by Guston Bird

“So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.” (Ephesians 2:19–20, CSB)

One of my favorite things about Christ is how He redeems. Jesus not only redeems those who have faith in Him, but also redeems words, terms, and phrases. For example, for many people, the word Father brings feelings of pain and hurt. In Christ, this word is redeemed. When Christians hear the word Father, we have feelings of protection, love, and forgiveness. Another word that is redeemed through Christ is “home.”

In my career in the Army, one of the biggest struggles I have seen soldiers have are issues about the home. For some, there is not a place to call “home.” Some have a place to call “home” but it isn’t a place they like to stay very long because of any number of issues or hurt that has happened there. There are also some who love his/her “home” but that place often has issues and “home” is a source of burden. I’m sure there are many circumstances that I’m missing but the point I’m trying to make is that for many “home” is not a thought that brings to the surface “warm and fuzzy” feelings, let alone a place that provides rest or is a place where they are fully known and fully loved. That is why I love homegroups. Through Christ, a homegroup is a place where many have found a place where they can rest, be open, and receive care without fear of rejection. In short, it is a place where they can experience the Gospel.

Please pray with me that our homegroups would cultivate more of this gospel-centered “home” feeling. That we, as a Church, would not settle for anything less than living out the gospel in our homegroups and that these groups would grow so that more of the true sense of “home” can be shared with others.

Featured