Key #1 - Home is where you are Loved

John 3:16 NLT

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Luke 15:17-24 NLT

17 “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! 

18-19 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.’ 

20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 

23-24 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

Key #2 - Home is a place of Belonging

Ephesians 2:19 NLT

So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.

John 12:1-2 NLT

Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. 2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him.

Key #3 - Home is where Peace resides

John 14:27 NLT

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

Romans 12:18 NLT

Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

Key #4 - Home is found in God’s Presence

Matthew 1:23 NLT

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!

    She will give birth to a son,

and they will call him Immanuel,

    which means ‘God is with us.’”

Proverbs 11:24

The world of the generous gets larger and larger;

Key #1 - God is our Ultimate Provider

Psalm 24:1

"The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it."

Romans 12:9-10 MSG

Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

Philippians 4:19 NKJV

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Key #2 - Keep an Eternal Focus

Matthew 6:19-20 NLT

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 

Matthew 6:32 NLT

These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.

Key #3 - Refreshing leads to Blessing

Proverbs 11:25

"A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed."

Key #4 - What do you have in your hand?

Friend: Someone that we hold dear that we are Actively fond of…

Real friendship is giving and taking.

Friendship is not a one-way railway.

Job 19:14 ESV

My relatives have failed me, my close friends have forgotten me.

Proverbs 12:26 NIV

The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

2 Corinthians 6:14 NLT

Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?

Proverbs 27:6 TLB

Wounds from a friend are better than kisses from an enemy!

Luke 15:35 NLT

Jesus told them this story: “If a man Has 100 sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the 99 others in the wilderness And go search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders.”

Luke 15:6 NLT

When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’

Matthew 5:14-15 NIV

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”

Matthew 5:16 NIV

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

John 15:12–14 NLT

This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.

Proverbs 17:17 EXB

A friend loves you all the time, and a brother helps—in and is born for a time of trouble.

Key #1 - Thankfulness shifts your Perspective

Psalm 103:2-5 NIV

"Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s."

Psalm 100:4

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise.”

Key #2 - Thankfulness leads to Contentment.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Key #3 - Thankfulness is Anxiety’s Antidote

Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Key #4 - Thankfulness brings you to Fellowship

Luke 17:17-19 NIV

"Jesus asked, 'Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?' Then he said to him, 'Rise and go; your faith has made you well.'"

Colossians 2:7

"Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness."

Mark 4:1 NLT

Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out (stepped out) to plant some seed.

Soil #1 the hard heart "what got on it?”

Mark 4:4 NLT

As he scattered it across his field, (today UR MY Field) some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. 

Soil #2 the shallow heart “what got UNDER it?”

Mark 4:5-6 NLT

Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. 

Soil #3 the crowded heart “what got IN it?”

Mark 4:7 NLT

Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. 

Soil #4 the fruitful heart “What’s not in it”

Mark 4:8 NLT

Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” 

Mark 4:9 NLT

Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” 

Mark 4:10 NLT

Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.

Mark 4:13 NLT

Then Jesus said to them, "If you can't understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables?

Mark 4:14 NLT

The farmer plants seed by taking God's word to others.

Mark 4:15 NLT

The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. 

Mark 4:16-17 NLT

The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don't have deep roots, they don't last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God's word.  

Mark 4:18-19 MSG

"The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it.

Mark 4:20 NLT

And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God's word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

Mark 4:27 NLT

Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens.

1 Corinthians 15:57 NIV

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Key #1 - THE PROMISE STILL STANDS

Joshua 6:2-5 MSG

God spoke to Joshua, “Look sharp now. I’ve already given Jericho to you, along with its king and its elite forces. Here’s what you are to do: March around the city, all your soldiers. Circle the city once. Repeat this for six days. Have seven priests carry seven ram’s horn trumpets in front of the Chest. On the seventh day march around the city seven times, the priests blowing away on the trumpets. And then, a long blast on the ram’s horn—when you hear that, all the people are to shout at the top of their lungs. The city wall will collapse at once. All the people are to enter, every man straight on in.”

Key #2 - It's OKAY to be VULNERABLE

2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT

“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

Key #3 - Don’t Let Past PROBLEMS get in the way of your future PROMISE

Joshua 6:10 MSG

10 Joshua had given orders to the people, “Don’t shout. In fact, don’t even speak—not so much as a whisper until you hear me say, ‘Shout!’—then shout away!”

Exodus 16:2 NLT

There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron.

Key #4 - Slow and Suddenly

Isaiah 48:3 NLT

Long ago I told you what was going to happen. Then suddenly I took action, and all my predictions came true.

Key scripture: 

HEBREWS 4:1-2 (NLT)

God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. 2 For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God.

Matthew 11: 28-30 (MSG)

28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

PSALM 127: 1-2

1 Unless the Lord builds a house,

  the work of the builders is wasted.

Unless the Lord protects a city,

  guarding it with sentries will do no good.

2 It is useless for you to work so hard

  from early morning until late at night,

anxiously working for food to eat;

  for God gives rest to his loved ones.

Matthew 6:19 (NLT) 

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

Philippians 4: 11-13 (NLT)

11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 

LUKE 15:20 (NLT) 

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

2 Corinthians 1:20-22 MSG

Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete.

Key #1 - God has a PROMISE even in your PRISON

Jeremiah 32:6-9 NLT

At that time the Lord sent me a message. He said, 7 “Your cousin Hanamel son of Shallum will come and say to you, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth. By law you have the right to buy it before it is offered to anyone else.’”

8 Then, just as the Lord had said he would, my cousin Hanamel came and visited me in the prison. He said, “Please buy my field at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. By law you have the right to buy it before it is offered to anyone else, so buy it for yourself.” Then I knew that the message I had heard was from the Lord.

9 So I bought the field at Anathoth, paying Hanamel seventeen pieces of silver for it.

Jeremiah 32:15 NLT

“For this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Someday people will again own property here in this land and will buy and sell houses and vineyards and fields.’”

Key #2 - There is still More ground to be taken

Joshua 13:1 NLT

When Joshua was an old man, the Lord said to him, “You are growing old, and much land remains to be conquered.

Matthew 9:29 NIV

“According to your faith let it be done to you”

Key #3 - It’s time to say YES Again!

Galatians 6:9 NLT

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Key #1 - They are Eternal

John 10:28 NLT

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me.

Colossians 3:1-2 NLT

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

Key #2 - They are Material

Philippians 4:19 NLT

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:15 NLT

As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this.

Key #3 - They are Peaceful

Isaiah 26:3 NIV

You will keep in perfect peace

   those whose minds are steadfast,

   because they trust in you.

Key #4 - They can be Trusted

Psalm 145:3 NLT

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.

Key #5 - They are for You

Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Romans 4:13-14 NIV

It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless

Key #1 - KNOW THEM

Genesis 17:1-4 NLT

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. 2 I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants.” At this, Abram fell face down on the ground. Then God said to him, 4 “This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations!

Genesis 17:5 NLT

What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you are the father of many nations.

Genesis 18:10-12 NIV

Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was far past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and old, and my master is old, will I now have the pleasure of having a child?” 

Genesis 18:13-14 NIV

Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the LORD? I WILL return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah WILL have a son.”

Genesis 18:15 NIV

Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

Hebrews 11:11

“By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised..”

Key #2 - TEST THEM

Genesis 22:5 NIV

He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”

Key #3 - TRUST THEM

1 Thessalonians 5:24 NLV

The One Who called you is faithful and will do what He promised.

Hebrews 11:8 TLB

Abraham trusted God, and when God told him to leave home and go far away to another land that he promised to give him, Abraham obeyed. Away he went, not even knowing where he was going.