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Support and Resources For Pastors and
Christian Ministry Professionals
Thomas F. Fischer, M.Div., M.S.A., Editor
Second Last Sunday Of
The Church Year
Series C
Option #1:"Always
Confident" Paul the Apostle was a tentmaker by trade. He knew how
important it was for a tent to provide shelter in a storm. Our bodies are a
lot like those tents Paul used to make--well-crafted but limited in their
ability to withstand the storms of life--and yet Paul was ALWAYS CONFIDENT... I. Because this earth is not our final home A. As he reminded us in Philippians 3:20-21 B. As Jesus told us in John 14:1-3 II. Because we have the Holy Spirit as a down payment on
the future A. As in 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 B. As in 2 Corinthians 5:5 C. As in Ephesians 1:13-14 III. Because Jesus the Righteous Judge is Himself our
Righteousness, Peace and Hope A. It does not depend upon our own
inadequate works--Ephesians 2:8-9 B. It does depend on the solid legal
foundation of Jesus being... 1. Our
Righteousness--Jeremiah 23:6 2. Our
Substitute--2 Corinthians 5:21 Matthew Henry: Observe particularly the believers
expectation of eternal happiness after death, v1. He does not only know, or is
well-assured by faith of the truth and reality of the thing itself--that there
is another and a happy life after this present life is ended--but he has good
hope through grace of his interest in that everlasting blessedness of the
unseen world: "We know that we have a building of God, we have a firm and
well-grounded expectation of future happiness." Notice: 1) What heaven is in the eye and hope of a believer.
He looks upon it as a house, or habitation, a dwelling-place, a resting-place,
our Fathers house, where there are many dwelling places, and our
everlasting home. It is a house in the heavens, in that high and holy place
which as far excels all the palaces of this earth as the heavens are high
above the earth. It is a building of God, whose builder and maker is God, and
therefore is worthy of its author; the happiness of the future state is what
God hath prepared for those that love him. It is eternal in the heavens,
everlasting habitations, not like the earthly tabernacles, the poor cottages
of clay in which our souls now dwell, which are decaying, and whose
foundations are in the dust. 2) When this happiness shall be enjoyed--immediately after
death, so soon as our house of this earthly tabernacle is dissolved. Note that
the body, this earthly house, is but a tabernacle, that must be dissolved
shortly; the nails or pins will be drawn, and the cords be loosed, and then
the body will return to dust as it was. When this comes to pass, then comes
the house not made with hands. The spirit returns to God who gave it; and
those who have walked with God here shall dwell with God for ever. + + + THE MESSAGE FOR CHILDREN Object: map of Florida, then a picture of
hurricane devastation Lets see how good you are reading a map. I have here a road
atlas, a collection of road maps for when your mom and dad take you on
vacation. Lets see if you can tell which state I am pointing at. (Point at
3 states in succession.) This one (Florida) was in the news a lot late last Summer and
early Fall. Can anyone tell me why? HURRICANES! Thats right. Florida is a
beautiful place, but its dangerous to live there during some parts of the
year. In todays Bible reading, Paul says that our bodies are like
this house destroyed by a hurricane--well-built and beautiful, but in danger
when strong winds are blowing. Sooner or later, we will all die unless Jesus
comes back first. Paul tells us that we are not to worry about this. Thats
because we have another home to look forward to. Its our heavenly home.
There arent any hurricanes there. No one gets sick there, you wont need
a flu shot there, there is no danger of any kind there. Paul wrote: (2 Cor 5:6-8) Therefore we are always confident
and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.
{7} We live by faith, not by sight. {8} We are confident, I say, and would
prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. I dont know
if you will ever have to live through a hurricane or clean up the damage, but
I do know that God will be with you in the storms of your life and that
someday Jesus will come back and take you to your Heavenly Home.
2 Corinthians 5:1-10
Rev. Wayne Dobratz, B.A., M.Div.
Option
#2: "God Repents!"
Jeremiah 8:4-7
Rev. Kelly Bedard, B.A., M.Div.
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