11-01-2020
11-01-2020
Dr. E. Dale Locke (Online and West), Jeff MacIntosh (East) and Pastor Efrain Silva (Español)
Sermon Series: Come Alive!
Week 6: Thy Kingdom Come
English PDF file for printing.
Para imprimir el archivo PDF en Español.
Our memory verse for this series is Ephesians 5:14: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
1. What are some false views of heaven that some people in our culture have?
2. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that “God has set eternity in the hearts of men….” What does this mean? What are the implications of this verse? What evidence of this do we see in the world?
3. Read Jesus’ words in John 14:1-7 that were spoken the night before he was crucified:
“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. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5 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.”
What do you notice in these verses? What questions come to your mind?
Christianity’s View of Heaven Includes 3 Aspects:
· Heaven on Earth!
4. Read what Jesus said in John 17:3: “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” How did Jesus define “eternal life”?
5. How can we experience eternal life right now on earth?
6. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.” What does this tell you about the role Jesus wants his followers to play in the world?
7. John Wesley suggested Christians should follow 3 rules about voting: 1) We should vote without fee or reward for the person we judge most worthy. 2) We should speak no evil of the person we vote against. 3) We should take care that our spirits are not sharpened against those who voted on the other side.
In this election season, it’s important to remember that we actually serve another Kingdom. Our highest priority is our citizenship in heaven. How should this impact your thinking and behavior during an election season and in the coming days and weeks?
· Heaven When You Die!
8. Read what Paul wrote in Philippians 1:21-24: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in this body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far, but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.”
We will all die one day, but if we are Christ-followers, we have the profound hope that our connection to him cannot be broken even by death. The moment we die, we will immediately be in Jesus’ presence. How does this fact impact your feelings about death? How does it impact the way you live now?
· Heaven on Earth…Again!
9. Read what the Apostle John wrote about heaven in Revelation 21:1-4:
“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.
I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
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.
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.”
What does this passage say about what heaven will be like?
10. Think back to the false views of heaven that you listed earlier in this discussion. How do they compare with the actual Biblical view of heaven?
11. How can focusing on heaven help you through challenges you’re experiencing in your life today?
Ready for your next step?
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News and Announcements:
· New Here? Let us know who you are by texting “hello” to 561-264-6079.
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· Thanksgiving Food Drive: Community of Hope has the exciting goal to provide Thanksgiving meals for 1,000 families in our community this year! You can help by donating any of these items before November 8. Thank you! See updates on our progress at https://communityofhope.church/missions/
o $10 Publix Gift Card
o Stuffing Mix
o Cranberry Sauce
o Gravy
o Canned Vegetables
o Boxed Mashed Potatoes (The goal of 1,000 has been reached for this item!)
o Cornbread Mix
o Boxed Cake or Brownie Mix
· Support First Care Women’s Clinic as they seek to help women in crisis pregnancies choose life for their baby by participating in their Drive-through for life and virtual 5K fundraiser. More information at: https://firstcareforlife.com/walk-for-life-5k-run/
· Surviving the Holidays Seminars: The holiday season can be difficult for people grieving the loss of a loved one or a broken marriage. Each year, COH offers two different Surviving the Holidays seminars to help you get through this time in a healthy way. The first, a 90-minute in-person event, will discuss how to approach the holiday season when you’re experiencing grief: Monday, November 23, at 7pm at our West Campus or Thursday November 19, 6pm at our East Campus. And for those hurting from a broken marriage, join us for a special DivorceCare Surviving the Holidays online event at 8pm on November 18. Invite your friends! Everyone is welcome. Register at https://communityofhope.church/groups/
· Worship Team Family Reunion – Sunday November 8, 4:00-5:30pm, West Campus: If you have experience in leading worship or are interested in being part of the Worship Team, come on out to this event to enjoy some fellowship, a chance to worship God, and get renewal. Register at https://communityofhope.church/worship
· Thank you for your financial support, which makes it possible for us to minister to our community! To give to Community of Hope, go to https://communityofhope.church/give.