Date: 24 Apr 2001
Time: 02:41:30
I am really curious about how many will choose this lectionary passage and deal with the subject of Heaven. In Billy Graham's book that deals with issues of dying and heaven, Billy quotes someone who quotes the result of a Gallup poll where better than 70% of Americans believe in heaven. However, only a few spent much time talking about it. On the other hand, I believe people are hungry to hear a message on heaven mostly because many of my sermons (and I would be willing to guess I am not alone) deal with actions in the here and now. I would love to hear a response even if you aren't planning to preach on this text. TN Mack
Date: 24 Apr 2001
Time: 12:39:11
I am actually going to preach on this text, but from maybe a different perspective. I think Christians have an easy time imagining the risen Christ as the victorious Lamb, reigning in Heaven. I am going to briefly refer to Mary in the Garden, the two on the road to Emmaus, and the disciples fishing (in John 21). In each case, people who knew Jesus didn't recognize Him after the resurrection. I think many Christians today have the same trouble. We can imagine our Savior as victorious in Heaven, but why do we have trouble seeing Him every day? I think before we can join that chorus in Rev. 5:11-14, we need to be able to see Jesus in our day to day existence. Think about Luke 16:19-31; we have the Bible in our hands, just as that rich man had Moses and prophets. We don't need to wait until we go home to glory. God is speaking to us right now. Think about Matthew 25, the Sheep and the Goats. Everytime we see on of "the least of these" and love that one, we see Jesus. So, I am going to try to set some perimeters for our people to see Jesus in daily life; in doing this, I think we can better imagine that victorious day when we see the risen Lamb face to face.
Date: 24 Apr 2001
Time: 14:48:48
I was planning to preach from Acts but I think I'll Preach this text. Worship goes on in heaven even more so than here. Think I'll base it on the songs they sing. Songs like Worthy is the Lamb that was Slain,To Him who sits on the throne, Face to face with Christ my Savior, and We shall behold Him. Worship isn't so dignified in heaven shouting and singing, the Elders falling down in adoration; what a beautiful scene In the midst of all of this is Jesus. To the second writer perhaps the reason many miss Jesus or don't recoganize Hin is like many they were looking for His hands and not his face. Harold In Alabama
Date: 25 Apr 2001
Time: 12:56:36
I, too, tend to neglect the "going to heaven" message, and I tell myself it's because that's just about all that's been preached and just about all my people think of when they think of being a Christian. In this rural area that's been isolated for a long time, the primary message is "get saved so you can go to Heaven in case you die." Little has been said about what to do in between. HOWEVER, I have to admit that my passion lies more in the serving God NOW than in a passion for souls to be saved. I'm very good at missions and outreach and a rather poor evangelist (unless you count my ability to talk Christianity to "post-Christians" and atheists - a slow process by any standards). Perhaps I, too, am ignoring an important biblical message and not doing my parishioners any favors by not being "strong against sin and straong FOR Heaven." But how does one preach passionately about something that is NOT their particular passion?
Sign me "Fish out of Water"
Date: 27 Apr 2001
Time: 02:38:16
Dear Fish out of Water, I think it was either something John Wesley said or was said to him. Preach faith until you get faith. Preach on heaven and just maybe God will lead you and your congregation in a worship experience that is nearly there or as Fanny Crosby wrote, "A foretaste of Glory Divine." TN Mack
Date: 27 Apr 2001
Time: 14:07:34
Interesting background information: "Dignus!" ('Worthy!') was the acclamation Romans were supposed to shout at the entry of the emperor. Further, Domitian (emperor at the time this was written?) also expected folks to add "My Lord and my God!" Therefore, the image of the Lamb being hailed as "Dignus!" should resonate in contrast with the contemporaneous political power, which was based on violence and fear of death. For John to acclaim the Lamb in this way would probably be a political act of treason, outside of a vision. But that's apocalyptic. The way the world is, is not the way God will have it.
I used this three years ago as a jumping off spot for asking the question: Who is really in charge of the world? Is it the powers of violence and destruction, or the power of sacrificial love? (Used examples from the news.) Where do we put our trust, and our actions?
Sara, in GR, MI