The Lord of New Heaven and Earth (part 4) Sermon Questions, Audio, and Video

On September 11, 2022 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Revelation 20:11-15.  This message was part 4 in the “Lord of New Heaven and Earth” sermon series.  Below you will find questions related to this message for personal reflection or group discussion.  You will also find audio and video from the message to listen to/watch, download or share.

Sermon Questions:

  1. Pray
  2. Read Revelation 20:11-15.
  3. What are some of the strategies you see people employ to distract from the weighty implications of Hell?
  4. Based on our study of Revelation 20:11-15 this morning, how would you answer the questions:  who is the Judge of judgment day?  Who is judged on judgment day?  On what are they judged on judgment day?  How do we survive on judgment day?  What is the sentence handed down on judgment day?
  5. Have you placed your personal faith in Jesus Christ as your rescuer from sin and judgment?  If not, why not?  If so, when?
  6. When was the last time you expressed sincere thanks to God for what He has done for you in Christ?
  7. How does remembering Hell motivate you to share the Gospel with unsaved people around you?  Who might God be moving you to share the Gospel with today?
  8. When it comes to Hell and judgment, are your emotions moved by the impact this will have on billions of people?
  9. What is one particular application you took away from this passage/message?

To access these question in pdf format, click here.

 

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The Lord of New Heaven & Earth #6 9.11.22

 

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The Lord of New Heaven and Earth (part 4) Sermon Preview

Hell.  Now there is a place we don’t really want to talk about.  The concept of a location designed for everlasting torment is unsettling to us … and for good reason!  So, people have tried to assuage their minds concerning Hell in a variety of ways:

  • Some make Hell a punchline in a joke.  In this approach, Hell becomes a cartoonish location that looks like a bonfire-lit cave at Silver Dollar City, managed by a down-on-his-luck demon with a potbelly and a pitchfork.  If we can laugh at the idea, the emotional release might distract us long enough to avoid any deep reflection on the significance of the place.
  • Others make Hell temporary.  This version of Hell is a spiritual “timeout corner” where people can sit and think about what they should have done differently, before they ultimately return to life.  If we think Hell is an overnight lodging, not a permanent abode, that helps us feel better.
  • Still others dismiss Hell altogether, thinking it just a device religious leaders made up to keep people in line.  If Hell is not real, then talk of Hell has no more real world significance than Aesop’s Fables … just a fantasy location around which we learn a moral lesson.
  • Finally, others take Hell and make it the location for whoever they think is THE WORST.  If Hell is the place for Satan, the anti-Christ, and Hitler … then it is mostly avoidable for anyone we know and love … and that is easier to swallow.

In general, I think people (even Christian people) minimize Hell in their own minds.  We turn it into enough of an abstraction so we can sleep at night and avoid some of the implications that might ensue if we understood what Hell truly is.

Now, an argument can be made that as Christians we should not focus much on Hell.  Why scare anyone with a discussion of it?  Why not think about  only what is “noble, and right, and good?” 

This Sunday at Wildwood Community Church in Part 4 of our “Lord of New Heaven and Earth” sermon series, we will be talking about Hell.  Hell as a real place of eternal torment that the Bible (and Jesus specifically) talks about … plus we will talk about the population of Hell.  Why are we going to do this?

Because God wants us to know about it.

That is why God put info about Hell into the Bible, and Revelation 20:11-15 is a central passage.  This Sunday we will explore the passage together.  As we do so, I want to prepare our hearts …

When we understand what the Bible says about Hell, it should MOVE US:  

  • It should MOVE US TO FAITH … trusting Christ as our rescuer from sin and judgment.  
  • It should MOVE US TO THANKFULNESS … appreciating anew what Jesus has saved us from. 
  • It should MOVE US TO TEARS … as we reflect on the eternal judgment to fall upon the lost.  
  • It should MOVE US TO ACTION … mobilized to share our faith with a dying world while they have time to repent.

Get ready to be moved by God’s Word this week.

  Prayerfully approach this passage before worship on Sunday as we see the Great White Throne Judgment of God in Revelation 20:11-15.

The Lord of New Heaven and Earth (part 3) Bonus Thought

How do you know if someone can be trusted? Well, typically you would look at that person’s character and track record. If they are a person of high character (someone who consistently demonstrates noble behavior) and if they are a person who has regularly done what they have promised they will do … you trust them! If they are a person of low character (inconsistent in demonstrating noble behavior) and if they are a person who regularly does NOT do what they promise … you don’t trust them! Or, at least these two extremes create a “sliding scale of trust” inspiring you to lean into them more or discouraging you so that you count on them less.
I once heard Dave Ramsey’s daughter Rachel describe her growing up years. Her parents used a rope metaphor with each of their kids. As they aged and demonstrated good decision making they were “given more rope” (or freedom) from their parents. If they made bad decisions, their parents would give them less slack (less freedom). Rachel shared that when her older sister graduated from high school, the Ramseys presented her sister with a beautiful braided rope and told her that she now was being commissioned to go and make her own decisions, having demonstrated exemplary character over time.
Given this illustration, let me ask you … how much do you trust God? Are you leaning into Him or pulling away? Have you given Him your rope, or are you reeling it back in?
How you answer that question may have a lot to do with how well you know who God is. The character of God is absolutely impeccable … not just consistently good, but ALWAYS GOOD. And the track record of God is also exemplary. This is why God has shared with us so much divinely inspired history in the Old Testament … in part to allow us to see His faithfulness in the lives of His people so that we might trust Him more and more.
Having said this, some of you may want to raise a question. Was God TRULY faithful to Israel? God promised to save them spiritually and physically. He promised to give them forgiveness and a new heart AND protected borders and a globally influential Kingdom. Yet, today the nation of Israel has largely rejected Jesus as their Messiah and lives under the constant threat of military action. While the nation is significant and has a compelling story, the world does not come to Israel for their understanding of right and wrong (as Isaiah 2 and 11 indicate). So is God really faithful? Can He really be trusted?
Well, the New Testament really helps to fill in the gaps for us on these questions. Romans 9-11 is basically an apologetic on the faithfulness of God regarding the spiritual salvation of Israel. After arguing in Romans 1-8 that “nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord,” the Apostle Paul turns his attention to answering the question – “but what about Israel? Didn’t God separate from them? And if He did, might He separate from us?” The argument of Romans 9-11 tells us that God has always had a remnant inside Israel that was being saved, and in the end a generation of Israelites on the earth when Jesus comes back will embrace Him as Savior. He has not abandoned them! This same sentiment is also behind the large conversion of Jews forecast for the last days in Revelation 7.
So God will be proved faithful to His spiritual promises to Israel. But what about the physical promises? What about the expanded borders, world-wide influence, and restored physical land of Israel? What about the borders that extend up into Syria (as seen in Ezekiel 48), or the river of fresh water that will flow out of the Temple Mount area and east toward the Dead Sea making those salty waters fresh (Ezekiel 47)? What about military conquest ceasing and peace on the earth (Isaiah 2)? What about the Messianic Leader of Israel reigning over the entire world from Jerusalem (Isaiah 11)? Were those just empty promises from God to help an exiled Israel sleep better at night?
What the book of Revelation presented to us in Revelation 20:1-10 (which we looked at last Sunday at Wildwood) was a picture of all those promises coming true inside a 1,000 year Kingdom where Jesus reigns on earth at the time of His return. He will reestablish the tribes of Israel in their allotted lands and will give them provision and honor and blessing on the earth for 1,000 years. As members of the Church, we will be on earth to see this, and will be reigning with Christ (most likely) in other parts of the world under the leadership of Jesus, but the land of Israel will be finally and fully established JUST AS GOD PROMISED HIS PEOPLE.
And why does this matter? So that we would know that He is worthy to be trusted. Impeccable character. Flawless track record. So … give Him your rope. Trust Him with your life – both spiritual and physical. He is good for it.

The Lord of New Heaven and Earth (part 3) Sermon Questions, Audio & Video

On Sunday, September 4, 2022 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Revelation 20:1-10.  This message was part 3 of the “Lord of New Heaven and Earth” sermon series.  Below you will find questions related to this message for personal reflection or group discussion.  You will also find sermon audio and video to listen to/watch, download or share.

 

Sermon Questions:

  1. Pray
  2. Read Revelation 20:1-10.
  3. When you think about heaven/eternity … what do you envision?  What do you think we will be doing for all time after our lives on earth are finished?
  4. After Jesus returns to the earth, He establishes a Kingdom for 1,000 years.  What does this reveal to you about Jesus Christ (His character and what is important to Him)?
  5. When Jesus establishes His earthly Kingdom, He will reign WITH us (resurrected versions of us)!  When you think of eternity, have you ever contemplated that we will be returning to this earth for an extended period, reigning with Jesus?  What questions do you have about this coming era?
  6. Jesus shares this revelation with us (I believe) to inspire us to keep trusting Him now – knowing that it is absolutely worth it.  Are you trusting Jesus with your life today?
  7. What are some things in this world that argue that “darkness is winning”?  How does remembering Jesus’ ultimate victory encourage you today?  What evidence is there that you are trusting Jesus with your life today?
  8. In the Kingdom, even with the world’s system judged, with Christ reigning on earth, and with Satan bound, people living on earth in that era will still sin.  What does this tell you about (at least one) of the origins of sin?
  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 #3 9.4.22

 

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The Lord of New Heaven and Earth (part 3) Sermon Preview

We live in a world that is broken.  We all know it.  We feel the effects of this brokenness all the time.  On the personal level this brokenness manifests as addiction, severed and strained relationships, illness (mental and physical), self-destructive behavior, etc.  In the world around us, this brokenness appears as abuse, war, injustice, failed leadership, etc.  This broken and breaking world is an ever present reminder that things are not as they should be.

But what is the cause of this brokenness?  We all see it, but why is it there?  This is not just an abstract notion; how we understand the problem directly impacts the solutions we offer to solve it.

In our world today, various explanations are extended as to why the brokenness exists:

  • “The Devil made me do it.”  While these words may not always be uttered, they are certainly implied in explanations that talk of the darkness of this age (directed by the prince of darkness).  This notion has biblical roots, as Satan really is roaring about like a lion looking for prey.
  • “The System is broken.”  In today’s day and age, systemic causes are often cited to explain broken realities.  Unjust laws or widespread cultural missteps create problems downstream both now and in the future.  This explanation also has biblical roots, as the world system (personified as the “prostitute Babylon” in Revelation 17-19) is a counterfeit system that ultimately hurts (not helps) you and me.
  • “Our Leaders are crooked.”  We often want to attach the problems of this world to our human leaders … the country would be better off with a different President or congress, the state would be better off with a different Governor, our company would be better off with a different CEO, our church would be better off with a different Pastor, etc.  This idea also has biblical roots as the directions leaders set do have real world consequences for the residents of their “kingdoms.”

These are some of the working theories for the brokenness of our world.  But do they explain ALL of what we see … or is there something else at play?

What if there was a time in history when Satan was in jail, and unable to tempt people … and what if in that same timeframe, the world’s laws and systems were completely just and right … and what if in that same timeframe, the world was led by a Perfect leader?  What would happen then?  

Well, believe it or not, Revelation 20:1-10 describes this EXACT TIME.  It looks ahead to the world right after Jesus comes back and runs the clock forward 1,000 years.  What is the world like without Satan, with perfect laws and systems, and led by the PERFECT Son of God, Jesus Christ, and a supernatural/sanctified set of undershepherds.  In THAT world, will the people living in it experience Edenic bliss?  Will sin still have any sway?  

This passage has a lot to say about this … so come Sunday morning as we dive in to see what happens after Jesus returns, and what it says about the sources of the brokenness we all experience (so we can look to the right solutions).  See you Sunday at 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 at Wildwood Community Church as we are in part 3 of our “Lord of New Heaven and Earth” sermon series.  Come … and bring friends!

The Lord of New Heaven and Earth (part 2) Sermon Questions, Audio & Video

On Sunday, August 28, 2022 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Revelation 19:11-21.  This message was part 2 of the “Lord of New Heaven and Earth” sermon series.  Below you will find questions related to the message for group discussion or personal reflection.  You will also find the audio and video of the message to listen to/watch, download, or share.

Sermon Questions:

  1. Pray
  2. Read Revelation 19:11-21.
  3. How many sermons have you heard in your lifetime related to the events of Christmas (Jesus’ first coming)?  How many sermons have you heard in your lifetime related to Revelation 19:11-21 (Jesus’ second coming)?  Why do you think we talk about His first coming so much more than His second?
  4. In the message, we walked through the big story of the Bible.  Why do you think it matters to remember the whole story to appreciate how it ends?
  5. Read through again the description of Jesus’ coming again in 19:11-16.  What stands out to you the most about the picture of Jesus provided in these verses?
  6. Jesus here is pictured as the Warrior, King, and Judge.  Are there any ways in which your understanding of who Jesus is needs to change in response to these verses?  If we really remembered who Jesus was, how might we live differently?
  7. What are some things in this world that argue that “darkness is winning”?  How does remembering Jesus’ ultimate victory encourage you today?
  8. Have you trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of your sins?  If not, what are you waiting for/what is causing you to hesitate?
  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:

The Lord of New Heaven & Earth #2 8.28.22

 

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The Lord of New Heaven and Earth (part 2) Sermon Preview

Are you familiar with the Christmas story? I am guessing that most of you reading this post are. I am not talking about the myth concerning Santa Claus and the North Pole, I am referring to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, being born in Bethlehem.
The events related to the first coming of Jesus are some of the most familiar in all of Scripture. We have sets of figurines in our homes that we display seasonally recounting the story. We dedicate a month of sermons every year to remember Jesus arrival. And all this for good reason! The first coming of Jesus IS MASSIVE NEWS. In fact, MASSIVE GOOD NEWS of GREAT JOY for ALL THE PEOPLE!!!!!
However, did you know that Jesus is planning on coming back to this earth a SECOND time? That’s right. He is coming. He is coming soon, and the wise man or woman takes this to heart.
Though you may have heard that Jesus is coming again, you may not know as much about the second coming as the first. You probably don’t have a second coming decorative that you set out every August on your mantle … you may have never heard a SINGLE sermon about the event (though you have heard thousands of Christmas messages). Because of this, knowledge of the second coming of Christ may be a mystery to many.
Our ignorance of the event is not because God has not been telling us about it. According to Pastor David Jeremiah (I have not done the independent research on this, but trust his work), one out of our every 30 verses in our Bibles makes an allusion to the second coming of Jesus. It is mentioned in 17 of the 39 Old Testament books, and in 23 of the 27 New Testament books. There are 1,845 total references in our Bibles to Jesus return! That is a LOT of material!!! There is roughly 8x the biblical references to the second coming of Jesus as to the first. God has consistently spoken of this event through the prophets, the apostles, and Jesus Himself. He obviously wants us to know what’s coming!
This Sunday, at Wildwood Community Church, we will be in Revelation 19:11-21 (in part 2 of our “The Lord of New Heaven and Earth” sermon series) as we will be looking at the central passage on Christ’s second advent that vividly describes the day He returns to this earth.
  • If you have never heard a sermon on the second coming … come Sunday. Let’s educate our minds.
  • If you have questions about why this event matters so much … come Sunday. Let’s invigorate our faith response.
  • If you are a prophecy junky, and regularly compare headlines to Scripture … come Sunday. Let’s reconnect this message to our hearts (not just to our heads).
Apparently God wants us to know about the return of Jesus, so let’s see what He has to say together as we gather on August 28 in our 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 service.

The Lord of New Heaven and Earth (part 1) … One more thought

One of my favorite professors during my time at Dallas Theological Seminary was Howard Hendricks. “Prof Hendricks” (as he was affectionately known) was a walking/talking quote machine with his perspectives on life, ministry, leadership, and creativity word-smithed into memorable phrases.
One comment I often heard Prof say related to the time after the sermon each Sunday, when (in prior generations) Pastors would often stand by the door to shake the hands of congregants as they exited the sanctuary. The predictable string of “Thank you Pastors” could have a tendency to inflate the ego of the Minister, so Hendricks wanted his students (who might stand in a line like that at some point in their future) to keep things in a proper perspective. Prof humorously called those compliment lines “the Glorification of the Worm.” What did he mean by that?
Well, when a fisherman goes out to fish, he baits his hook with a worm. When a big catch follows, right thinking people don’t celebrate the worm, they compliment the fisherman! Hendricks point is clear: in ministry, we are the worm, and HE is the Fisherman! When something “catches,” He is the One who is to be praised.
I have long remembered this and contemplate it after events when I have the privilege of speaking. It helps to keep things in proper perspective.
I was thinking about this today pertaining to Revelation 19:10 … a verse I read this morning, but did not reference in my sermon. It says, “Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, ‘You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.’ For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
After an Angel instructs the Apostle John about the upcoming “marriage of the Lamb,” John responds by falling down and worshipping the Angel! The Angel REJECTS this action, reminding John that the Angel is not the One to be celebrated here, but it is God Himself (and God only) that is worthy of our worship. The Angel’s words and prophecy simply point to the One who is to be responsible for this remarkable work.
Like John, we are often overcome with the encouragement received from other Christians. Whether it is a Christian musician that has blessed us with song, an author who has painted vivid pictures with words, a Pastor we love to stream on a podcast or hear preach on a Sunday, or small group or ministry leaders who have made a big impact in our lives … we too are tempted to hear a great message, and then praise the messenger.
While it is good and right for us to express our appreciation to those God uses to bless us, we should also save the true worship and praise for the One who was doing the “fishing” all along. We thank each other … but we worship God.
Just wanted to share this additional thought with you from our study of Revelation 19:1-10 this morning. Join us next weekend at Wildwood (in our 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 services) as we will look at Revelation 19:11-21 and see THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST! Can’t wait.

Lord of New Heaven and Earth (Part 1) Sermon Questions, Audio & Video

On Sunday, August 21, 2022 at Wildwood Community Church, I preached a sermon based on Revelation 19:1-10.  This message was part 1 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 and video of the message to listen to/watch, download, or share.

 

Sermon Questions:

  1. Pray
  2. Read Revelation 19:1-10.
  3. Given your experience, and the times in which we are now living, why do you think so many people have such a curiosity about the Apocalypse (events related to the end of the world)?
  4. In 19:1-5, the population of Heaven proclaims “Hallelujah” multiple – praising God for His judgment on the world’s system (personified as a “prostitute”).   In your understanding, why is it appropriate (even encouraged) to celebrate the judgment of the world’s ways?
  5. The world’s judgment is described in graphic terms in 19:3.  This seems to be a deterrent for us to stop following the world’s ways, and to worship the Lord alone instead.  What things are you currently devoting too much time and energy to that will one day “go up in smoke”?
  6. Have you ever considered that you were being prepared for a “Royal wedding?”  Have you forgotten that Jesus is the King?  Did you forget that you are His Bride?  How would you live your life differently if you consistently remembered who you were and who He is?
  7. 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 #1 8.21.22

 

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Lord of New Heaven and Earth (part 1) Sermon Preview

Last week I mentioned that my family went to Washington DC over the summer for vacation.  We saw all the usual sites in DC for the majority of our trip, but one day, we went to one of Washington DC’s newest attractions celebrating one of the oldest documents on earth – the Museum of the Bible.

First of all, let me strongly encourage any of you who visit Washington to tour this museum.  It is a wonderful experience.  Having gone to Israel and seen many ancient manuscripts before, I was skeptical that this museum would be all that unique.  However, I was way wrong.  The museum is not just a collection of old scrolls reminding us of the EXISTENCE of the Bible (though there is some of that) … this is a half-billion dollar building celebrating the IMPACT of the MESSAGE of the Bible on the United States and the world.  Many high tech exhibits bring this story to life.

I mention this today, to highlight one specific exhibit in the museum … a large dynamic exhibit on the YouVersion Bible App.  This app has been downloaded over 500 million times around the world, and is a big way many people are accessing the Word of God today.  In this exhibit, there is a large interactive display showing the most searched terms in the Bible app among the HALF A BILLION users of the YouVersion App in the world today.  Looking over the stats, I saw something interesting:  the THIRD MOST SEARCHED term in the Bible app was “Apocalypse.”  

Apparently, the people of this world are wondering how this ride is going to end … AND they are looking to the Scripture to find the answer.

AND … God has provided that answer.

In Revelation 19-22, the last book of the New Testament concludes with a vivid picture of where everything is headed.  The picture is not of clouds, harps, and halos, but of something much more dramatic.  A Kingdom … and  New Heaven and Earth … where King Jesus is dwelling with His people.  

If you have anything in common with the half a billion YouVersion users, you need search no further.  Come to Wildwood Community Church the next nine weeks as we see where the universe is headed, and learn to trust more and more the One who is driving us there.

This Sunday, we will be in week #1 of our series, “Lord of the New Heaven and Earth” looking at Revelation 19:1-10 in our 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00 services.  Make plans to be there … and bring friends!