On Sunday, October 16, 2022 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Revelation 22:14-21.  This message was part 9 in the “Lord of New Heaven and Earth” sermon series.  Below you will find questions related to the message for personal application or group discussion.  You will also find the sermon audio/video to listen to/watch, download, or share.

Sermon Questions:

1. Pray
2. Read Revelation 22:14-21
3. In what ways has our study of the book of Revelation served as a motivator for you in your Christian life?
4. In today’s verses, we saw that the only ones who are blessed eternally are those who “have washed their robes” (Revelation 7:14 reminds us that the way we wash our robes is in the “blood of the Lamb).  What does this tell you about the condition of everyone’s “robes” apart from being cleansed in Christ?  To the best of your understanding, how does one “wash their robe in the blood of the Lamb”?  What does that mean?
5. Jesus invites (through the work of the Spirit through the church) all who hear to COME TO HIM and have their eternal thirst quenched.  What are some of the “thirsts” you have that God has used to lead you to Christ?
6. Are you living your lives “FORWARD” towards what God is offering us in Christ for all eternity?  What in your life needs to change in light of what you have seen in the book of Revelation?  What in your life are you inspired to continue in light of what we have seen in the book of Revelation?  
7. We have said throughout 2022 that the book of Revelation is a “Revelation of Jesus Christ.”  How have you gotten to know Jesus better through our study of Revelation this year?
8. What is one particular application you took away from this passage/message?

To access these questions in pdf format, click here.

 

To listen offline, click the link to download:

The Lord of New Heaven & Earth #9 10.16.22

 

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This Sunday will be the 42nd Sunday of 2022.  (That’s right … only 10 weeks to Christmas! … but I digress.)  For 29 of those 42 Sundays, we have been walking through the book of Revelation together.  Add in 39 other blog posts from this study, and you have been surrounded by 68 messages from the book of Revelation over the past ten months.  In our study, we have seen that the book of Revelation is a Revelation of Jesus Christ.  It has been our joy to get to know the Savior better as we have read this often neglected section of God’s Word.  Together, we have seen Jesus revealed as the Lord of the Church, the Lord of Heaven, the Lord of the Earth, and the Lord of the New Heaven and Earth.  

This Sunday, October 16, 2022, we will be in part 9 of our “Lord of the New Heaven and Earth” sermon series.  This will also be our final message in Revelation (at least for a while) as we have run out of verses to study!  We will be in the final 8 verses of our Bibles this weekend, looking at Revelation 22:14-21.

Ending this series has me reflecting on the entirety of the book of Revelation and the role it plays in our understanding of the Gospel and our relationship with Christ.  In preparation for Sunday, I have found two quotes particularly relevant:

“Probably no other book of Scripture more sharply contrasts the blessed lot of the saints with the fearful future of those who are lost. No other book of the Bible is more explicit in its description of judgment on the one hand and the saints’ eternal bliss on the other. What a tragedy that so many pass by this book and fail to fathom its wonderful truths, thereby impoverishing their knowledge and hope in Christ Jesus.” – John Walvoord

and

“And Revelation is a ‘pledge of His love’. … Jesus has given it to us as a sacrament of the imagination, to quicken the pulse and set the soul aflame over the gospel which all too often we take for granted.” – Michael Wilcock

This book is designed to “quicken our pulse” and “set our souls aflame over the Gospel!”  I love that language, and have found it to be true in my own life.  The great contrasts in this book drive us to cling to Christ with an urgency sometimes lacking in our day-to-day lives.  

So, make plans to join us Sunday at Wildwood in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 service as we wrap up the book of Revelation by looking at the “closing thoughts” of NOT ONLY the book of Revelation, but the entire canon of Scripture.  Hope to see you there … and bring friends!

On Sunday, October 9, 2022 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Revelation 22:6-13.  This message was part 8 in the “Lord of New Heaven and Earth” sermon series.  Below you will find questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion.  You will also find audio and video of the message to listen to/watch, download, or share.

Sermon Questions:

1. Pray
2. Read Revelation 22:6-13
3. In Church’s like Wildwood, we call the Bible “God’s Word.” To the best of your understanding, what do you think that means?  What does this passage teach you about the nature of God’s Word?
4. Have you ever been tempted to think that Jesus’ words (the “red letters”) are more authoritative than the writings of Paul or John?  What does this passage teach you about the nature of what Jesus, Paul, and John said in the Scripture they wrote (or spoke in the case of Jesus)?
5. In what ways are you tempted to “worship the deliverer” of God’s Word instead of God Himself?
6. What parts of the Bible are you tempted to not want to talk about with others?  
7. Are you delaying responding to the message of the Gospel today thinking “there will be time to respond later?”
8. Who is one person you can share the hope you have received from our study of the book of Revelation with this week?
9. What is one particular application you took away from this passage/message?

To access these questions in pdf format, click here.

 

To listen offline, click the link to download:

The Lord of New Heaven & Earth #8 10.9.22

 

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“I don’t like the church, but I love Jesus.”  

“I don’t care what Paul says (after all he was just a product of his time – with all the prejudices and problems accompanying that era), but I love what Jesus says.”

“The Bible is such a confusing book, I will just stick to the ‘red letter’ parts where Jesus is talking.  The rest can be left to the seminary professors and professionals.”

“Who cares about biblical prophecy anyway.  I wish my Pastor would just stick to the more practical sections.”

Have you ever thought these thoughts?  Have you heard others say similar things?  

At one level, these statements sound spiritual. Who could argue with someone who is affirming their loyalty to Jesus at every step?  Well, I’ll tell you who could argue with that person … JESUS HIMSELF.

Did you know that Jesus Himself created the church (and is building it)?  Did you know that Jesus Himself is speaking through the Scripture to us … through ALL the Scripture, not just the part with the red letters?  Did you know that Paul was not just sharing his opinions, but was moved along by the Spirit of God to communicate God’s truth to us?  Did you know that Jesus cares DEEPLY that we understand the fact that He is coming back to earth one day, and believes it is an incredibly practical message and something we need to prioritize in our study?  

When we say that we want Jesus and not Paul; Jesus and not the church; Jesus and not the rest of Scripture; “how to’s” for daily life and not theology; orthopraxy and not orthodoxy – we are actually moving AWAY from Jesus and not TOWARD Him.  

This principle comes into great clarity as we look at the conclusion to the book of Revelation.  Specifically in 22:6-13 (8 of the last 16 verses in our Bible) we see a discussion of the doctrine of the Scriptures:  how God speaks to us through them, and the importance of our response.

This Sunday at Wildwood, we will be in part 8 of our “Lord of New Heaven and Earth” series as we investigate this issue more.  Make plans to join us for our study … and bring friends, to our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 service. 

On Sunday, October 2, 2022 at Wildwood Community Church I preached a sermon based on Revelation 22:1-5.  This message was part 7 in the “Lord of New Heaven and Earth” sermon series.  Below you will find questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion.  You will also find audio/video of the sermon to listen to/watch, download, or share.

Sermon Questions:

1. Pray
2. Read Revelation 22:1-5
3. What do you tend to think about MOST in your mental “free time”?  How do you think that emphasis of thought impacts your life?
4. The Bible begins and ends in a Garden, with living water, and a tree of life.  When you add these elements to the “jeweled city” we saw last week in 21:9-27, you get a city that has both opulence AND warmth.  Of all the things we have seen about the eternal city, what stands out to you the most?
5. How are you “planting your life” beside the living water of God’s Word so that you might grow strong in the faith?  What is your plan to study God’s Word this year?
6. The best part of eternity is that God is there with us!  Eternal life is defined as a relationship with God (in John 17:3, and the description in Revelation 22:1-5).  How are you prioritizing your relationship with Jesus RIGHT NOW?  Are you communicating with Him?  Serving others and obeying Him?  Gathering together with God’s people?  
7. Interact with this quote from Jim Hamilton, ““Is this the way that you think about Heaven? If you found out that God and Jesus weren’t going to be in Heaven, but the street would still be gold and the gates pearl and the walls jasper and the water living and the tree’s leaves healing, and all your dearly departed there, but Jesus and the Father would not be there, would you still want to go? If you hesitate at all, please recognize that Heaven without Jesus and the Father would be nothing less than a gold-plated Hell. Jesus and the Father are Heaven. And that is no less true now than it will be then.”
8. What is one particular application you took away from this passage/message?

To access these questions in pdf format, click here.

 

To listen offline, click the link:

The Lord of New Heaven & Earth #7 10.1.22

 

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I have a couple of friends who purchased homes without first seeing the inside.  One was a home purchase at a foreclosure auction, and the other was a purchase for an out of town move.  Circumstances required they both act “on faith” with their decisions.  While I admire the adventurous nature of these purchases, I cannot personally relate.  I won’t even buy SHOES without trying them on, much less a home!

When we purchased our home, I “stalked” it on the internet for months (no joke).  It was “for sale,” then “not for sale” … so I kept watching zillow each week, waiting for it to return to market.  In that time, I occasionally would relook at the photos of its interior or drive by its exterior.  I even timed the drive from the home to key locations around town.  I spent a fair amount of my “down time” doing this kind of research.

This is what happens often with things that we look forward to or hope for.  How many times did you look at the ultrasound of your firstborn?  How often did you peruse the photos of the child you would soon adopt?  Pretty often, right?  

Looking at these photos accomplished two things … it satisfied a desire for “fellowship” with our future (home, family, or whatever we were looking at), AND it also fueled desire for the day when the house/child/etc. would join your world.

I say this today because Sunday we will once again be looking at our eternal home in the new heaven and earth.  We have been talking about this all fall as we have toured Revelation 19-22.  This Sunday will be part 7 of this series as we look at Revelation 22:1-5.  You may be thinking, “why are we STILL looking at this?”  Well, why do you look at the ultrasound more than 7 times?  Why do you check the internet listing again?  The answer is obvious … because we WANT TO.  It both satisfies our desire (looking for paradise while we live in a broken and breaking world), and fuels more desire (as we see more clearly the home He has prepared for us.)

Make plans to join us this week for part 7 of this series.  Come …. and bring friends to Wildwood Community Church in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 worship services.

On Sunday, September 25, 2022 at Wildwood Community  Church I preached a sermon based on Revelation 21:9-27.  This message was part 6 of the “Lord of New Heaven and Earth” sermon series.  Below you will find questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion.  You will also find the audio/video of the message to listen to/watch, download or share.

Sermon Questions:

1. Pray
2. Read Revelation 21:9-27
3. What in YOUR world is breaking and in need of repair?  How do these inconveniences (or worse) point your perspective toward a future day when “all will be made new”?
4. Throughout today’s passage, you see a picture of the New Jerusalem in the New Heaven and Earth.  What stands out to you most about this city’s physical description?
5. Our God is a God of beauty!  What evidence have you seen lately of that in creation?  In what ways does this trait of God seem to be evident even more in eternity?
6. Have you trusted in Christ to cleanse you from your sin?  If so, know that you have this New Jerusalem to look forward to!  If not, what is keeping you from trusting Christ today?
7. What are some opportunities you have in the month ahead to “bring your glory” into “His glory”?  (i.e. how can you celebrate His greatness through your life today?)  
8. What is one particular application you took away from this passage/message?

To access these questions in pdf format, click here.

 

To listen offline, click the link:

The Lord of New Heaven & Earth #6 9.25.22

 

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Own a house, and it will own you.

I had always heard that before, but am becoming more and more acutely aware of just what that actually means.  Things in this world are in need of constant care and attention … and often break down, needing repairs.

In the past month, my 50 year old house has experienced a rotting deck, a roof leak, an “invasion” of army worms, a broken toilet, a broken tub spout, and a partridge in a pear tree!  That’s just the past month!  In the two years we have lived in this home, we have also seen HVAC systems struggle, a hot water tank that leaked, a fence that was destroyed, and some minor electrical work that needed to be addressed.  And as I sit here today, there are more items that could be addressed!

Own a house, and it will own you.

Thinking about this makes me long for a day when “all things will be made new” — a time when a permanent upgrade will be made to this physical world so that it will never need to be repaired or replaced!  If you are like me … that sounds pretty nice!

This is exactly the world of the new heaven and earth described in Revelation 21-22.

This new world is even more than just “not needing repair” nice.  It is something else.  How nice?

• “Solid gold streets” nice.  Some today might have jewelry that is “golden,” but a city so rich it has streets of SOLID GOLD?  That is next level.
• “Foundation Stones for the city made of precious jewels” nice.  Today people put a single diamond on a wedding band … the city in the new heaven and earth will have foundations poured not with concrete and rebar, but with sapphires and jasper.
• “Door frames made of hollowed out giant pearls” nice.  Who sees a pearl the size of a two story house and says – “let’s hollow that out and make it a doorway!”  God does … that’s who!

But even those features are not the defining characteristic of this new heaven and earth.  Just wait until you see how it is “lit”!  

So, for those of us living in a fixer-upper world … don’t call Chip and Joanna.  Come to Wildwood on Sunday as we look at Revelation 21:9-27 and see what God (in His grace) is preparing for us to move into one day … AND, even more importantly, who will we be moving in there with.

See you Sunday in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 worship service at Wildwood for part 6 of our “Lord of New Heaven and Earth” sermon series.  We will celebrate the Lord’s supper together as we look forward to our promised future in Christ.  Join us this weekend … and bring friends!

On Sunday, September 18, 2022 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Revelation 21:1-8.  This message was part 5 of the “Lord of New Heaven and Earth” sermon series.  Below you will find questions related to the message for personal reflection or group discussion.  You will also find audio and video of the message to listen to/watch, download or share.

 

Sermon Questions:

1. Pray
2. Read Revelation 21:1-8
3. In what ways do you see yourselves and others minimize God’s grace in salvation?
4. After this life is over, there is a new heaven and new earth, and we are given a new body.  This shows God’s commitment to material things!  Things in this life are corrupted by sin and will degrade over time, but after this age is done, God will recreate a new world in which we will live.  How does this concept of a new heaven and earth compare to the “eternity” you have always imagined?
5. The New Heaven and Earth will have both a city and God … who dwells with His people there!  This is a reminder that the WHO of eternity is more important than the WHAT or WHERE.  How does knowing that you will be with the other saints in the presence of God on a new earth encourage you as you think about the culmination of all things?
6. The one who is a believer in Jesus Christ inherits all things (21:7).  How does this perspective help you deal with the loss and uncertainty of life today?
7. This life carries with it suffering and sorrow … but it is only temporary!  What is a sorrow or pain or loss that you have experienced or are experiencing that seems like it will go forever?  Remember the pain of today will vanish like dew in the morning!  
8. The only pain that will be celebrated for all time is the sacrifice Jesus made for us.  Take a moment and thank Him for His indescribable gift!
9. What is one particular application you took away from this passage/message?

To access these questions in pdf format, click here.

 

To listen offline, click the link to download:

The Lord of New Heaven & Earth #5 9.18.22

 

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God’s grace.  It’s amazing, isn’t it?  And yet we often do things that reduce its grandeur.

One way we do reduce God’s grace is by thinking MORE OF OURSELVES than we should.  In other words, if we have an attitude that thinks God SHOULD grant us entry into heaven, then we are over-estimating our personal righteousness and underselling the height of God’s holy standard.  If we earn it, it is not given.

Another way we minimize God’s grace, however, is when we UNDERESTIMATE THE GREATNESS OF HIS BLESSING.  If we fail to remember just how much God is giving us in Christ Jesus, we can lose sight of the extravagance of His grace.  

In order to help us understand this principle, let’s imagine you getting a new job.  You work 8 hours at this job doing the work of middle-management.  What would you estimate your wage to be?  For simplicity in the math, let’s say that a middle manager makes $25 per hour.  Therefore, you might assume that your 8 hours of work would yield $200 in pay.  Not bad.  But let’s say that when it came time for payday, you were paid $200 Billion!  Even if you had worked HARD for those 8 hours, that wage would be considered a true gift from your employer!

Now, let’s run this grid through the circuit of God’s gracious blessing to believers.  In Ephesians 2:8-9 it says, “For by GRACE you have been saved through faith.  And it is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  It is by God’s grace and not our works that we have been saved from the fires of hell.  Running this through the grid of our “new job” analogy, this is saying that the wage that we gain in our salvation comes after we have worked ZERO hours.  We get paid without working!  This concept answers the first way we minimize God’s grace.  In His grace God gives us all things … SO THAT none of us might boast.  We should not overestimate our personal godliness in any way.

But what does the Scripture say about the lavish nature of our salvation?  Well … for that, you need to come this Sunday to Wildwood as we will be talking about the riches of eternity for those who are in Christ.  We will be doing so in part 5 of our “Lord of New Heaven and Earth” sermon series as we look at Revelation 21:1-8.  These verses describe the $200 Billion (metaphorically speaking) payday that awaits God’s children!  In fact, the riches these verses describe outkick the coverage of any dollar amount imaginable … the spiritual and physical blessings of eternal life in Christ are just that rich.  

Make plans to be with us this Sunday at 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 as we explore eternity together.  See you Sunday … and bring friends!