Promise Land Week 5: God Will End This Message Summary: When there is no end in sight, we lose hope quickly. But when we can see a light at the end of the tunnel, we find strength to endure. This is why Jesus promised us that our pain will not be eternal. Very soon, everything broken will be “no more,” a promise that helps us persevere until the day of Jesus’ return. ✦ Our struggle: Will THIS ever end? ✦ 1 Corinthians 12:8 — Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ✦ Revelation 21:1 — 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. ✦ Revelation 21:2 — 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 21:3,4 — 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. 4 ‘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 21:5 — He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” ✦ God’s promise: I will END this. ✦ Psalm 27:4 — One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. ✦ 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 — Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. ✦ The truth: God will use this & you can do this until God ends this, because God is here & God will help. Planting Jesus Roots GATHER — Study the lyrics of You’ve Already Won by Shane & Shane. What connections do you see between this song and today’s sermon? GROUP — Discuss the following statement with a Christian friend: Since God will end this Earth, Christians shouldn’t care about environmental issues. GROW — Read 2 Peter 3:1-13. What do you learn about the Judgment Day from Peter’s words? GIVE — One of the primary reasons we give money to support ministry is to prepare more people for the Judgment Day. Spend some time today to consider how our temporary financial sacrifice could lead to someone’s eternal salvation. GO — Christmas is a wonderful time to invite a friend to hear the good news about Jesus. Consider inviting someone next Sunday as we kick off our 2023 Christmas messages. Homework: John 1:14 (Hashtags: Judgment Day, End Times, hope)