Where Are We Going?

1. Where Are We Going? 1 John 4:16-19 Page 1902 Philippians 3:7-16 Page 1829

2. So Far… We have looked at the great commandment and the great commission considering “why are we here?” We have looked back at passages about the body, vine and branches, and the activity of the first church to evaluate “what are we doing?” We will read from Paul and John to consider “where are we going?”

3. Where Are We Going? This question speaks to direction and distance. Where will we end up if we keep this course? What is happening on the journey?

4. Where Will We End Up? What happens when we love God and others, live His word, become a part of the body, stay connected to Christ, and live with the same purpose as the first church? God gives the increase. We have unity, joy, and purpose. We end up with God in Heaven for eternity.

5. What is Happening on the Journey? We are becoming disciples of Jesus. He is our teacher. He is our guide. He is our power. He is our pattern.

6. Where Are We Going? On the road to eternity Jesus is helping us become more like Him. We are being sanctified.

7. Sanctification: • The process or result of being made holy. Holiness when applied to things, places, and people means that they are consecrated and set apart for the use of God. When used of people, it can have a moral dimension. Thus in the NT, believers are described as already (objectively) sanctified in Christ (1 Cor 1:2, 30).

8. Sanctification: • Believers are called to show that consecration in their lives (1 Thess 4:3; 5:23; Heb 2:11; 9:13; 10:10, 14, 29; 13:12). They are to be holy in practice in the power of the Holy Spirit.

9. 1 John 4:16-19 Page 1902 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1JN 4:19We love because he first loved us.

10. Philippians 3:7-16 Page 1829 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

11. Philippians 3:7-16 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

12. Philippians 3:12-16 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

13. Philippians 3:12-16 15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

14. Where Are We Going? To heaven; to be together forever. On the way Jesus, His word, the Holy Spirit, and our friends and family, will make us more like Jesus.

15. What Can You Do? Surrender yourself to Jesus as Lord and truly become His disciple. Connect to this congregation. Live a purposeful life. Honestly consider what needs to change and thank God for what He has already changed. Help others along the way.

16. Friend and Neighbour and we start looking through the parts of our vision statement beginning with Living For Jesus.