Transformation Church Podcast: "Can I Still Come Home?" // Triggered (Part 6) // Charles Metcalf

Episode Date: October 26, 2025
Teaching Pastor: Charles Metcalf

Episode Overview

This episode of Transformation Church continues the "Triggered" series and is focused on the theme of "shame," particularly in the aftermath of personal failure—what the pastors playfully call 'crashing out.' Pastor Charles Metcalf, with support from Pastor Michael, unpacks the story of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15, emphasizing the difference between conviction and condemnation. The ultimate message: regardless of how far you've strayed, you can always come home, and God’s grace is always available—no matter your story or shame.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Reality of "Crashing Out" and Shame

• Pastor Charles addresses what happens after we’ve made mistakes ("crashing out"), and how shame quickly follows.
  • Quote (04:24): "Shame makes you feel small. It makes you feel insignificant. It makes you feel like you're not as legit as somebody else." — Pastor Michael
• Real-life stories are used to illustrate personal and generational tendencies to "crash out," particularly in family settings.
• Shame’s cycle: mistake → shame → isolation → identity crisis → hopelessness → helplessness → indifference.
• Reference to the Garden of Eden: shame leads us to run from God and hide (25:15–25:22).

2. The Two Roads Home: Conviction vs. Condemnation

• Conviction: The Holy Spirit's way of calling us to more—to become better versions of ourselves.
  • Conviction says, “There’s more to you than that mistake.”
  • Quote (14:52): “Conviction is the Holy Spirit saying, ‘There’s more for you than that.’”
• Condemnation: Fueled by shame. It tells us we are our mistake, making us feel irredeemably bad.
  • Quote (16:41): “Conviction says you made a mistake. Condemnation says you are a mistake.” — Pastor Jackie
• Both seem similar at first, but condemnation pushes us away from God, while conviction draws us closer.

3. The Prodigal Son as the Blueprint

• Luke 15: The Prodigal Son asks for his inheritance, squanders it, is faced with humiliation and loss, and then wonders, “Can I still come home?” (9:24–10:31)
• Pastor Charles notes that this story targets both those who identify as the younger, lost son and those who are like the older, rule-following brother (12:12–12:28).
  • Older brother syndrome: Wanting others to face judgment, but desiring grace for ourselves.

4. Grace vs. Works: The Heart of the Gospel

• God immediately forgives and forgets our sins. It's humans who prolong the sentence with self-imposed shame (19:04–20:29).
  • Quote (19:04): “We spend so much time doing something God is not doing.”
• It’s not our penance or good deeds that re-earn God’s love; it's freely given. Trying to win back God’s favor through works is rooted in a fundamental misunderstanding of grace (21:05–22:40).
  • Quote (23:35): “Don’t sell me on grace and then trick me and shame me into being a better person.”
• Overemphasis on works leads to resentment and misunderstanding of why grace exists.
  • Quote (22:40): “You want other people to get the judgment, and you want to get the grace.”

5. Practical Application: Three Steps to Come Home

• Acknowledge: Be honest about where you are ("in the pig pen").
• Admit: Recognize that you cannot fix yourself; you need God’s help.
• Accept: Embrace the reality of God’s grace, even (especially) when it feels undeserved (40:41–45:10).
  • Quote (45:10): “The most difficult thing for church people is believing that the gospel is true.”

6. The Father’s Response — Radical Grace

• The Father in the Prodigal Son story runs to welcome his lost son, shielding him from shame and immediate judgment (48:33–49:16).
  • Quote (48:33): “Before somebody gets to you, tries to tell you that you can’t come back here, let me put this ring on you, let me put this robe on you, let me tell you who you are.”
• God isn’t waiting for you to “clean up” or prove you’re worthy—He’s waiting to celebrate your return.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Shame makes you feel small... We're all familiar with it.” — Pastor Michael (04:24)
• “Conviction says you made a mistake. Condemnation says you are a mistake.” — Pastor Jackie (16:41)
• "Don't sell me on grace and then trick me and shame me into being a better person." — Pastor Jackie (23:35)
• “He doesn't ask you questions he knows the answer to, to trap you and make you feel bad.” — Pastor Michael (29:56)
• “Grace, get up. Repent. Done. That’s the whole process.” — Pastor Jackie (31:10)
• “You cheapen the gospel by staying over here [on the road of condemnation].” — Pastor Michael (38:24)
• “The most difficult thing for church people is believing that the gospel is true.” — Pastor Michael (45:10)
• "Before somebody gets to you... let me put this ring on you, let me put this robe on you, let me tell you who you are." — Pastor Jackie (48:33)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:32–01:23: Introduction of current series, context for “triggered” and “crash out”
• 03:53–04:40: Naming and defining “shame”
• 06:17–07:29: Storytelling of personal “crash out” moments
• 09:24–10:31: Introduction of Prodigal Son, its cultural context, and key question: “Can I still come home?”
• 13:24–14:52: The two roads home: conviction vs. condemnation
• 19:04–20:29: Emphasis on God’s quick forgiveness vs. our tendency to prolong shame
• 21:29–23:53: The danger of earning God’s favor, and how over-spiritualizing leads to condemnation
• 29:56–31:10: Parental comparison: God doesn’t shame us into repentance
• 31:10–32:20: Outlining the simplicity (and scandal) of grace
• 40:41–45:10: Three practical steps to return home: acknowledge, admit, accept
• 48:33–49:16: Father’s response in the Prodigal Son—grace in action
• 52:47-end: Prayer for release from shame and invitation to accept Christ

Final Message & Call to Action

• Release Shame: Don’t let shame trap you in isolation or keep you from God’s love.
• Choose Grace: No matter how deeply you’ve crashed out, grace is available and sufficient.
• Come Home: God is waiting—not with condemnation—but with open arms, ready to restore, forgive, and celebrate you.

For those seeking further support, listeners are encouraged to text “SAVE” to 828282 and connect with the church’s prayer team.