Family Road trips
  • What do you need?
    • Snacks
    • Entertainment
Destination
Rules for the Road
  • That’s what we’re talking about today
New Series:
Heaven, Hell, And The End Of The World
The next few weeks will be like a ROAD TRIP
RULES FOR THE ROAD
  • No hitting, no spitting
  • No biting, no fighting
Why do we need “RULES” when we talk about Heaven/Hell/End Times?
  • To not get lost in the CONFUSION
  • To be good students of HEALTHY CHRISTIAN FAITH
Rules for the road
Rule 1: We Always Keep The End In Mind
WHAT END?
  • The promise that God will redeem the world, and His people, and that we will rule with Him in Eternity
Revelation 21
3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
5 Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” 6 Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life. 7 The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son.
We never lose sight of the promised end.
That means:
1: We trust in God’s timing for His Return
  • If God has not returned, then that means we still have work to do
  • great commission verse
2: We do not give in to Fear
  • Even when things seem dark, we trust that God has a plan
  • God can use even the wicked
Rule 2: We Major On The Majors and Minor On The Minors
Things think DON’T REALLY MATTER…
  • But there are some things that really do
Popular Saying in Christian Theology Circles…
In Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Charity
  • Agree on things that are non-debatable Christian belief
  • Liberty on non-essentials to Christian belief
What are the ESSENTIALS?
  • We can look to the Creeds for help
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is,
seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him, all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake, he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day, he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son, he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
We can sum it up this way:
1. God is the creator of all things
2. God is one in essence and three in person
3. Jesus is both fully man and fully God
4. Born of the Virgin Mary
5. Jesus fully died and was fully resurrected from the death
6. Salvation is through grace, and baptism is the sign of that promise
7. There will be a future resurrection of the believing dead
These are CHRISTIAN ESSENTIALS
  • Creeds are not equivalent to the Bible
  • Takes Bible teaching and puts it into an understanding form
What are some Christian “NON-ESSENTIALS”
  • Drinking alcohol
  • tattoos
  • Movies/Television/Music
  • Church worship styles
  • Certain political views
Certain Biblical Theologies, Such as
  • End time views
  • Specifics on certain Theologies
    • Views on Communion
Just because something is a “NON-ESSENTIAL” thing doesn’t mean its a GOOD THING
  • That’s where the liberty and Charity come in
This RULE will be important as we go forward in the next few weeks
Rule 3: We Trust The Story The Bible Is Telling
Last week (EASTER)
  • Talked about The STORY of God
To understand our story, we must first understand God’s story
The story the Bible is telling…
  1. God is over all history: past, present, and future
  2. God is good, and his creation is good
  3. There is both a spiritual evil (satan) and a evil that stems from mankind’s rebellion
  4. Where mankind’s failure led to separation, Jesus has made a way for close relationships again
  5. Jesus will return and rule
  6. Those who trust and endure will spend eternity with God. Those who reject Him will also be rejected
  7. God will restore creation to His good, original intention.
This is why understanding the Bible is so important
  • Through it, we understand:
    • Ourselves
    • Each Other
    • Our Problems
    • Our Future
Rule 4: We Believe With Both Our Minds And Our Hearts
Love is enough
  • I love them, but don’t know them
  • It’s not enough in the long run
  • You marry with both mind and heart
Facts don’t care about feelings
Faith in Jesus is not about “SHUTTING OFF YOUR BRAIN”
  • Christianity is a THINKING FAITH
This is not just an opinion, Its at the heart of Christian belief…
Romans 2:2
Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
  • Renewing of your mind
  • So that you may DISCERN
A strong faith is one that is anchored in both the MIND and the HEART
Rule 5: We Research Before We Repeat
Problem
We don’t get our theology mostly from social media or popular media
  • Usually, no verifiable source
  • No accountability
1 Peter 3:14-15
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear them or be intimidated, 15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.
It is ok to listen to trusted teachers online
  • Just make sure they are trusted
How we research as Faithful Christians (Do’s and Don’ts)
Do
  • Be a student of your faith
  • Make sure you understand the ESSENTIALS of Christian doctrine
  • Have a list of teachers that have large support in Christian circles and learn from them
  • Go to your pastor with questions
  • Be willing to be corrected
Don’ts
  • Get your theology from social media
  • Repeat without research
  • Look for “Secrets” that are just being discovered
  • Be a Bible conspiracy theorist
But The whole of the New Testament assures us that:
  • God is in control of History
  • He does not/will not abandon His people or creation
  • We are taking part in His Story
  • In the end, God wins

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