Listen Now

http://bible.com/events/48538153 For What? Part 4: We’re for Hope Week 1: We are for Jesus.  Week 2: We are for holiness. Week 3: We are for compassion.  • • • We believe that as a church we are transformed by God to bring hope to others through Christ. • • • This week: We are for hope Hope is: the joy and peace that is found in knowing-truly knowing-that a trustworthy God holds our future in his careful hands. • • • Jeremiah 29:4-9NIV 4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:  5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.  6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.  7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”  8 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have.  9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.  • • • Jeremiah 29:10-11NIV 10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.  11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  • • • 1. God’s promise of hope has been fulfilled – We have hope and a future NOW – We pray to him and he listens to us NOW – We find him when we seek him NOW – We have hope NOW 2. Hope is a tool 3. We don’t keep hope to ourselves  • • • Romans 15:13NIV 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  • • • God doesn’t just give us hope, he is the God of hope.

http://bible.com/events/48533642 It’s far more important for those in our community to understand what we are FOR rather than what we are AGAINST. It’s not even close.Week 1: We are for Jesus.Week 2: We are for holiness.This week: We are for compassion.What is compassion? It literally means “to suffer with”. We know that it must always involve action, so we often say that compassion is “love in action”.The story of God is marked by a God of compassion.-“The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” Exodus 34:6-“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” Isaiah 49:15-The compassion of God in the Old Testament continues in the New Testament. God sends Jesus as the ultimate display of His compassion.-Jesus’ ministry is marked by compassion, and He ultimately suffers on our behalf, dying on the cross for the sin of all mankind.2 Corinthians 1:3-53 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.-In our suffering, we experience the God of comfort and compassion. He suffers with us in our pain.-And we aren’t just comforted for our own good, but for the purpose of sharing that comfort with others.-We don’t have to conjure up comfort, because we can’t. Instead, we comfort because we have been comforted.Compassion flows out of us because it has been poured into us.Luke 6:32-3632 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

http://bible.com/events/48528471 For What? Part 2: We’re for Holiness It’s far more important for those in our community to understand what we are FOR rather than what we are AGAINST. It’s not even close.Last week: We are for Jesus.Being “for Jesus” is about an intimate relationship not some ideal reverence.This week: We are for holiness.There are many things about holiness we may not understand. Let’s focus on two important questions:-What is holiness?-Why does holiness matter?1 Peter 1:14-16NIV14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”First, what Peter is NOT saying:-You have to be perfect to be a Christian. (1 John 1:9)-You better never sin or no Heaven for you. (Luke 23:39-43)-You earn your way to eternal life. (Ephesians 2:8-9)-If you sin it means you aren’t really saved. (2 Corinthians 12:9-11)What Peter IS saying:-You will be faced with evil desires and temptations.-When you are tempted, do not conform to them. Do not obey them for they are no longer your master. (Romans 6:15-23; 1 Peter 2:9; John 8:11, etc.)-Holiness is tapping into the power of Christ in you.-You are not relying on your power and your strength to somehow rise above, but tapping into His power to refuse to conform to evil desires that well up in you.-Holiness is not something you do, it is something you receive.What is holiness?Holiness is possible-We can walk in holiness by the grace and power of God Himself through Jesus.-Some teach that we are doomed to walk in the grip of sin, but we believe we can walk in the Light by His power, love and grace.Holiness is freedom (not a burden)-Holiness is the reflection of the freedom bought by Jesus on the cross.-This is NOT something impossible we have to accomplish. It is something that Jesus has already accomplished – that’s where the freedom is.Holiness is rooted in love (not duty)-God, our Father, desires for us to live in this freedom because He loves us and so we can be blessed.-The motivation is not one of fear or punishment if we fall short. There is blessing in living according to the freedom available to us in Christ.Why does holiness matter?-Holiness is God’s deepest desire for you. It is His redemptive vision for all humanity.-Holy is the way God is. He is incapable of being other than He is.-The whole purpose of God’s redemption is to make us holy and to restore us to the image of God.-Ultimately, we surrender to our God and leave our happiness in His hands.Hebrews 12:12-14NIV12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. 14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.God’s ultimate goal is not your happiness, but your holiness.“Go to God and have an understanding. Tell Him that it is your desire to be holy at any cost and then ask Him never to give you more happiness than holiness. When your holiness becomes tarnished, let your joy become dim. And ask Him to make you holy whether you are happy or not. Be assured that in the end you will be as happy as you are holy; but for the time being let your whole ambition be to serve God and be Christlike.” -A.W. Tozer

http://bible.com/events/48526816 Part 1: We’re for JesusWHAT JESUS?A counterfeit or the real JesusJohn 6:25-66 John 14:5-8 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”“Jesus isn’t rocking a cardigan, and he doesn’t talk softly through his nose. He’s a roaring lion.”-Jeff BethkeWHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE “FOR JESUS”?John 12:1-4Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages. BOTTOM LINE:BEING “FOR JESUS” IS NOT ABOUT HOLDING AN IDEAL REVERENCE TOWARDS HIM, BUT ABOUT HAVING AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIMGalatians 2:2020 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Extra scripture for study:Isaiah 26:8Matthew 6:33Matthew 8:18-22Mark 8:34-35

http://bible.com/events/48498177Ephesians 6:10-12 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.1. Who the enemy is not (& why we get it wrong)“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood” Ephesians 6:12 -We are living in a world that is more divided than ever, and the temptation is to view each other as the enemy.-Your enemy knows how to divide. These spiritual forces know how to divide by culture, race, skin color. These powers of this dark world know how to divide by political affiliation.-They win if they get us fighting each other. Which is why Paul wants us to declare emphatically who the enemy IS NOT. 2. Who the enemy is (& why he doesn’t want you to know)“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:11 -Jesus told us about our enemy, satan (Luke 10:18)-We know that while on this earth, we are living in enemy territory (1 John 5:19)-Our enemy has a plan to destroy us (John 10:10 & 1 Peter 5:8)-The Bible’s names for satan help us understand his purposes: accuser, deceiver, father of lies, tempter, enemy. 3. Who wins the battle (& how)“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Ephesians 6:10 -If you are in Christ, then the victory is certain!-Some of us live in fear and we lack courage. Some of us live in foolishness and we lack wisdom.-We win this battle by fighting the right fight, not in our strength, but in the Lord’s strength.

http://bible.com/events/48450269 When it comes to the Kingdom, the call is to participation, not observation.Acts 1:4-84 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”-This is an account of the resurrected Jesus, who has suffered on the cross, but now has been raised to life. He is preparing to ascend into heaven.-Jesus is commissioning his disciples to be his witnesses, meaning active participants in this kingdom.-Passivity will kill the church. But we are not called to passivity, we are called to action.The Kingdom lives in you, so it must live through you.-When we pray “thy kingdom come”, we are not just praying that the kingdom would show up in our lives. We are also asking the kingdom to come through our lives.-As we pray, the Lord invites us to be a part of seeing that prayer come to pass.-You can ask God to advance His kingdom and, at the same time, even today, you can be an agent of that advancement.Matthew 25:14-30NIV14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ 23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 “ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’-This parable always seems harsh to us, but Jesus tells it so that there would be no doubt that in the kingdom there are expectations.-Notice it does not matter to the king how much you’ve been given. What matters is that we are called to use what we have to be participants in his kingdom.

https://www.bible.com/events/48387029 What does God want from you?Series review:-Jesus taught us to pray with these three words that are proving profound in these days: “Thy Kingdom Come”-The kingdom is “God’s reign” – His action & His Lordship-In Jesus, the king has entered into our reality to show us what the kingdom is all about.-We believe that one day the king is coming back to make all right in his kingdom again, and we also believe that the kingdom matters today. His kingdom can break into our present day reality.Mark 12:28-34 NIV28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” 32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.What was it that made this teacher not far from the kingdom?-There’s something this teacher knew: the rules of the kingdom.-Every kingdom has rules and expectations, and this kingdom is not different.-We have been given access to the kingdom, by faith. And what we do in response matters.-Jesus declares these two commandments as most important in his kingdom: love God with all and love others.Micah 6:8 NIV8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.And what does the Lord require of you?To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.We must not view these as separate instructions or disconnected ideas, but rather ideas building on one another:-Act justly-Love mercy-Walk Humbly-With GodWe cannot separate the command to love God and love others. They are interconnected. In the same way, we cannot separate the call to act justly from our love of mercy, our posture of humility, and our complete dependance on God.If we are serious about living according to the rules of the kingdom, there are two important implications:1. God’s kingdom is not a human kingdom.2. God’s kingdom calls us to a radical view of a loving and generous community.Matthew 20:15-16 NIV15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ 16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”It’s as if Jesus is saying, “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly….because I have been so generous to you!”

http://bible.com/events/48271723 You can’t have a kingdom without a king.Luke 1:30-33 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”-With the promise of Jesus, the king is now coming into the world.-This king will have a never-ending kingdom.-Of all the kings who have ever lived, this king will be greater than them all.He is the king with all the power.He is the king with all the love.John 19:1-5 1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3 and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face. 4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” 5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”-While the people mockingly called him king, Jesus displayed incredible love on the cross.-This king had all the power, yet gave it up. He sacrificed himself for his subjects. That is incredible love.Philippians 2:6-8 6 Who, being in very nature God,did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothingby taking the very nature of a servant,being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man,he humbled himselfby becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!Matthew 18:23-27 23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.He is the only King that is worthy.Worthy of what?Our worshipOur devotionOur affectionOur focusOur hopeOur trustHow you know you understand Jesus as King:-Worship takes a priority in your life-Obeying Him matters most to you-You rest in the knowledge that He is in charge-You focus on others before yourselfHow you know there are gaps in your understanding of Jesus as King:-Worship tends to be a Sunday-morning-only thing for you-You prefer to having things your own way-Prayer is often a last resort, after you’ve tried to fix things-You often ask the Lord to bless what you have planned

http://bible.com/events/48190984 Matthew 6:9-13 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.11 Give us today our daily bread.12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’Matthew 6:9-13 -This is the first request of the Lord’s prayer – “your kingdom come”-Jesus’ prayer gives a glimpse of life in the kingdom: trusting God for what we need day by day, walking in forgiveness as we forgive others, and in freedom from sin and selfishness1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”Matthew 3:1-2 17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”Matthew 4:17 So why are we starting 2021 by studying this idea of kingdom?-John the Baptist came preaching specifically about the “Kingdom of Heaven” and Jesus kept right on that theme.-If you continuing following the teachings of Jesus, you will see kingdom language is used 126 times in the 4 gospels-Jesus didn’t preach about “becoming a Christian” – a term that wasn’t used until long after His death (Acts 11). He spoke of being a part of the Kingdom of God.-For Jesus, it all came down to this idea about kingdom: life in a kingdom and a kingdom within you.What is the kingdom?-Kingdom means “God’s reign”, “His action” and ”His Lordship”. God sits on His throne as king of the universe.  -Through Jesus, God (the king) is coming into the world to establish His rule, first in the lives of people by triumphing over sin and then gathering people together that will live with a new allegiance, not to this world (to this kingdom), but to His Kingdom.-This King promises to return again one day to bring everything to completion, which is the ultimate fulfillment of this Kingdom. When Jesus arrived on earth, the people were looking for a king, but not the kind of king He turned out to be. They were looking for a physical kingdom with an earthly realm to overrule Rome. They got an invisible, Heavenly kingdom that makes its realm inside of us. (Luke 17:21) Why was it so important for Jesus to pray “Thy kingdom come” ?A focus for today; A promise for tomorrow; A deep passion for both.44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.Matthew 13:44

http://bible.com/events/48118137 Title: It’s Not Worth It!You have no idea what God can do and desires to do with your life when you are completely surrendered to Him. Appetites (and/or feelings) These are things that can ruin our lives and make us miserable, if they are not ultimately surrendered to GodThey can become gods/idols in our lives that we give our affection + energy tooYou will either be ruled by them or you’ll rule over them by loving obedience to God 3 Things I Want You to Know About Appetites1. God created appetites, but sin distorted them2. Appetites are never fully & finally satisfied3. Your appetites always scream NOW and never LATER Genesis 25:29-33 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.[f]) 31 Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” 32 “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” 33 But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So, he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Who in their right mind would trade their birthright for a bowl of stew?Never underestimate the significance of even the smallest act of obedience — or disobedience.  “Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance. The smallest good (i add obedient) act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of. An apparently trivial indulgence in lust or anger (or name any other appetite) today is the loss of a ridge or railway line or bridgehead from which the enemy may launch an attack otherwise impossible.” -C.S. LewisGenesis 25:34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So, Esau despised his birthright. RepentRe-frameRefrainJames 1:12-1612 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Extra Scripture:Matthew 6:24Matthew 10:39John 14:21Romans 8:14-17Ephesians 4:17-32Psalm 112:1

http://bible.com/events/48033171 Throughout the Christmas season, our focus has been upon Light and it’s symbolism for all that Jesus did in overcoming darkness for us.No matter which Christmas light is your favorite, there is one truth that will always remain: YOU CAN’T OUT-DARK THE LIGHT Luke 2:29-32 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.”No matter what darkness you are experiencing today, know this:  this Light is unquenchable and darkness cannot overcome it.Don’t let this Christmas season pass without asking: Jesus, will you shine on me? I’m tired of the dark. John 1:5  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

http://bible.com/events/48029969 Youversion   December 20 Christmas Light, Part 4 – Shine Series review: God created light and it was goodEverything else from creation stems from that moment Throughout the story of God light is a constant symbol of the presence and power of God The prophecies foretold about the coming of Jesus Christmas then is the dawning of LIGHT  “on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” And this light brings JOY and a calls us to respond We are not just to observe the light, acknowledge the light, but WALK in the light So the question this morning is: What about YOUR light? What do you do about all of this Christmas light? 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people  light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to  everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see  your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. As they are listening, Jesus’ hearers would have known Light as symbolic of God Himself (2 Samuel 22:29, Psalm 18:28, Psalm 43:3, etc.).When Jesus proclaims “you are the light”, He commands His followers to be what He Himself claimed to be (John 8:12) In response to this proclamation, you ARE the Light, Jesus gives us only two choices in the Sermon on the Mount (verse 15):Shine ( “it gives light”) Cover your light (“put it under a bowl”) The implication is that, as believers, we have to actually work not to shine. But the truth is this: The greatest gift we can receive is His Light,  the greatest gift we can give is His Light.  For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. Ephesians 5:8

https://bible.com/events/47937072 YOUVERSION – December 13, AdrianTitle: Christmas Light, Part 3: Joy and PromiseLuke 2:8-168 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.Matthew 2:1-122 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for out of you will come a ruler    who will shepherd my people Israel.’[b]”7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another routeThroughout the Christmas season, our focus has been upon Light and it’s symbolism for all that Jesus did in overcoming darkness for us.The question for us today is: How will you respond to the light? Light played a critical role in the account of two Christmas-related stories, particularly involving “outsiders” (they were not religious leaders or even devoted Jews):An angel appeared to shepherds and the glory of the Lord “shone” around them. The primary description we have of this angel involves light – so bright that they were afraid.Magi “from the east” followed a light in the sky that moved along with them until the light settled on the place where Jesus was.In both stories we see an answer to the question: “How will you respond to the light?” The bottom line:The light is a promise (of joy) and a call (to pursue). A promise (of joy)The light represented a fulfillment of the promise of God and a continual promise that the light will overcome the darkness, no matter what is to come. Joy is evident in these stories because the light of Jesus represented hope for all people. Luke 2:10-11 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Matthew 2:10 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. A call (to pursue) Seeing the promise of God is not enough. Ultimately, it requires a response. The shepherds and the magi made a choice not just to observe the light, but to pursue it. Luke 2:15-16 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.Matthew 2:10-11When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 1 John 1:77 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.How will you respond to the light of Jesus? 

http://bible.com/events/47856551 Christmas Light, Part 2 Out of Darkness In our series on Christmas Light, today, we study darkness. 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Think about two important words from Isaiah 9:1 Key Word #1: “Nevertheless” Isaiah 9:1-2 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan— 2 The people walking in darkness    have seen a great light;on those living in the land of deep darkness    a light has dawned. This very famous messianic (Christmas prophecy) in Isaiah, is immediately preceded by something not as famous but just as important. Isaiah 8:21-22 21 Distressed and hungry, they (God’s disobedient people) will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. 22 Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness. (Isaiah 9:1) Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. Key Word #2: “Gloom” Isaiah 9:1a Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom (Heb: muw`aph –the greatest distress; hopelessness) King James Version: Nevertheless, the dimness shall not be such as in her vexation.             To be cursed, to have a sense of no way out… But what does all of this have to do with you? Ephesians 5:8-14 8 For you were once darkness but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” John 12:46 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. Reminders from Part 1 of the series Biblically, light is a symbol of hope, life and truth. The very first thing we ever hear God say concerns light. Genesis 1:1-5 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. 1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. Matthew 4:12-17 12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: 15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,    the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,    Galilee of the Gentiles—16 the people living in darkness    have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death    a light has dawned.” 17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.

http://bible.com/events/47805233 Christmas Light, Part 1: The Dawn Isaiah 9:1-2 9 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan— 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. This prophecy foretells the coming of Christ by predicting certain things that will be true about that time:There will be no more gloomThe people of God (Galilee) will be honoredThose walking in darkness will not only see, but see a great lightA new era will arrive, in the form of light dawningTo grasp the utter importance of this text, we have to go back. All the way back to when light was createdTo grasp the importance of this text, we have to go back to when light was created. Genesis 1:1-5 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. The first thing we ever read God saying, the first of His stated creative acts – Let there be light. We learn from the very beginning that light will be something important and special.Everything in creation stems from that original creation of light. 1.  LIGHT IS GOOD  Light is the first of the Creator’s works, showing the work of the divine in a world that is chaos without it. Light symbolizes life – “You have rescued me from death. You have kept my feet from stumbling so that I could walk in your presence, in the light of life” (Ps 56:13)Light symbolizes truth – “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path” (Ps 119:105) 2. GOD IS LIGHT  “God is light, and there isn’t any darkness in him.” 1 John 1:5  “The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear?” Psalm 27:1 Light to the world  – “You are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14 Light yet to come – “There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” Revelations 22:5  Matthew 4:12-17 12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: 15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,    the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,    Galilee of the Gentiles—16 the people living in darkness    have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death    a light has dawned.”  17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Any good Jew would be able to immediately read Matthew 4 and see how points us back to the prophecy in Isaiah There is a clear parallel here between the initial story of creation of Genesis 1 (“Let there be light”) and the arrival of Jesus  (“a light has dawned”)Jesus’ affirms that God’s kingdom has come near. It is not just that “a light has dawned” but rather “our light has dawned”  Bottom Line:  He didn’t just come to be THE Light, He came to be YOUR Light.  “The splendors of creation and the agonies of redemption combine in Christmas, this center where God in Christ invades existence with redeeming light and decisively defeats evil.” ― Eugene Peterson

http://bible.com/events/47529342 Anatomy of a Storm: Feeding Hope As we conclude our series, Anatomy of a Storm, we are going to talk about one unexpected gift this season has given us: the opportunity for hope. Romans 5:1-5 5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, wehave peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And weboast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but wealso glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces  perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. -We are justified (made right) before God because of Jesus, and not based on our works  -Through Jesus we can have peace with God and we now have access to God’s grace (his favor).  -The grace of God is our foundation. In this way, we are not just saved by God’s grace, but we are also saved for God’s grace. We get to experienced his incredible and unearned favor in our lives.   Paul is highlighting two aspects of hope for those who put their faith in Christ: -Hope THROUGH the storm – the promise we have that God will get glory on the other side of the storm ( “And weboast in the hope of the glory of God.”) -Hope IN the storm – the realization that God can produce hope in us even while the storm is raging (“wealso glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces  perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”) Two things to remember about hope: -Hope comes from God                  -Hope is not something we catch, not something we produce, not something we can source                  -The reason hope doesn’t put us to shame (Romans 5:5) Is because the Holy Spirit is pouring it out in our hearts. Hope is sourced by His Spirit at work in us. -Hope grows                  -Paul highlights that hope grows through a process (Romans 5:3-4)                 -Hope does not just begin and end with me, but continues to grow and even overflow (Romans 15:13).                  -People with hope can’t contain it. They are determined to spread it. They refuse to let hopelessness have any ground in their lives or in others  Romans 15:13 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Other Scriptures for Study/Reflection  Romans 5:1-5 (The Message) 5 1-2 By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that’s not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise. 3-5 There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

http://bible.com/events/47034312 You can’t read your Bible without understanding that God is in the business of healing. In the Old Testament, God declares that He is Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals: He said, “If you listen carefully to the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.”  Exodus 15:26 In the Book of Matthew, the first thing Jesus does after calling his first disciples is preach and heal: 23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him. Matthew 4:23-25 Throughout the Gospels, we see that Jesus didn’t just reserve this ministry power to Himself: 9 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.  Luke 9:1-2 Before Jesus was famous for resurrection He was famous for healing. And that didn’t stop with His ascension: 3 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Acts 3:1-10 The ministry of healing continues throughout the New Testament: 13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. James 5:13 In the midst of this, there is an obvious question:  Why isn’t everyone healed? John 5:1-8 5 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda[a]and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4]  5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”  7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” 8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. It’s never enough from God’s perspective, to just heal you physically Jesus desires to strengthen the man’s faith Jesus desires to challenge the man’s willingness and desire for healing Jesus desires to minister to the spiritual needs in addition to the physical needs  The bottom line: My healing is up to God. My trust is up to me. James 5:13-18 13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. For Further Study & Reflection: Nazarene Article of Faith: Divine Healing:  https://2017.manual.nazarene.org/section/divine-healing/ Jeremiah 17:14 Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed;     save me and I will be saved,     for you are the one I praise. 1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

http://bible.com/events/46751927 Mark 4:38 “Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Fear, worry and anxiety are, not surprisingly, intense as we continue to face the pandemic + the Storm we could call 2020.  ​ We are told in our Bibles to be “anxious for nothing.”  Philippians 4:6-7 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. It is possible to not be anxious.  In the end, anxiety/worry is that nagging, tormenting feeling that you cannot fully trust God. We worry in 2020 because perhaps we’ve never felt so out of control. But just because we’re out of control doesn’t mean God isn’t in control. — Pam Charette There is hope TODAY that you can be free from worry/anxiety  1 Peter 5:6-7  6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time, 7 casting all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Exemption from care (worry/anxieties) goes along with humble submission (surrender) to God. BOTTOM LINE: Living free from worry + anxiety requires acting on our trust in Jesus. According to God’s word you can wage war on worry by doing these 4 things: ProclaimingPrayingPraisingPlacing Additional scripture: Psalm 91:1-2 Psalm 46:10 Psalm 118:17 Psalm 56:3 Isaiah 26:3 Proverbs 3:5-6 Luke 12:22-31 John 14:27 Romans 8:26-28 Romans 8:31-39

http://bible.com/events/46344332 What has the year 2020 been to you? -“uncertain”  -“a year of renewal and grief”  -“a glorious burden” -“disorienting….a blur….revealing” -“a year of incredible growth, of stretching change….like I’m at the gym training for a marathon, \ and now God is saying its one of those Ultra-marathons.” -“a year of new experiences and challenges that have both unified and divided our society” -“a challenge”  -“unprecedented” If the events of 2020 has caused you to feel any combination of confusion, worry, fear, frustration, anger, grief, or lament, then you are not alone. The purpose of this series is to help us put into God-framed perspective the difficult year this has been. By understanding such elements as struggle, worry, healing and hope, we will connect our experience with the viewpoint and will of God. 35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.  38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked  the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark 4:35-41  -One of the greatest moments of crisis in the life of believers is when they buy into the lie that following Jesus means they are immune to hard things.    –Even though some of these disciples on the boat were experienced fishermen, the storm was so great that they were afraid.  -The question they ask Jesus is a question many of us can relate to in these days: “Don’t you care?” -Ultimately the disciples had more faith in the power of the storm to destroy them than the power of Jesus to save them  Questions from the Storm: • Why did they have to endure the storm in the first place? • Why was Jesus sleeping?  • Why didn’t they trust Him after all they had seen? • Why were they “terrified” after He calmed the storm? The most important question of all comes at the very end of the story: “Who is this?” Is it possible that the disciples who were following Jesus  The modern day language is really “apprenticing under Jesus” They went where he went  They listened to him teach  They saw the miracles he performed  But they still didn’t truly understand who Jesus was  “Who is this?” Many of do not have faith in God, but rather we have faith that God will come through for us.  In the storm, and in the moment of uncertainty, so much of the false things we lean on are stripped away. And there is nothing left but God.  We want Christ to hurry and calm the storm. He wants us to find him in the midst of it first. Beth Moore What do we do in the storm? Look to Him Psalm 121 A song of ascents. 1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—    where does my help come from?2 My help comes from the Lord,    the Maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot slip—    he who watches over you will not slumber;4 indeed, he who watches over Israel    will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord watches over you—    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;6 the sun will not harm you by day,    nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—    he will watch over your life;8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going    both now and forevermore. Other Scripture for Study/Reflection: Psalm 40 1 I waited patiently for the Lord;    he turned to me and heard my cry.2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,    out of the mud and mire;he set my feet on a rock    and gave me a firm place to stand.3 He put a new song in my mouth,    a hymn of praise to our God. Psalm 23:4  Even though I walk    through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil,    for you are with me;your rod and your staff,    they comfort me. Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you;     do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you;     I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

http://bible.com/events/45874900 The Gospel of Christ is a Gospel of transformation. This series has been a deeper dive into the transforming work of God in our lives, both in a moment and through a process.  Today we conclude our series speaking about the culmination of God’s transforming work in our lives.    From the moment that sin entered into the world through the garden of Eden, humanity has longed to return to Eden. Eden represents a place where all is as God created it to be and where we  experience the fullness of God’s glory.  The story of God shows us this journey: -The Tower of Babel is built as man attempts to reach heaven. (Genesis 11)  -God promises to bless Abraham and make him a great nation.  Later the author of Hebrews notes how Abraham longed for a place ( “For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” Hebrews 11:10) -Moses leads the children of Israel out of captivity towards the land God has promised, in spite of their disobedience and rebellion.  (Exodus 4-40)  -The children of Israel established Jerusalem as the city of God.  This is an incomplete picture of Eden as people worship idols  and rebel against God.  -Jerusalem is conquered and plundered by the Babylonians, and so the cycle continues on throughout the story.  -As we see so much chaos and brokenness in our world today, we continue to long for God’s reception and return to Eden.  Revelation 20:11-15 11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 21:1-5a 21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”  -A new heaven and a new earth suggest that in that final day, what will happen is a transformation.  -Transformation is not just a past tense reality, or a present tense reality….it is a future reality  -Heaven is the ultimate transformation in the life of the believer  There’s a lot I used to think about when I thought about heaven  Two realities of heaven:  1 . We will see Jesus face-to-face. -John 14:1-3 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you  to be with me that you also may be where I am.” -In heaven we will stand in the presence of Jesus, our Lord and Savior  -We will worship Him and experience his glory and goodnesses like never before  2. What He says goes, finally and forever. -It often feels like the hurt and pain of this world has the final word, but in heaven we know that He will have the final word.   -In this Gospel of transformation, our God of Transformation has the final word. All things will be made new!  Bottom Line: Our final transformation is our firm hope Other Texts for Study/Reflection: 1 Corinthians 13:11-12 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.