Happy Endings

Written by Ed Allen
Sunday, 17 April 2005 09:13

Sermon Outline

When we can see the light at the end of the tunnel, we can endure almost anything. Spiritually resilient people live with the end in mind.

Hebrews 11:13-16
"¹³All 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. ¹⁴People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. ¹⁵If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶Instead, 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."

Resilient people know that this world is not the main world.

We're convinced that there is a world beyond what we can see, hear, smell, and touch.

Hebrews 11:3
"By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible."

Noah made a choice and acted based on an unseen world.

Hebrews 11:7
"By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith."

Resilient people know that this world cannot fully satisfy us.

Hebrews 11:8-10
" ⁸By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. ⁹By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. ¹⁰For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. "

Resilient people intentionally set their hope on the world to come.

1 Peter 1:13
"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be selfcontrolled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed."

Setting Our Hope: a disciplined thought life

Spend some time this week thinking about your own death.
Spend some time this week thinking about your reward in heaven.
Spend some time this week thinking about others.

We are looking forward to something vastly more satisfying than anything this world has to offer. Share that with those around you.

Setting Our Hope: disciplined bodies

1 Corinthians 9:25-27
²⁵Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. ²⁶Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. ²⁷No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.