HomeWsm.jpg Longing for Home | 2/23/25

4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” —Jeremiah 29:4–7 (NIV)

14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. —Hebrews 13:14 (NLT)

BIG IDEA: GOD IS WITH US EVEN AS EXILES LONGING FOR HOME

THOUGHT 1: HOME IS NOT ONLY A

, BUT A

8 Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made. 9 The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. —Genesis 2:8–9 (NLT)

15 The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. 16 But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” —Genesis 2:15–17 (NLT)

“exile became an image of something more universal. It’s that feeling of alienation and longing for something more, no matter where you live…And so in the Bible, exile is the human condition. We all keep repeating this pattern of human corruption leading to a Babylon that we can’t escape. And it doesn’t matter where you live, we are all longing for a better home.” —Tim Mackie, The Bible Project

THOUGHT 2:

IS GOD’S ANSWER TO OUR EXILE

57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” —Luke 9:57–58 (NIV)

Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch; like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come,
‘Tis grace that brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.

When this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

ACTION POINT: PUT YOUR FAITH IN JESUS TODAY, OUR HOPE OF HOME

WANT TO GO DEEPER?

The Bible Project Exile (Episodes 1 & 2)

Find all of your NEXT STEPS at the following link? openlife.church/nextsteps nextstepsBNR.jpg