mpc 01.10.16 finding your way back to god

Looking for Something More?Luke 15:11-20

Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church Worship Services: 8:15 and 10:45 am

Where do we go from here?

There’s got to be more than this

I’m not sure where I amI don’t know how I got here

I am drawn to something…

God wants to be found even more than you want to find Him.

“I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, ‘Here am I, Here am I.’ Isaiah 65:1

Longingstrong, persistent desire or craving for something distant

All of life is a coming home.

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

“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. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.

So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

“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! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.”

Luke 15:11-20 (NIV)

Find Our Way Back to GodA hunger for something more!

We are RESTLESS“You have made us for yourself, O God, and our souls are restless until they rest in thee.” Augustine

We’ve drifted from GOD “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way;” Is 53:6

We’ve drifted from WORSHIP“For when we cease to worship God, we do not worship nothing, we worship anything.” G. K. Chesterton

We’ve drifted from JOYJoy is the pursuit of a great and noble adventure.Joy is greater than circumstances, greater than happiness.

“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” CS Lewis

There’s got to be more!This is not all there is!

PURPOSE – I was meant to be something special (value)

PURPOSE – I was meant to be something special (value)LOVE – I was meant to be connected with others (trust)

PURPOSE – I was meant to be something special (value)LOVE – I was meant to be connected with others (trust)SIGNIFICANCE – I was meant to add to human joy (nobility)

30 Day Prayer Challenge“God, if you are real, make Yourself real to me!”