Return

The Neighborhood Church

What words or images come to mind when you think about the "End of the World"? Is what comes to mind fire and destruction or renewal and restoration? American Pop Christianity has distorted and misunderstood Biblical teaching of Christ's return. In this message we use 3 images to help us explore the imagery the Biblical authors use to point us toward the mystery of Christ's return. NOTES -- // SCRIPTURE FOCUS -- 1 Thessalonians 4.13-18; Philippians 3.20-21 // 3 IMAGES -- 1. POLITICAL CARTOON: Biblical teaching (like Revelation) on "The End" is like a political cartoon, full of theological, cultural, and political symbols! 2. PARADE: One of the ways Jesus' return is talked about in 1 Thess. 4 and Phil. 3 is like a Royal Parade. 3. SIGNPOSTS: All of this symbolic teaching is like a signpost pointing us to a truth someplace down the road. // SOME SIGNPOSTS THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT -- 1. The kingdom of God is already here but it's not here fully until Jesus returns. 2. Jesus will be personally "present" (Parousia) at his return 3. The dead will be raised like Jesus 4. The living will be transformed in their body like Jesus 5. Death & evil will be defeated 6. Judgment & renewal will follow 7. Heaven & Earth will be one // We hold onto hope not because we know the “How, when, or why” of Christ’s return… We hold onto hope because WE KNOW JESUS who has gone before us & will come back to us. // Like a child awaiting birth, we will see the one whose voice we’ve known as we wait.