5 Movements in The Story:
Creation (Eden, Fall, Flood, Tower of Babel)
Israel (Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Judges, Kings, Prophets)
Jesus
The Church
Paradise/Heaven
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
John 1:1-4
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
I. Jesus came to show us truth.
Listen, God is not playing any games of hide and go seek with us. He is absolutely transparent with us. We are allowed to see, full on, what God is like. He has revealed himself all along the way but now He makes a personal appearance in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. God has come in the flesh and He is on mission. He has revealed a very distinct mission. He has come to the world full of grace and truth. Truth here is more than factual reporting about a particular subject or skill. Truth here is about ultimate reality. Jesus is ultimate reality.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14:6
II. Jesus came to show us grace.
(John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
John 1:15-18
Grace is the very opposite of merit. Grace is not only undeserved favor but it is favor shown to the one who has deserved the very opposite. Grace is the unearned, undeserved, unmerited, favor of God.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:4-10
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
John 1:12
What do we do with the Word made Flesh? What do we do with Jesus? We receive Him!
WEEK 22 | THE WORD BECAME FLESH
September 11, 2022 • Gregg Parris • John 1:14, John 14:6, John 1:15–18, Ephesians 2:4–10, John 1:1–4
WEEK 31 | THE END OF TIME
November 13, 2022 • Gregg Parris • 1 Corinthians 13:12, Revelation 1:1, Revelation 21:1–2, Revelation 21:3, Revelation 21:4
“All I could see was the fog. I think if I could have seen the shore, I would have made it.” Florence Chadwick We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! I Corinthians 13:12 MSG Prologue The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John Revelation 1:1 “Regardless of what view you have of the end times, you want to make certain that when the apocalyptic dust settles you are standing with Jesus.” A Wise Person Revelation 1-3 The Alpha and Omega Revelation 4-5 The Lamb of God Revelation 6-18 The Righteous Judge Revelation 19-20 The King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revelation 21-22 The Bridegroom 1. You will live in a new heaven and new earth. Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. Revelation 21:1-2 2. You will live with God forever. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God." Revelation 21:3 3. You will never suffer again ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:1-2 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. Revelation 22:3 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever. Revelation 22:4-5 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. Revelation 22:16-17
WEEK 30 | PAUL'S FINAL DAYS
November 6, 2022 • 2 Corinthians 4:8–9, 2 Corinthians 11:24–29, 2 Corinthians 4:13–14, John 3:13, 2 Corinthians 4:15
Future expectations determine present behavior. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. II Corinthians 4:8-9 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? II Corinthians 11:24-29 What was it that kept him going? 1. A promised future with Jesus. It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. II Corinthians 4:13-14 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven – the Son of Man. John 3:13 Three Questions: What do you believe about your future?Who or what is the source of that belief?Is that source trustworthy? What was it that kept him going? (Promised future with Jesus.) 2. The promise of reaching more people for God’s glory. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. II Corinthians 4:15 Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. II Corinthians 4:16-17 Living with eternity in view: a. You are more able emotionally to deal with whatever happens to you in life. b. You maximize your moments in life. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. II Corinthians 4:17
WEEK 29 | PAUL'S MINISTRY
October 30, 2022 • Zach Coffin • Acts 9, Acts 16:16–40, 2 Corinthians 5:16–17, Galatians 5:13–25, Acts 1:8
Saul to Paul: Acts 9 What excuses do you use to disqualify yourself from being used by God? What excuses do you use to disqualify others? The enemy doesn’t need to disqualify you if you have already disqualified yourself. The enemy doesn’t need to disqualify others if we do it for him. Paul and Silas in Prison: Acts 16:16-40 Following Jesus should be disruptive to our past life. -2 Corinthians 5:16-17 -Galatians 5:13-25 Jesus, help me be easily interrupted for you. What is one area you know you need to ask God to interrupt? We are not just saved people; we are sent people. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8