Series: Rooted
Week 2 Title: Who is God?
Scripture: Exodus 34:6–7, Acts 17:22–28

Big Idea: God reveals Himself as a relational God—not distant or abstract, but One who invites us to know Him personally through His Word, His creation, His image in us, and ultimately through Jesus Christ.

A.W. Tozer: “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

We don’t invent God; He reveals Himself.

The starting point for being rooted is answering: Who is God?

Moses asks: “Show me your glory.” God responds with His name and character.

The most repeated description of God in Scripture: compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, just.

These attributes live in tension, not contradiction.

Takeaway: God is not who we imagine Him to be—He is who He declares Himself to be.

Paul in Athens: an altar “to an unknown god.”

Our culture is just as religious, creating images of God in our own likeness—ideology, politics, sexuality.

Paul declares: the true God is Creator, Sustainer, Lord of history.

“In Him we live and move and have our being.”

God is not distant—He is near and relational.

Encounter Him: God is a presence to know, not just a subject to study.

Seek Him: Don’t settle for secondhand opinions of God—pursue Him in His Word.

Worship Him: God is transcendent and immanent.

Trust Him: His compassion and justice meet at the cross—Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God (Hebrews 1:1–3).

Final Challenge: Rooted is not about abstract knowledge but about a relational God who longs to be known—by Israel, the church, every tribe and nation, and you today.

Series: Rooted
Week 1 Title: Introduction – Rooted vs. Rootless
Scripture: Psalm 1:1–6

Big Idea: The blessed life isn’t found in being potted but in being planted—rooted in God, drawing strength from His Word, His people, and His purpose.

The righteous: rooted, fruitful, enduring, blessed by God.

The wicked: rootless, unstable, blown away like chaff.

Psalm 1 frames the entire book of Psalms as a wisdom gateway.

Walk with the wicked → Stand with sinners → Sit with mockers.

Influence shapes destiny. Who you walk with, sit with, and do life with matters.

Fool = adjusts truth to fit behavior. Wise = adjusts behavior to fit truth.

Rooted: a tree by streams of water—strong, stable, life-giving.

Rootless: chaff—weightless, useless, gone in a moment.

Illustration: Biosphere 2 — without wind, trees looked healthy but collapsed. Resistance produces roots.

A planted tree = deep roots, stable, fruitful.

A potted plant = shallow, surface-level, easily uprooted, limited growth.

Living potted is safer, but never fruitful. True life comes from deep roots.

Illustration: Mentor who planted gardens even in temporary homes—lived with the long game in mind.

Deuteronomy 30:19 — Choose life or death, blessing or curse.

Jesus doesn’t make life easier—but He makes it better, meaningful, worth it.

Decide: “I’m not going to be potted. I’m going to be rooted.”

Series: Welcome Home
Week 5 Title: Welcome to the Party
Scripture: Luke 15:23–24; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:4–5; Galatians 6:1–2; Matthew 18:20; Romans 5:8; Romans 8:1
Big Idea: God doesn’t just forgive us privately—He restores us publicly.

Shame convinces us to hide—just like Adam and Eve.

Shame whispers: “Keep your story quiet. You’re better off in the shadows.”

But the Father’s love breaks down walls of isolation and disconnection.

Luke 15:23–24 — The father didn’t flinch when the son returned filthy from rebellion.

He embraced, kissed, and celebrated him.

Grace doesn’t deny your past—it refuses to be defined by it.

2 Corinthians 5:17 — You are a new creation.

Ephesians 2:4–5 — Made alive in Christ, even when dead in sin.

Luke 15:24 — The community knew who he was; now they witness who he is.

Restoration happens in community: Galatians 6:1–2.

Matthew 18:20 — God’s presence shows up when we gather.

Healing comes when we share our burdens and stories with others.

Luke 15:23 — The fattened calf = costly, valuable sacrifice.

Romans 5:8 — Christ died for us while we were still sinners.

2 Corinthians 5:21 — He became sin so we could be righteous.

Romans 8:1 — No condemnation remains.

Story: the father-in-law who always insisted on paying the bill—restoration is costly, but the Father delights to cover it.

The Father calls us out of hiding to feast at His table.

Baptism = a public declaration of restoration.

Don’t let shame keep you from the party—the only thing missing is you.

Series: Welcome Home
Week 4 Title: The Reckless Love of the Father
Scripture: Luke 15:20–24
Big Idea: The Father’s love closes the distance, covers our shame, and restores our dignity.

The father sees his son “while he was still a long way off” (v.20).

Patriarchs didn’t run—but this father did. He risked shame to protect and embrace his son.

God runs toward our mess, not away from it. His love overrides pride.

Application: Don’t stiff-arm those coming home. Close the distance like God does.

The best robe = honor, identity, belonging.

Covers the filth of the pig pen with dignity.

Isaiah 61:10 — clothed with righteousness.

Application: Stop arguing with grace. Let the Father clothe your shame.

Ring = family authority, adoption, restored position (Romans 8:15).

Sandals = freedom; only sons wore them, not slaves.

Application: You’re not a guest in God’s house. You are family. Walk in freedom and sonship.

Grace can’t stay quiet—restoration demands celebration.

The fattened calf = public joy, a party that brings the community in.

Application: God doesn’t just forgive privately—He restores and celebrates publicly.

Final Challenge: If you’ve come home, it’s time to go public—through baptism, through community, through celebration.

Big Idea: Religion keeps us near the Father’s house but far from the Father’s heart.

The older brother obeyed the rules but missed the Father’s love.

Pride turns obedience into slavery — “All these years I’ve been slaving for you…” (Luke 15:29).

Pride compares and keeps score — “You never gave me even a young goat…” (Luke 15:29).

Pride creates distance — “This son of yours…” (Luke 15:30).

The Father’s response: “My son… you are always with me… everything I have is yours.” (Luke 15:31)

Grace throws parties while pride keeps score.

The greatest distance wasn’t the younger brother’s rebellion, but the older brother refusing to step into the celebration.

The story ends open — the Father is still inviting us in.

Reflection questions:

Am I obeying out of overflow or obligation?

Do I celebrate others’ blessings or compare?

Am I moving toward people God has invited, or keeping distance?

Main Passage:
Luke 15:11–24

Big Idea:
Freedom without the Father always ends in filth.

Key Points:

Entitlement – Wanting the benefits of God without His boundaries (Luke 15:12)

Wild Living – Squandering God’s blessings on self-indulgence (Luke 15:13)

Loss of Identity – Forgetting who we are when we forget whose we are (Luke 15:16–19)

Cultural Parallels:

Entitlement says, “I deserve it,” even if it means rejecting God’s design.

Wild living feels like freedom but ends in relational breakdown, moral compromise, and spiritual numbness.

Identity without God leaves us anxious, insecure, and unstable.

Illustrations:

Adam & Eve’s desire for the one thing they couldn’t have (Genesis 2)

The Lion King’s “You have forgotten who you are” moment as a call back to identity.

Reflection Questions:

Where are you chasing “freedom” apart from God?

What boundaries of the Father are you pushing against?

Is your identity rooted in His love or in your performance and possessions?

🚫 Freedom without the Father always ends in filth.

The younger son thought he was chasing freedom.
Instead, he found himself broke, alone, and feeding pigs.

Entitlement made him say, “Give me what I want, but don’t tell me how to live.”
Wild living promised joy but delivered shame.
And in the process, he lost himself—because when you forget the Father, you forget who you are.

💬 But rock bottom can be a turning point.
You can still “get up and go to the Father.”
No matter how far you’ve run, His arms are still open.

Where is God calling you back home today? 🏠

Main Passage:
Luke 15:1–3, 11–32

Big Idea:
Jesus tells a parable not just about a prodigal son—but about two sons, both lost in different ways, and one radically loving Father.

Key Points:

Two audiences: “Sinners and tax collectors” and “Pharisees and scribes”

The younger son runs away—rebellion, indulgence, shame

The older son stays close but grows bitter—self-righteousness, pride

The Father is the true focus—running, embracing, restoring, inviting

The parable ends open-ended—Jesus invites us to see ourselves in the story

Quotes to Pull:

“You can be lost in rebellion or lost in religion.”

“The Father doesn’t just tolerate you—He runs toward you.”

“God isn’t just forgiving rebels—He’s pleading with the self-righteous, too.”

Reflection Questions:

Which son do you relate to more right now?

Are you standing outside the party God has invited you into?

Will you come home—not just physically, but spiritually?

Title: Wrestling With Grace
Text: Jonah 4:1–11
Big Idea: It’s possible to obey God outwardly but still resist Him inwardly. The real fight is often between our heart and His grace.

I. Jonah’s Outrage at Mercy

After Nineveh repents and God spares them, Jonah is furious.

“Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home?” (v. 2)

Jonah obeyed God—but resented Him for being too gracious.

He quotes Exodus 34:6 back to God: “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger…” but says it like it’s a bad thing.

Key tension: Jonah didn’t mind grace when it saved him—he hated it when it saved them.

II. The Jonah Inside All of Us

This chapter exposes something in all of us:

We want justice for others but mercy for ourselves.

We’re often more concerned with being right than being righteous.

God’s question in verse 4 hits home:

“Is it right for you to be angry?”

Jonah never answers. He sits down and watches the city—hoping for judgment.

III. The Object Lesson with the Plant

God causes a plant to grow up and shade Jonah (v. 6)

Then God appoints a worm to destroy the plant, and Jonah is angry again (v. 7–9)

God uses the plant to reveal Jonah’s self-centeredness:

He’s more upset about a plant than about people.

More concerned with comfort than with compassion.

IV. The Final Confrontation

God’s last question is the heart of the book:

“Should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh…?” (v. 11)

The book ends without closure—because the real story is your response.

The uncomfortable truth: God’s grace often offends our sense of fairness.

Final Challenge:
Where in your life do you want grace for yourself, but judgment for others?
Are you angry about God’s compassion toward people you don’t like?
If the book of Jonah is a mirror—what is it reflecting in you?

Title: God’s Not Done
Text: Jonah 3:1–10
Big Idea: You can’t out-sin the mercy of God—and you’re never too far gone for a second chance.

I. A God of Second Chances

After rebellion, a storm, and three days in the belly of a fish, Jonah gets another shot:

“Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.” (Jonah 3:1)

Jonah’s rescue wasn’t random—it was redemption.

God didn’t discard Jonah—He restored him.

Titus 3:5 – God saves not because of our goodness, but because of His mercy.

Examples of God’s Second Chances:

Adam & Eve, Moses, David, Rahab, Zacchaeus, Peter, Thomas.

Each one messed up—but God still had a purpose for them.

If He did it for them, He’ll do it for you.

II. Jonah’s Second Chance

“Get up and go…” (Jonah 3:2) – yalak qum (ל ְֵ֥ך ק֛ ּום) = Go now. Immediately. Today.

This is not just instruction—it’s urgency.

God’s mercy doesn’t just forgive—it re-commissions.

Jonah 3:3-4

Jonah obeys. He enters Nineveh, declares God’s message.

He doesn’t sugarcoat the warning—“40 more days and Nineveh will be overthrown!”

III. The Power of Repentance

Shockingly, the people listen. “The Ninevites believed God.” (Jonah 3:5)

From the greatest to the least—even the king—there’s deep, public repentance.

Sackcloth and dust were cultural signs of humility and brokenness.

To repent is to change your mind so deeply, it changes your life.

IV. God's Compassion Responds to Repentance

“When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented…” (Jonah 3:10)

This wasn’t about performance—it was about surrender.

Isaiah 30:18 – “The Lord longs to be gracious to you…”

God didn’t have to forgive Nineveh—but that’s who He is.

Title: Waiting on God
Text: Jonah 1:17 – 2:10
Big Idea: While you’re waiting, God is working—especially on your heart.

I. Jonah’s Descent & Desperation

Jonah ends up in the belly of a great fish—not by accident, but by divine appointment.

He’s completely out of control, trapped in a place of darkness and regret.

“Sometimes what we call punishment, God calls provision.”

God’s mercy shows up in unlikely packages—like a fish that saves Jonah from drowning.

II. God's Provision vs. Our Preference

Big Idea 1: God gives us what we need, not what we want.

The fish wasn’t punishment—it was provision to preserve Jonah for his purpose.

Psalm 115:3 reminds us: “Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases.”

Sometimes, what pleases Him is to give us a second chance.

III. Prayer in Distress

Big Idea 2: Prayer is our response to distress.

Jonah doesn’t pray until he’s desperate. But when he does, God hears him.

James 5:13 – “Is anyone in trouble? Let them pray.”

When we feel trapped, powerless, or broken, prayer is not our last resort—it’s our lifeline.

IV. Praying God’s Word

Big Idea 3: When you don’t know what to pray, pray His Word.

Jonah’s prayer in chapter 2 is full of direct parallels to the Psalms.

He was trained in God’s Word—and in his darkest moment, that’s what surfaced.

The Holy Spirit cannot remind us of what we haven’t hidden in our hearts (Psalm 119:11).

Jesus modeled this in His wilderness temptation (Luke 4).

V. From Distress to Breakthrough

Jonah’s circumstances didn’t change immediately—but his heart did.

He moves from despair to gratitude and praise, even before being delivered.

Jonah 2:10 – “And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.”

VI. While You’re Waiting, God is Working

Big Idea 4: Waiting is not passive—it’s active.

God often uses seasons of delay to refine our hearts.

You may not have the character yet for what you’re asking for.

The waiting is not wasted—God is shaping you for what’s next.