But I Don't Want To Go To Heaven If...

CENTRAL TEXT: Philippians 3: 12-14

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  

CALL TO WORSHIP: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10

LEADER: So we are always of good courage. 

ALL: We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. 

LEADER: Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, 

ALL: We make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil 

NT READING: 2 Timothy 4:6-8 & 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 

LEADER: The entire bible is One story; all pointing to the beauty and finished work of Jesus. And so each week we have additional readings that connect to the central text and themes to illustrate this continuity. Our central text for today is found in Hebrews 12 and so we offer a related text found in Matthew 5. 

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. The word of the Lord.

ALL: Thanks be to God

BOOKS / DOCS

“Time to Rediscover Hebrews,” Sinclair Ferguson
Worthy: Living in Light of the Gospel, Sinclair Ferguson
Sleeping Beauty - A Biblical Epic Symbolizing the Union of Heaven and Earth