesians 4:13–16 Luke 4: 1–10

As the Emmaus disciples traveled a familiar road home, their preoccupation with the events of the persecution, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus, dominated their discussion. Luke describes how Jesus walked up beside the men, but as often happened, made no elaborate declaration of His identity. The disciples were so caught up in their own conversation that they failed to notice that anyone was with them, let alone Jesus. The word that describes their conversation, “homiloun” produces the English word, “homiletics” or “preaching.” Robertson’s Word Pictures suggests that homiletics was at first largely conversational and not declamatory. What an irony! The Emmaus disciples were “preaching” to each other in the presence of Christ, missing the One they later would be preaching about! So where did the disciples go wrong? Where do we go wrong? The Emmaus bound disciples, so familiar with their path home, had developed a man-centered, worldview wrapped around a theology of the God of the Old Testament. The Emmaus disciples had evidently separated truth from relationships. Many times, we too, forget that truth is a Person and His name is Jesus. Many times we fail to see and relate to the Person of Truth in our efforts to know, believe and obey the truth. Have you ever wondered how a person who can seem so theologically precise in a Bible study and yet can become so relationally cutting in a neighborhood gathering, school function or church business meeting? Join the Emmaus Road disciples - theologically accurate, and yet relationally disconnected. Here’s the overall principle to take away: Miss the Person of Jesus and we miss a transformed life. The Unshakable Truth resources, from Josh and Sean McDowell, will help us discover and live out the foundational truths about God, His Word, Christ, the Trinity and the Church. With the help of these resources, we can become better equipped and more fully adequate to pass on each truth to our family and the world around us.

Sometimes the busyness of life hinders us from seeing Jesus

What kept the disciples on the Emmaus Road from recognizing him? Perhaps they were too busy with “important things.” Remember Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan? The priest and the scribe didn’t seem to notice the hurting man beside the road because they were too busy with religious duties (Luke 10:30-37). Do we get so busy in our religious obligations that we miss the relationship with the Author of our faith? The nine lepers can also remind us how easily we can become too busy for Jesus (Luke 17: 11-19). Christ miraculously healed ten people of leprosy, restored their health, their family relationships and their position within the community and yet nine of those lepers went about their lives—too busy to see the One

SERMON SERIES: INTRODUCTION who healed them. Only one leper took the time to relate to Jesus. Only one man wasn’t too busy to see the Healer as well as the healing. How many of us have been blessed, healed, loved by Jesus? And how many of us have gone on with our busy lives, just like the nine lepers? Or do we take time to see Him?

Focal Scriptures: Luke 24:13-35 Genesis 3: 1–10 Ephesians 4:13–16 Luke 4: 1–10

Colossians 3:16 “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly …” Pastor/Leader, could you be open and vulnerable to share with the congregation/ participants about the struggle of busyness and ministry? Could you tell about one of the times that busyness has interfered with your relationship with Christ? Only the most mature laity understands that your ministry schedule and demands can, without checks and balances, interfere with your personal walk with Christ. Your testimony can encourage others to see how critical it is to prioritize a relationship with Jesus, even in the midst of life and ministry. “Sometimes my busyness has hindered my personal, intimate walk with Jesus, such that …” (For example: “Sometimes my busyness has hindered my personal, intimate walk with Jesus, such that my prayers become obligations, reading God’s Word becomes a chore and times of true worship become a rarity.”) Sometimes our pain-filled hearts hinder us from seeing Jesus And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. (Luke 24:17 NASB) 17

Life’s pain can also keep us from recognizing Christ. The Emmaus disciples mistakenly addressed Christ as a visitor who must have missed the historical events surrounding Jesus of Nazareth. Cleopas asked if the visitor walking with them was a “stranger” to Jerusalem, a term used in later Greek for an individual who had no rights of citizenship. Not only did the disciples not recognize Jesus, they also viewed him as an illegal immigrant! Jesus gently, graciously engaged the Emmaus disciples in conversation. And when their journey stopped, when their busyness had halted, the disciples’ true feelings of sorrow and pain emerged. They stood still, looking sad (Luke 24:17). Next, the disciples began to recount their loss of hope in the man who was mighty in word and in deed and obviously anointed by God. The men expressed devastation and defeat because they had hoped that Jesus would redeem Israel. From their vantage point, the Romans had won, their hope was lost, and God had let them down. Life’s pain was too great to see the Redeemer standing next to them.

There are times when you and I fail to see the One who can save us, because life’s pain is too great. Our pain can keep us from seeing the Hope that is within us, the Redeemer who lives inside us.

SERMON SERIES: INTRODUCTION

Colossians 3:16 “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly …”

Focal Scriptures:

Pastor/Leader, could you share a time with the congregation/participants when your own life pain made it hard to see Jesus. Tell about a season of life when it seemed that hope was lost, victory was gone and perhaps even God had let you down. Share about this time and how it was difficult to see God. Finally, tell about the restoration of relationship on the other side of this season. How was your hope restored?

Luke 24:13-35 It was hard to see Jesus during the time when …

Genesis 3: 1–10 Ephesians 4:13–16 Luke 4: 1–10

After ________________, my hope was restored and my relationship with Jesus … (For example: “It was hard to see Jesus around the time of my father’s death. My father and I had just begun to restore our relationship when he passed away. After experiencing the compassion of Jesus as the God of all comfort, my hope was restored and my relationship with Jesus was deepened.”) Like the disciples, our life pain can prevent us from seeing the One who can redeem us. But just like the disciples, Jesus lovingly, graciously and compassionately desires to engage us in our hurt, support us on our journey and bring restoration of our hope in Him.

3. A Distorted Worldview Leads to Missing Jesus

“B

ut we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel….” (Luke 24:21 NASB)

The Emmaus disciples’ distorted perspective was also a part of what hindered their ability to see Jesus. The men hoped that Christ would redeem Israel from the bondage of Rome. They understood Jesus was a powerful prophet and had hoped He would rise to power in order to usurp Roman rule. When the chief priests handed Christ over for crucifixion, the disciples’ hope for the end of Roman persecution died as well. The men also discussed the testimonies they had heard from other Christ-followers and how some of the women’s testimonies had amazed them. It sounded like good preaching material for an Easter Sunday! Nevertheless, the risen Christ was in their presence, and they did not know it! Why?

The Emmaus disciples had become experts in observing the spiritual events surrounding them. They could take the spiritual temperature of others, yet failed to measure their own. Notice that the disciples focused on external events, rather than themselves. The men didn’t seem to express concern about their own relationship with Jesus. Like these traveling disciples, perhaps we can lose sight of Jesus when we only think of Him, as someone who is supposed to fix other people. Perhaps we are prevented from recognizing Christ when we look at life through our humancentered, external perspective. Furthermore, the disciples seemed to focus on what

SERMON SERIES: INTRODUCTION they were getting or not getting out of life’s circumstances. Similarly, when we ask, “What is in it for me?” we too, can miss seeing Jesus. What Can Keep Us From Missing Him?

Focal Scriptures: Luke 24:13-35 Genesis 3: 1–10 Ephesians 4:13–16 Luke 4: 1–10

Early in the second century, the church firmly established a relational model that enabled individuals to embrace their faith and pass it on to others. By 130 AD, Justin Martyr declared that the Christian faith revolved around a continuing cycle of believing, belonging, and becoming. These three components were not compartmentalized into three separate disciplines; they were seen as a whole—integrated and continuous. We have a lot to learn from Justin Martyr and the early church because we seem to be missing (or seem to have forgotten) a vibrant and contagious faith. Let’s review how this cycle of believing, belonging and behaving can be relevant for us today (For our 21 century culture, we have renamed the “behaving” component of this process to “becoming): Believing or knowing the truth is a process of understanding who God is and how we relate to him and others. Entering into a relationship with God, bonds us with others who share that relationship, enabling us to experience a sense of belonging. The apostle talked about the “unity in our faith” by which “the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love” (Ephesians 4:13,16). The truth process does not stop with believing and belonging. It continues on and affects our behavior. Believing truth and enjoying an intimate relationship with the One who is truth, produces a life that is consistent with truth. Truth is to be lived out. When we believe the truth, come to know and belong to the Person who is Truth, we can then become that truth in relationship with God and others. (taken from page 41, The Unshakable Truth) Here’s how this might translate to our lives in practical ways:  When we believe truth, but separate it from the wonder of belonging in relationship with Christ and His people—it’s hard to live out the truth. For instance, when we believe that God wants us to forgive as we have been forgiven, but separate this belief from our own experience of belonging to Jesus who unconditionally forgives—it’s hard to become forgiving (See Ephesians 4:31-32).  Additionally, when truth is not lived out in loving relationship, (though it is still true), it loses its relevancy. For instance, if we believe that God wants us to forgive and yet struggle to become forgiving in our relationships, the truth of God seems to lose its relevancy. God’s truth is still truth, but it’s hard for His truth to “work” if we can’t live it out. Such a life fosters doubts in the authenticity of the message resulting in a lack of desire to belong to Christ.

 On the other hand, when relationships exist without God’s truth, they can lose their meaning and often degenerate into painful situations. When we live

SERMON SERIES: INTRODUCTION

Focal Scriptures: Luke 24:13-35 Genesis 3: 1–10 Ephesians 4:13–16 Luke 4: 1–10

in community, trying to belong in relationship with one another and yet live without believing in God’s truth and having a relationship with the One who is truth, it’s difficult to live out truth. For example, if we live together before marriage, or have sex before marriage in an effort to satisfy our God-given need to belong, and do so without a firm belief in the truth of the sanctity of marriage and the One who created us for relationship, statistics tell us that couples who co-habitat before marriage are even more likely to get divorced than those who don’t. Relationships without truth can lose their meaning and result in painful circumstances. The early church’s testimony of believing, belonging, and becoming changed the entire world! Millions of followers connected their lives with the life of Christ. They belonged to Him. They belonged to each other. Their behavior connected with their beliefs and became a contagious source of hope for others. Two centuries before, the Nicene Creed clarified the common essentials of Christianity, with the intricate balance of believing, belonging, and becoming. Justin Martyr’s declarations established a rich, spiritual beginning for Christ’s followers. In The Unshakable Truth resource collection, Josh and Sean McDowell reiterate these important markers for Christianity and discuss them within the framework of believing, belonging and becoming. These resources are Biblically grounded and spiritually deep. They provide relevant answers for some of life’s most challenging questions related to sin and our hope for reconciliation with God, God’s Kingdom and the return of Christ.

Experiencing Truth in Community Reflect on your own spiritual journey. Which do you sometimes struggle to balance?  Believing truth—knowing and/or trusting God’s truth in specific situations; seeing life and circumstances from Jesus’ perspective  Belonging—knowing the Person of Jesus in a very real way. Experiencing an intimate, relevant relationship with the One who is Truth; sensing a special unity with other members of God’s family.  Becoming—living out the truth that you already believe; making your walk match your talk. At times, I struggle with ______________ and I think that’s true of me because …

Colossians 3:16 “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly …”

Pastor/Leader, share your own response to the sentence starter above. Let your vulnerable testimony be an example of humility and relevance for others. At times, I struggle with _______________ and I think that’s true of me because …

SERMON SERIES: INTRODUCTION (For example: “At times, I struggle with believing truth, especially at times of high anxiety. And I think that’s true of me because I focus so much on my worries that I miss having faith in His presence and care.”)

Focal Scriptures: Luke 24:13-35 Genesis 3: 1–10 Ephesians 4:13–16 Luke 4: 1–10

What did Jesus do for the slow-of-heart disciples? He took them on a journey—a journey back through Scripture. Beginning with Moses and continuing through the Prophets, Christ explained to the disciples how all of Scripture pointed to Himself. How does Jesus relate to us, when we’re slow to believe? Slow to belong? Slow to become? His response is the same: Christ desires to reveal His truth and point us to Himself. It’s also significant to note: Jesus interacted with the Emmaus disciples with the good natured humor of a close friend. The disciples asked, “Are you the only one around here who does not know what things happened?” Jesus responded, “What things?” And to think, He is the one that just went through all of the circumstances they described! What an incredibly personal God we serve!

4. Embracing Jesus is Transforming

“T

hen they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, ‘Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.’ And He went in to stay with them.” (Luke 24:28-29) Up to this point, Jesus had walked with the disciples along their familiar road. Now He acted as though He would go ahead without them. What a critical and crucial stopping point! Christ waited for their invitation. In a similar way, Christ waits for our invitation. We have to choose. We never stumble into intimacy with God. We make a choice. Notice what happened to the disciples after Christ had received their invitation. From the text, we know that Jesus entered as a guest in the disciple’s home. And yet, as the guest, Christ took the bread, gave thanks and broke it. The Guest took over! The One who was invited took charge. The same is true for us, when we allow Jesus to come and dwell in our lives, He takes over. The One who is invited, becomes the One to whom we belong. Finally, the disciples recognized Jesus! With excitement, they recalled the walk. They reported that their hearts “burned” within them as they listened to Jesus on the road. The Greek word suggests that Jesus captivated their hearts. It was a slow and growing joy that developed within them. The disciples experienced growing enthusiasm and expectation because of their encounter with Jesus. Christ brought truth together with relationship and the result was enthusiastic faith. Jesus recaptured the disciples’ sense of belonging and believing and they went away “becoming” a person of expectation and passion for Christ.

SERMON SERIES: INTRODUCTION When was the last time you and I had a sense of real enthusiasm and expectation about what God wants to do in our lives? When was the last time that the great truths of the Bible brought us enthusiastic joy and growing expectation?

Focal Scriptures: Luke 24:13-35 Genesis 3: 1–10 Ephesians 4:13–16 Luke 4: 1–10

Recall again, Justin Martyr’s threefold balance of believing, behaving, and belonging. The disciples connected what they believed about Jesus with the person of Jesus. And just look at what happened when they did! Look who they became! The disciples wasted no time in taking the seven mile trip back to Jerusalem that evening. It was quite natural for the Emmaus disciples to talk about their renewed faith since they connected their beliefs about Jesus with the person of Jesus. They couldn’t help but become ambassadors for Jesus. When we connect the teachings of Jesus with Jesus himself, He begins to break the bread of fellowship and love with us. When we experience truth in the person of Jesus, we’ll be energized to become “doers” of the truth and have no problem sharing about our faith in Him! Let’s take the closing few moments and invite Jesus into our journey. Let’s invite Him to join us on this familiar path, but let’s ask Him to show us truth in relationship with Him. Pastor/Leader, during the next few moments ask the congregation/participants to meditate on the Person of Jesus. Lead them in the following meditation as an invitation to encounter Christ. Read the meditation as it is written or deliver the meditation in your own words. Make this a time of quiet reflection where individuals have an opportunity to relate personally with Jesus. Experiencing Truth with Jesus Take the next few moments and allow the Person of Truth to speak to your heart. Picture yourself on a familiar road near your home. You’re walking in the cool of the morning. The air is crisp, but the neighborhood is quiet. As you take a few steps, you’re joined by Jesus. He’s joined the journey with you and unlike the Emmaus disciples, you clearly see the Savior. The two of you talk for a few moments about the day ahead. As you approach an intersection near your home, Jesus pauses as if to wait while you go on without Him. Would you take a moment and invite Jesus to stay? Ask Him to keep traveling with you. Invite Him to be a part of your life today. Jesus, please be a part of my life today. I need You. I invite You on this journey. I want to know You. Jesus is delighted by your invitation. He was hoping you would ask. And just like the Emmaus disciples, Christ takes the rest of the journey and begins to reveal His heart with you.

My precious one, I long for you to sense how much you belong. You see, “after listening to the message of truth … [and] having also believed, you were sealed in [Me] with the Holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13). God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation … by the Spirit and faith in the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13). You are my beloved. You belong to my family.

SERMON SERIES: INTRODUCTION Dear one, I long for you to embrace and believe in truth. I want to “teach you My ways, so that you will be able to walk in truth” (from Psalm 86:11). I’ve asked my Father to set you apart in truth, because God’s Word is truth (John 17:17). “And I want these things for you because “if you know the truth, the truth will make you free” (from John 8:32).

Focal Scriptures: Luke 24:13-35 Genesis 3: 1–10

Finally my friend, I long for you to become a living demonstration of truth. “Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your soul, fervently love one another from the heart” (from 1 Peter 1:22). “I long for you not to just love with word or with tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). Let me teach you. Let me strengthen you. Let me empower you to live out the truths you believe.

Ephesians 4:13–16

Closing Prayer

Luke 4: 1–10

Pastor/Leader, invite the congregation to spend a few moments listening to the Lord and then close the time with prayer. Pray a humble, personal prayer and then a prayer for the people. Ask God to sensitize your heart to any ways that you might be missing Him. Ask God to prompt you with any ways that you might be separating truth from relationship with Jesus.