WeAreIBC

A Future Audit

Matthew 25:14-30 ESV

God entrusts you as a steward of His resources.

We will give an account for that stewardship.

You will be rewarded for the risks you take.

1. Go at once.

2. Use what you have.

3. Trust it all to God.

When Will Christ Return

Matthew 24:29

Revelation 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people.

1. Jesus is coming back.

1 Thes 4:17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

Rapture: “to seize, snatch away,” which is equivalent to the meaning of the Greek word harpazõ in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (“caught up”).

Pre-Tribulation Rapture: This view maintains the rapture occurs when Jesus comes secretly to gather the church prior a seven-year Great Tribulation that precedes the return of Christ to earth.

Mid-Tribulation Rapture: This is similar to the pre-tribulation view except that it locates the rapture after the first three-and-half years at the point when the Anti-Christ assumes power.

Pre-Wrath Rapture: This position argues that the rapture will occur toward the end of the tribulation before the outpouring of God’s wrath with the bowl judgments (Rev. 16) prior to the return of Christ.

Post-Tribulation: This view sees the rapture as occurring simultaneous to the return of Christ at the end of the Tribulation.

2. We don’t know when the imminent return of Christ will take place.

3. We all need to be ready.

A Parable of Contrast:

Faithful servant vs evil servant

Diligence vs negligence

Rewards vs punishment

Signs of the Times

Matthew 24:1-25

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Epoch 1 – Birth Pains v. 4-8 

1 Thes 5:3  for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Epoch 2 – Intensification v. 9-14

Epoch 3 - Tribulation v. 15-28

Daniel 7:13-14: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Learning to Live a Life of Generosity

2 Corinthians 8-9 (NIV)

1. God’s grace promotes generosity.

2. Your life is your gift to God.

3. Giving is a test. 

4. Give cheerfully.

5. God’s abundant grace enables abundant giving, which results in abundant work. 

6. Generosity elicits thanksgiving to God.

7. Our gift doesn’t compare to God’s gift. 

Life is a Journey

Go

Genesis 1:28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Build

Exodus 35:4-5; 10, 21-22, 25, 36:6-7

Glorify

Romans 10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

2 Chronicles 7:1 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 

Luke 6:36-38

36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (NIV)

1. When I give, it honors God.

Proverbs 3:9 - Honor the Lord from your wealth, And from the first of all your produce; Then your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.(NASB)

2. When I give, God blesses me.

Mal. 3:6-11

6 “For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, the sons of Jacob, have not come to an end. 7 “From the days of your fathers you have turned away from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of armies. “But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8 “Would anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the entire nation of you! 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and put Me to the test now in this,” says the Lord of armies, “if I do not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. 11 Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruit of your ground; nor will the vine in the field prove fruitless to you,” says the Lord of armies. (NASB)

3. When I give, it blesses others.

2 Cor. 9:6-8

6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. (NLT)

Matthew 28:1-15

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

The resurrection demonstrates that you are loved. 

The resurrection displays the power of God. 

The resurrection reveals there is life after death.

Matthew 26:14-35

We all are traitors.

We are all offered forgiveness.

Repentance is required.

1. The return of the King.

2. Saving faith always results in serving faith.

3. It’s the fruit not the roots.

Dr. Rebekah Naylor PICS

Judgement is real.

Judgement is final.

Judgement can be a reward.

Light Up My Life

Matthew 5

Love God.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

John 3:19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

1. Be the light,

Philippians 2:15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you in the world,

Salt

2. Shine the light

3. Receive the light