Forever kingdom-group
Transcript of Forever kingdom-group
Photo © 2007 Columbia PicturesPhoto © 2007 Columbia Pictures
SURF’S UP and OCEAN’S 13SURF’S UP and OCEAN’S 13are “SECULAR-CHURCH”are “SECULAR-CHURCH”
Both films are about a solid group of friends.Both films are about a solid group of friends.
According to the Bible, According to the Bible, the Church is also a solid group of the Church is also a solid group of friends (who follow Jesus).friends (who follow Jesus).
The popular attraction of both films (and what the Church The popular attraction of both films (and what the Church should/could be) is should/could be) is that awesome experience of ‘togetherness’.that awesome experience of ‘togetherness’.
Friends who are there for you Friends who are there for you -no matter what!-no matter what!
Pro
du
ction
no
tes and
ph
oto
s © 2007 U
niversal P
ictures
Pro
du
ction
no
tes and
ph
oto
s © 2007 U
niversal P
ictures
The Bible says: The Bible says: The Church IS a solid group The Church IS a solid group of friends that follow Jesus .of friends that follow Jesus .
The Church is The Church is NOT a building.NOT a building.
The Church is The Church is NOT an institution .NOT an institution .
The Church is The Church is NOT organized religion.NOT organized religion.
The Church is The Church is NOT a denomination.NOT a denomination.
The Church is The Church is NOT a political partyNOT a political party
QUESTION:QUESTION:
Could the decline in church attendance be Could the decline in church attendance be because of a misconception of what church because of a misconception of what church is?is?
Pro
du
ction
no
tes and
ph
oto
s © 2007 U
niversal P
ictures
Pro
du
ction
no
tes and
ph
oto
s © 2007 U
niversal P
ictures
Here’s are some scary question:Here’s are some scary question:
Has the ‘church’ itself forgotten what Has the ‘church’ itself forgotten what the church is?the church is?
What impression does the church have What impression does the church have of itself? of itself?
Self-righteous, elite and better that Self-righteous, elite and better that others? Attend for appearance others? Attend for appearance sake?sake?
What impression do non-‘church’-goers What impression do non-‘church’-goers have?have?
Revelation 22:12-17 (The Living Translation)
"See, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me, to repay all according to their deeds. [13] I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." [14] Blessed are those who wash their robes so they can enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. [15] Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.
Revelation 22:12-17 (The Living Translation)
[16] "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star." [17] The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." Let each one who hears them say, "Come." Let the thirsty ones come—anyone who wants to. Let them come and drink the water of life without charge.
● ● Calling the world into a loving relationship has Calling the world into a loving relationship has always been God’s focus .always been God’s focus .
● ● The Ecclesia…the “Called-Out-Ones” … are not The Ecclesia…the “Called-Out-Ones” … are not an afterthought or footnote.an afterthought or footnote.
● ● The entire Bible is a story of God’s plan to The entire Bible is a story of God’s plan to redeem people of every ethnic group .redeem people of every ethnic group .
● ● The Church was on God’s mind before it ever The Church was on God’s mind before it ever came into existence. Jesus Christ was committed came into existence. Jesus Christ was committed to the plan before the foundation of the earth and to the plan before the foundation of the earth and his plan includes heaven.his plan includes heaven.
REVELATION TELLS A STORY OF GOD REVELATION TELLS A STORY OF GOD WRITING LOVE LETTERS TO THE ‘STILL WRITING LOVE LETTERS TO THE ‘STILL
ON EARTH’ CHURCHON EARTH’ CHURCH
MARTYRED BELIEVERS, NOW IN HEAVEN, MARTYRED BELIEVERS, NOW IN HEAVEN, ANTICIPATE THE CLIMAX OF HISTORY ANTICIPATE THE CLIMAX OF HISTORY
AND GOD’S FINAL JUDGMENT OF EVIL AND GOD’S FINAL JUDGMENT OF EVIL Revelation 6:10Revelation 6:10
A G
RE
AT
MU
LTIT
UD
E I
N
A G
RE
AT
MU
LTIT
UD
E I
N
WH
ITE
RO
BE
S…
TH
E
WH
ITE
RO
BE
S…
TH
E
FOR
EV
ER
FO
LK
FOR
EV
ER
FO
LK
(Rev
elat
ion
7)(R
evel
atio
n 7)
TW
O P
AR
AB
LES
OF
TH
E
TW
O P
AR
AB
LES
OF
TH
E
CH
UR
CH
…N
EA
RLY
C
HU
RC
H…
NE
AR
LY
LIFE
LES
S, Y
ET
RA
ISE
D
LIFE
LES
S, Y
ET
RA
ISE
D
TR
IUM
PH
AN
TT
RIU
MP
HA
NT
TW
O P
AR
AB
LES
OF
TH
E
TW
O P
AR
AB
LES
OF
TH
E
CH
UR
CH
…N
EA
RLY
C
HU
RC
H…
NE
AR
LY
LIFE
LES
S, Y
ET
RA
ISE
D
LIFE
LES
S, Y
ET
RA
ISE
D
TR
IUM
PH
AN
TT
RIU
MP
HA
NT
Remembering Remembering that the Jesus’ that the Jesus’
death and death and resurrection resurrection makes us a makes us a
solid group of solid group of friends friends
I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. I have chosen to follow Jesus as my Lord and trust Him as my Savior.
TH
E P
AR
AB
LES
TE
LL A
T
HE
PA
RA
BLE
S T
ELL
A
ST
OR
Y O
F A
PP
AR
EN
T
ST
OR
Y O
F A
PP
AR
EN
T
DE
FEA
T T
UR
NE
D I
NT
O
DE
FEA
T T
UR
NE
D I
NT
O
GLO
RY
GLO
RY
HE
AV
EN
IS
A P
RE
PA
RE
D
HE
AV
EN
IS
A P
RE
PA
RE
D
PLA
CE
FO
R A
PR
EP
AR
ED
P
LAC
E F
OR
A P
RE
PA
RE
D
PE
OP
LE
Rev
elat
ion
14P
EO
PLE
R
evel
atio
n 14
TH
E G
RE
AT
WE
DD
ING
IN
T
HE
GR
EA
T W
ED
DIN
G I
N
HE
AV
EN
…T
HE
LA
MB
H
EA
VE
N…
TH
E L
AM
B
AN
D H
IS ‘R
EA
DY
’ BR
IDE
AN
D H
IS ‘R
EA
DY
’ BR
IDE
TH
E F
INA
L C
HA
PT
ER
S
TH
E F
INA
L C
HA
PT
ER
S
TE
LL O
F A
N E
XIS
TA
NC
E
TE
LL O
F A
N E
XIS
TA
NC
E
MU
CH
BE
TT
ER
TH
AN
M
UC
H B
ET
TE
R T
HA
N
TH
E B
ES
T O
F E
AR
TH
TH
E B
ES
T O
F E
AR
TH
Rev
elat
ion
21, 2
2R
evel
atio
n 21
, 22
SO
WH
AT
!?S
O W
HA
T!?
PRAYER & PRAISE
Photo © 2007 Sony
● ● I will help I will help call the others into a loving friend-call the others into a loving friend-relationship which has always been God’s focus .relationship which has always been God’s focus .
● ● I am glad I am glad that that The Ecclesia (you and me), the The Ecclesia (you and me), the “Called-Out-Ones”, were not an afterthought or “Called-Out-Ones”, were not an afterthought or footnote. This friendship has always been the main footnote. This friendship has always been the main event.event.
● ● I believe I believe that ththat the entire Bible is a story of God’s e entire Bible is a story of God’s plan to redeem people of every ethnic group. All plan to redeem people of every ethnic group. All are my friends!are my friends!
● ● I praise God I praise God because because Jesus Christ was Jesus Christ was committed to the Church before the earth began. committed to the Church before the earth began. His plan includes heaven for all of his friends.His plan includes heaven for all of his friends.