Heaven Help Us | Dec 30, 2012 | Ric Cadle

"Heaven Help Us" - Ric Cadle 37:08

Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14; Psalms 17:15; 1 John 3:2; Psalms 73:25

  • A biblically based understanding of ____________ can change everything in your life...today.
  • Death and suffering are only _____________ conditions.

1 Corinthians 15:55; Hebrews 2:14-15; Philippians 3:12-14; Revelation 21:2-3

  • When a believer dies (prior to the Lord's return), he or she enters into what theologians call the "_____________ heaven" or paradise.

"Christians often talk about living with God 'in heaven, forever' but in fact the biblical teaching is richer than that:  it tells us that there will be new heavens and a new earth--an entirely renewed creation--and we will live with God there.  There will also be a new kind of unification of heaven and earth.  There will be a joining of heaven and earth in this new creation."  

From "Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine" by Wayne Gruden

  • God will come _______ from heaven to live with man on the new earth.
  • The things God rewards us with for the things we do in this life last ______________.

Job 19:25; Matthew 6:19-21; Ephesians 2:8-9; Revelation 3:21; Colossians 3:1-2

  • Set your _______ on the things of heaven.

1 Thessalonians 4:13


Highly Favored | Dec 23, 2012

"Highly Favored" - Jon Pearce 28:54

Luke 2:25-38

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Notes:

  1. Gabriel didn't visit Mary __________.
  2. Young Mary was highly ___________ by God.
  3. Mary's __________ stayed strong in the midst of a troubled life.

Are you being faithful to God's calling on your life?


Positive Peace | Oct 31, 2010

Philippians 4:8-9

 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 

Notes:

  1. Positive thinking is ___________________. (8)
  2. Paul balanced the ________________ and the negative. (9)
  3. Being bibilically positive brings ___________________.   

Mama's Boys | May 9, 2010

Matthew 20:20-28

A Mother's Request 

 20Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 

 21"What is it you want?" he asked. 

      She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom." 

 22"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" 

      "We can," they answered. 

 23Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father." 

 24When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Notes:

  1. Most moms want great positions for their children. (20)
  2. The ten disciples were provoked to jealousy by James & John. (24)
  3. Jesus told the disciples that planning to be great comes through serving. (25-28)

Finding Utopia | May 2, 2010

Acts 4:32-35

The Believers Share Their Possessions 

 32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

Notes:

  1. The new believers were of one heart & mind and began to share.
  2. Power & grace was upon them as they helped the needy.
  3. Money was placed at the Apostles' feet. 

Under the Fig Tree | Apr 25, 2010

John 1:43-51 

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael 

 43The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me." 

 44Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 

 46"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. 

      "Come and see," said Philip. 

 47When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false." 

 48"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. 

      Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you." 

 49Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." 

 50Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that." 51He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

Notes:

  1. Nathaniel Was Led to Christ Through Philip.  
  2. Nathaniel Was Critical of Christ. 
  3. NathanielConfessed Christ Because Jesus Believed in Him First. 


Heartburn | Apr 18, 2010

Luke 24:13-35 

On the Road to Emmaus 

 13Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16but they were kept from recognizing him. 

 17He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" 

   They stood still, their faces downcast. 18One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" 

 19"What things?" he asked. 

   "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." 

 25He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 

 28As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. 

 30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" 

 33They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." 35Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Notes:

  1. Holy heartburn comes with Christian fellowship.
  2. Holy heartburn comes with Christian confession.
  3. Holy heartburn comes with Christian service.

The Answer to Death | Apr 4, 2010

John 11:25-26

25Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

Notes:

  1. Death is coming to us all, and with death comes judgment. 
  2. Jesus died for us all, but condemnation will come to many.
  3. Jesus' resurrection should be celebrated and not covered up.