Sermons

We all look forward to big days. But will the biggest day of days be like? When Jesus returns as he has promised what will happen and what can we expect? The big question is whether or not we are preparing for the Day of the Lord.

We sing the lyrics but we struggle with the truth - "no fear in death". The Bible tells us much about what will happen when we come close to the last moments we have on this Earth and in this lifetime. God has made certain and precious promises concerning our death that give us every reason to not fear those final moments.

We often use the Bible to learn how to live our lives. We want to know how to make better decisions and to honor God's plan for our life. In our journey of discipleship we must not lose the grand narrative of God's ultimate promise - to dwell with His people. What does that Bible tell us about the promise of heaven? Is it really possible to live a life that believes "to live is Christ and to die is gain"? If so, why?

We are on a collision course with the King and His Kingdom. We will either take our last breath in death before life everlasting or we will take one last breath on this earth before Jesus' sudden return. On that course, the path is treacherous with grief, hardship, and trials. Even the good things in life fade away, fall short and leave us feeling empty and longing for more.

But Jesus has traveled the path, overcome it's treachery, and now prepares the Kingdom for his brothers and sisters. The Scriptures give us a clear picture of what we can expect when we finally enter into the place that Jesus is preparing for us. Studying what God has promised us will equip us and encourage us as we travel the long road home.

The people of Israel endured many centuries of silence from God, as his prophetic word to them ceased. They also lost the blessing of their land, their temple, and their freedom. But God left his people with the promise of a future hope: that the Anointed One would come to bring salvation to Israel, and indeed to the whole world. In the meantime, the intermediate silence was deafening. The church also waits for the return of Christ, but the silence is different. God's voice is heard through his Word and Spirit, and we have been given the task of inviting sinners into his kingdom. We are to be a people oriented around the expectation of his imminent return, and that should change the way we live.

The world was starved for hope before the first advent, but it has always had the gospel promise.

At his first advent, Jesus brought salvation. At his second advent, he will bring judgment. We can know that we will be received if we trust in the person and work of Christ.

Anticipation means hope, eagerness, and expectation. Anticipate means to "beat someone to it", get ahead, or do in advance. Christmas reminds the Christian that we live in anticipation but that in living in hope we are called to actively anticipate. We are to live like children who anticipate the Christmas season by working hard at their school work. For instance, in my home, my kids work really hard in August on their home school work so that they can take off from Thanksgiving week until Christmas. They anticipate not just with feelings but with actions as they wait for their favorite time of the year. In the Bible, those who lived before Jesus taught us how to anticipate the 2nd advent in the way that they anticipated the 1st advent during very real earthly battles, struggles, successes and failures.

There are two cultures described in Revelation. One is the culture of the Kingdom of God and one is the culture of this world. We're called to live in one while being citizens of the other.