re:Think Hope - Our Hope Is STRONG

SoupClub

STEP 1

Creating A Presence

SoupClub

STEP 1

Child Sponsorship

STEP 2

Providing For A Child’s Needs

Creating A Presence

SoupClub

STEP 1

Child Sponsorship

STEP 2

Providing For A Child’s Needs

Orphan CareCenter

STEP 3

Developing A Ministry Center

Creating A Presence

Special Offering

OPTION A

Whatever You Can Give!

Special Offering

OPTION A

Child Sponsorship

OPTION B

$16/mo(8-10 needed)


Special Offering

OPTION A

Child Sponsorship

OPTION B

$16/mo(8-10 needed)

Child Sponsorship

OPTION C

$35/mo(40+ needed)


The Far Side -Gary Larson-

What does the Bible say about Heaven?

-Heaven is where God Dwells


-Heaven is where God Dwells-The Language of Scripture: The New Heavens and New Earth


-Heaven is where God Dwells-The Language of Scripture: The New Heavens and New Earth-There is a present, Intermediate ‘Heaven’


-Heaven is where God Dwells-The Language of Scripture: The New Heavens and New Earth-There is a present, Intermediate ‘Heaven’-Our Ultimate Hope is Resurrection: Life After, Life After Death


What is Our Ultimate Future Hope?

*A Resurrected Life*In a Resurrected Body*On a Resurrected Earth*With a Resurrected Christ

What is Our Ultimate Future Hope?

Some skeptic is sure to ask, “Show me how resurrection works. Give me a diagram; draw me a picture. What does this ‘resurrection body’ look like?” If you look at this question closely, you realize how absurd it is. There are no diagrams for this kind of thing. We do have a parallel experience in gardening. You plant a “dead” seed; soon there is a flourishing plant. There is no visual likeness between seed and plant. You could never guess what a tomato would look like by looking at a tomato seed….

What we plant in the soil and what grows out of it don’t look anything alike. The dead body that we bury in the ground and the resurrection body that comes from it will be dramatically different. You will notice that the variety of bodies is stunning. Just as there are different kinds of seeds, there are different kinds of bodies—humans, animals, birds, fish—each unprecedented in its form. You get a hint at the diversity of resurrection glory by looking at the diversity of bodies not only on earth but in the skies—sun, moon, stars—

All these varieties of beauty and brightness. And we’re only looking at pre-resurrection “seeds”—who can imagine what the resurrection “plants” will be like! This image of planting a dead seed and raising a live plant is a mere sketch at best, but perhaps it will help in approaching the mystery of the resurrection body—but only if you keep in mind that when we’re raised, we’re raised for good, alive forever! The corpse that’s planted is no beauty, but when it’s raised, it’s glorious….

Put in the ground weak, it comes up powerful. The seed sown is natural; the seed grown is supernatural—same seed, same body, but what a difference from when it goes down in physical mortality to when it is raised up in spiritual immortality!

-1 Corinthians 15: 35-44 (Message)

What will our Resurrected Bodies be like?

*Like Christ*Perfected Humanity*Raised Spiritually*Live Eternally


“The resurrection body of Jesus, which at the moment is almost unimaginable to us in its glory and power, will be the model for our own. Paul is asking us to imagine a new mode of physicality…it will be much more real, more firmed up, more bodily….a Christian in the present life is a mere shadow of his or her future self.” -N.T. Wright, Surprised by Hope

*Like Christ*Perfected Humanity*Raised Spiritually*Live Eternally


What will the Resurrected Earth be like?

*New Creation*Staggering Beauty*Perfect Harmony*Home like Never Before


“God promises that the glory of his people will demand a glorious creation to live in….So when God makes all things new, he makes us new spiritually and morally, he makes us new physically, and then he makes the whole creation new so that our environment fits our perfected spirits and bodies.” -John Piper, Future Grace

*New Creation*Staggering Beauty*Perfect Harmony*Home like Never Before


What will our Resurrected Lives be like?

*Personally Fulfilled*Joy-Filled Relationships*Meaningful Vocation*Our Dreams will be Fulfilled

What will our Resurrected Lives be like?

In order to get a picture of Heaven—which will one day be centered on the New Earth—you don’t need to look up at the clouds; you simply need to look around you and imagine what all this would be like without sin and death and suffering and corruption.

So look out a window. Take a walk. Use your God-given skills to paint or draw or build a shed or write a book. But imagine our world—all of it—in its original condition: The happy dog with the wagging tail, not the snarling beast, beaten and starved. The flowers not wilted, the grass not dying, the blue sky without pollution.

People smiling and joyful, not angry, depressed, and empty. If you’re not in a particularly beautiful place, close your eyes and envision the most beautiful place you’ve ever been—complete with palm trees, raging rivers, jagged mountains, waterfalls, or snowdrifts. There’s exploration and work to be done—you can’t wait to get started.

Think of friends and family members who know Jesus and are now with Him. Picture them with you, walking together in this place. All of you have powerful bodies, stronger than those of Olympic decathletes. You are laughing, playing, talking, and reminiscing.

You reach up to a tree to pick an apple or orange. You take a bite. It’s so sweet that it’s startling. You’ve never tasted anything so good. Now you see someone coming toward you. It’s Jesus, with a big smile on his face. You fall to your knees in worship. He pulls you up and embraces you.

At last you’re with the person you were made for, in the place you were made to be. Everywhere you go, there will be new people and places to enjoy, new things to discover. What’s that you smell? A feast. A party’s ahead, and you’re invited.

-Randy Alcorn, Heaven

How does our Belief in Heaven affect Life?

*STRONG— Clear, Tangible, Inspiring Hope


*STRONG— Clear, Tangible, Inspiring Hope*WORTHWHILE— Creative, Hard-working, Excellent Hope


*STRONG— Clear, Tangible, Inspiring Hope*WORTHWHILE— Creative, Hard-working, Excellent Hope*CONSCIENTIOUS— Concerned, Responsible, Renewing Hope


*STRONG— Clear, Tangible, Inspiring Hope*WORTHWHILE— Creative, Hard-working, Excellent Hope*CONSCIENTIOUS— Concerned, Responsible, Renewing Hope*COMPASSIONATE—Active, Transforming, Redemptive Hope


*STRONG— Clear, Tangible, Inspiring Hope*WORTHWHILE— Creative, Hard-working, Excellent Hope*CONSCIENTIOUS— Concerned, Responsible, Renewing Hope*COMPASSIONATE—Active, Transforming, Redemptive Hope*CAPTIVATING— Inviting, Reconciling, Saving Hope
