The Pathway Home

By Chad J. Erickson

It seems like the Prodigal's path to the far off country is always easier than the path of return to the Father's house. This book gives a Bible based solution to help clear the pathway home for every prodigal. When someone has fallen and disqualified themselves from leadership, it is usually a simple process to remove them from ministry. It is not quite as simple to restore them back to position again. In THE PATHWAY HOME, author Chad J. Erickson lays out a path that a prodigal can follow with the assistance of a pastor-assigned Restoration Coach. This clear and defined path, if followed correctly, will be the greatest resource to both the pastor and the prodigal. There are end of chapter reviews that the prodigal and Restoration Coach can review together during their weekly meetings. Restoration is one of the greatest forms of discipleship that every Christian should desire.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kindle Direct
• Release date: Jul 12, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201188887

Chad J. Erickson

Chad J. Erickson is a graduate of Indiana Bible College and is the blessed husband of Fallon and proud father of Paris, Windsor and London. For over two decades they have been on the pastoral team of First Apostolic Church of Maryville, Tennessee. Their calling has always been, and will always be, to assist the local church with the necessary resources to successfully make disciples. Chad’s first published book is entitled “The Pathway Home” - A clearly defined path of restoration. This is a book written to prodigals that have found themselves lost in a far off country. This book is also written for people that are trying to minister to prodigals. Chad’s current work that will be published next is a book called “The Anonymous Times”. This book is being written for anyone that is facing a season of dormancy in their life. The focus is on people with ministries that have huge potential, but are still in the time of waiting. Check back soon for updates on new releases.  

Book preview

ENDORSEMENTS FOR

THE PATHWAY HOME

Every church is praying for their prodigals to return. Chad Erickson shines a much-needed light on a subject that has existed for too long in the shadows: A resource to minister to our prodigals. This book provides healing, hope, and a pathway to restoration for every prodigal who desires to come home.

Wylie Rhinehart

Pastor of The Pentecostals of Dayton

Dayton, Ohio

Pastor Chad Erickson in The Pathway Home has given us just that. This is a Biblical pathway plan for every prodigal who needs to come home. Let this powerful resource be a  reminder that no matter where rebellion takes someone, there is a path of redemption paved with the blood of Jesus Christ.

Zach D. Hammond

General Youth President

Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ

Finally … a book that encapsulates the heartbeat of God and has the potential to change your church. Jesus said, I am sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. God’s first mission was to save those who were found in a backslidden state. Pastor Erickson gives us a resource to help us reach out to those lost sheep. I have no doubt that this book will be a great addition to your library and help you do what God has called you to do.

Jimmy Toney

Pastor at The Pentecostals Of Gainesville

Gainesville, Florida

Chad Erickson speaks to a topic that requires urgent attention, Biblical restoration. The carefully laid foundation of scriptural evidence bears the weight of practical application and a clearly defined pathway.

Jason Staten

Pastor of Living Hope Church

Lexington Park, Maryland

The Pathway Home

Copyright © 2022 by Chad J. Erickson

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means––electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other––except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Cover design by Dawson Magee

All scripture references are King James Version (KJV) unless otherwise specified.

Printed in the United States of America

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to every person who has ever become lost and desired more than anything else…..to be found.

This book is also dedicated to my godly wife Fallon and my three beautiful daughters, Paris, Windsor and London. I pray you will never need this book, but will still choose to read it, so you can understand the importance of your response to the prodigal.

Special thanks to Tyler Pruit for transcribing my teaching series. Your ministry of note-taking and transcribing has already touched so many lives.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

PART I: LOST UNINTENTIONALLY

CHAPTER 1: LOST IN THE FIELD

Restoration Discussion Guide

CHAPTER 2: LOST IN THE HOUSE

Restoration Discussion Guide

PART II: LOST INTENTIONALLY

CHAPTER 3: THE GOOD FATHER

Restoration Discussion Guide

CHAPTER 4: THE DECISION TO DEPART

Restoration Discussion Guide

CHAPTER 5: THE WASTED SUBSTANCE

Restoration Discussion Guide

PART III: THE ROAD THAT LEADS HOME

CHAPTER 6: HE CAME TO HIMSELF

Restoration Discussion Guide

CHAPTER 7: THE FIVE STEPS THAT LEAD TO HOME

Restoration Discussion Guide

CHAPTER 8: MODERN DAY TESTIMONIES OF RETURN

Restoration Discussion Guide

PART IV: THE WELCOME HOME PARTY

CHAPTER 9: OUR RESPONSE TO THE RETURNED

Restoration Discussion Guide

CHAPTER 10: THE PARTY

Restoration Discussion Guide

YOUR PERSONAL PATHWAY HOME

APPENDIX: THE SIX CITIES OF REFUGE

INTRODUCTION

The Old Testament had a plan and a path for the innocent to follow in order to find refuge. The second-degree offender had a safe place, a cleared path to travel. But what about the first-degree offender? What about the guilty who made a bad decision and knew exactly what they were doing? If they survived the circumstances and had a repentant heart, where was the pathway home for them?

Bishop Kenneth Carpenter (General Superintendent of the Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ and also the senior pastor of First Apostolic Church of Maryville and Sevierville) taught a masterpiece keynote address to my teaching series The Pathway Home. I have added his sermon as an appendix to the back of this book. It may be a good idea for you to finish the introduction of this book and then skip to the end to read the appendix before you begin chapter 1. Bishop Carpenter explained in detail all the cities of refuge that were found in the Old Testament. He taught about the meaning of each of their names and what their purpose was to the poor souls that had to follow the pathway to each city.

There are stories in the Old Testament about people who made a serious mistake and had no other choice but to follow the pathway into a city of refuge. If they didn’t find the pathway to one of these cities, there was a good chance that the avenger of the slain’s blood would find them, kill them, and avenge the death of their loved one.

It was Asahel, the nephew of David in 2 Samuel chapter 2, who was killed by Abner, that had a brother who was the avenger of his blood. Joab, Asahel’s brother, sought out Abner and actually wooed him out of Hebron, one of the cities of refuge, just so he could kill him. Abner had killed Asahel in total self-defense and unintentionally, but that made no difference. When caught outside the city of refuge, he had no protection, and he was killed.

The cities of refuge had a wonderful purpose for those who had sinned unintentionally or taken a life unintentionally. The problem was, in the Old Testament, there was no sanctuary of protection for the repented sinner. There was no protection for the person who had intentionally sinned but later realized their error. That was the Old Testament, under the old law. However, today we live in the New Testament, and we live in the dispensation of Grace. Jesus has made a way for those who have repented for their sin and for their errors to find grace in His presence once again.

I believe that everyone who falls into sin and then finds a place of repentance must be given a pathway that they can follow back home. Restoration is so important in the Kingdom of God. The prodigal must be given an opportunity to find their way back to the Father’s House.

This book was written because too many people fall away from God and desire so strongly to return but just don’t know how. Or maybe they do return, but they don’t return in a way that is healthy for their continued spiritual development and maturity. It is quite possible to do the right thing the wrong way.

Every one of us needs a place of mercy because every one of us will make mistakes. We were born in sin and iniquity, and we are going to fail. We are but of flesh, and we’re going to fall down. But the important thing is this, if we fall, we must always arise one more time. I love the line in the song written by Donnie McClurkin that says, A saint is just a sinner who fell down, and got up.

I’m so thankful for the opportunity we have in the New Testament that they did not have in the Old Testament. We were given a pathway in the New Testament. We have a plan of Redemption! Mercy and grace entered into this world in the form of a man named Christ Jesus.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:21

²¹ For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

I’m so thankful that before the foundation of the world was even set, God put in motion a pathway for redemption. A pathway for those who had fallen into sin to find their way back to God. A pathway of restoration. A pathway home.

If a Righteous God can create a pathway of restoration for the lost, how much more should an imperfect church desire to create a pathway of restoration for those that fall away from the church? There’s nothing more important than making sure that a prodigal can get back home to the house of the Lord. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, and if we’re not careful, each one of us, in some form and in some way, can become a prodigal.

THE DEFINITIONS OF LOST:

In order to create a pathway of restoration for someone who is lost, that person must first recognize they are lost. What does the word lost really mean? Even without going into Webster’s Dictionary, we know it has at least two definitions:

Someone who has not followed the plan of salvation and whose destination is an eternity of destruction. 

That person is lost!

We often make the statement, This world is lost, and they’re headed to a devil’s hell. That’s the first definition of Lost. We have to reach them. We have to preach the Gospel to them because they are lost!

But the second definition of lost is what I want to write about. It’s this definition of lost that we find in all three of the parables that Jesus tells about that which is lost in Luke chapter 15. Back-to-back-to-back, Jesus tells about 1. The parable of the lost sheep. 2. The parable of the lost coin. And 3. The parable of the lost son. All three of these parables have the very same definition of lost.

Something or someone who at one time was where they were supposed to be, but now their whereabouts is unknown.

The lost sheep at one time was in the fold with the other 99. The lost coin at one time was with the other nine pieces of silver. And the lost son, at one time, was living under the same roof as his father.

The parable is not about a shepherd finding somebody else’s sheep, or a woman finding someone else’s coin, or a father who adopts someone else’s son. All three have been lost by the owner or parent. All three have the same definition of the word lost.

It is crucial to understand that all three objects that have been lost don’t necessarily realize that they are lost. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT SOMEONE COULD BE SITTING ON A CHURCH PEW SOMEWHERE AND COULD VERY WELL BE LOST AND NOT EVEN REALIZE IT! Someone can very well be in a state of mind, a condition, a lifestyle headed into destruction, and not even realize they are lost.

This book is not just a Bible Study about 3 parables of the lost. This book is a plan. It is steps to take, a pathway created. Every prodigal who desires a pathway home, a pathway of restoration, needs a clear and defined path back home. Many good people make bad decisions and find themselves spiritually lost in a field,  in the house, or even lost in a far-off country.

This book is designed to shine light on the correct way for a prodigal to return to ministry. When I say ministry,