A Place of Our Own
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A Place of Our Own
In John 14 Jesus continues to share His heart with the disciples. He has said some hard, painful things to them (they will betray Him, He is going away) and this has clearly had an impact open. They are troubled. Jesus then speaks to their anxiety and gives them a promise that the church has held on to for centuries: “I am going to prepare a place for you.”
(John 14:1-11 NIV) ""Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going." 5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
(Hebrews 11:13-16 NIV) "All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."
(Acts 4:12 NIV) "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
(Philippians 3:17-21 NIV) "Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body."
(Ephesians 2:19-22 NIV) "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."
(1 John 5:20 NIV) "We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true--even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."
(Acts 8:40-9:2 NIV) "Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea. Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem."
Digging Deeper
1. Read Hebrews 11. Now make a list of the people mentioned (they don’t always have a name, they might be a group like “women”). Beside each person(s) list how they demonstrated their faith and what happened to them and/or for them. For example Rahab welcomed the spies and she was allowed to live. To which of the people on your list do verses 13 and 39 apply?
2. In Hebrews 11:13-16 they called themselves something – what did they call themselves? Why did they consider themselves in that way? Verse 15 says they could have turned back, but they didn’t – why not? What would turning back have looked like for these saints? For example for someone who was slain for their faith (verse 37)?
3. Typically people are not citizens of two countries; it happens but is not usual. Why not? What would happen if the countries where they are citizens went to war with the other? How do most of God’s people live their lives: as citizens of heaven; citizens of this world; or both? Which is acceptable to Jesus (see Matthew 6:24). How are you living your life: as a citizen of heaven or a citizen of this world? What needs to change?
Bonus: list five ways your life demonstrates that you are a citizen of heaven and five ways it shows you are a citizen of this world. Which list was easier for you to write?
Posted by Tech Ministry at 11/15/2010 2:10 PM 
Categories: Message Series:Gospel of John, Jerry Rahm, 2010
Tags: John 14 Hebrews 11 Acts 4 Philippians 3 Ephesians 2 1 John 5 Acts 8
Categories: Message Series:Gospel of John, Jerry Rahm, 2010
Tags: John 14 Hebrews 11 Acts 4 Philippians 3 Ephesians 2 1 John 5 Acts 8
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