Sunday Preview: I'll Fly Away

In this month's focus on our spiritual inheritance, we have explored the meaning and promise of our spiritual inheritance. This is beautifully captured in Ephesians 1:18-19, where Paul prays for the enlightenment of our hearts to understand the wealth of God's glorious inheritance among the saints. As further affirmed in Galatians 1:7, this divine legacy proclaims us as heirs to an eternal kingdom, a truth that fuels our hope amidst the temporary nature of our worldly existence.

Our journey through life, marred by the transient nature of worldly things, constantly propels us towards the hope for something more enduring and fulfilling. In this context, Paul's message in 1 Thessalonians 4 gains significance, tying our hope irrevocably to the anticipated return of Jesus Christ. This hope is not baseless but is grounded in the pivotal events of Jesus' death, resurrection, and the promise of His second coming.

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ lays the foundation of our inheritance. The fact of His death, as recounted in 1 Thessalonians 4:14 and 2 Corinthians 5:21, satisfies the demands of God's righteousness, holiness, and justice, offering us a pathway to become God's righteousness. This act of supreme love enables us, as highlighted in Colossians 1:12–14, to share in the saints' inheritance in the light, rescuing us from darkness and ushering us into the kingdom of the Son.

Furthermore, the resurrection of Jesus, a cornerstone of our faith, validates our justification before God. As Romans 3:26 and 4:25 explain, Jesus' resurrection assures us of our justification and secures our eternal victory over death and Hades, as celebrated in Revelation 1:18.

The climax of our hope, however, is anchored in the glorious return of Jesus, vividly described in 1 Thessalonians 4:15–17. His second coming, marked by celestial fanfare and divine majesty, promises the resurrection of the dead in Christ and the transformation of the living believers, ensuring our eternal presence with the Lord in the heavens.
The anticipation of Jesus' return is a hope that shapes our existence. As John proclaims in 1 John 3:1–2, it, rooted in the love of the Father, bestows upon us the identity of God's children, with the promise of being transformed into the likeness of Christ's glorious body, as affirmed in Philippians 3:21.

As we reflect upon these truths, the closing verses of 1 Thessalonians 4:17–18 remind us of the ultimate reunion with the Lord in the air, an eternal fellowship promised to those in Christ today. This divine inheritance, therefore, is not just a future reality but a present assurance that beckons us to live in Him, to cherish the hope of being with Him in the everlasting kingdom.

As you prepare for Sunday, ask yourself these questions:

1. How does the concept of spiritual inheritance in Ephesians 1:18-19 influence our understanding of our value and identity as Christians?
2. How does the assurance of Jesus' return, as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:15–17, impact our daily life and outlook on the future?
3. How does the metaphor of sleep for death, used in 1 Thessalonians 4:14, comfort those grieving the loss of loved ones?
4. Reflecting on 2 Corinthians 5:21, discuss the significance of Jesus becoming sin for us and how it affects our relationship with God and our perception of righteousness.
5. Considering the transformation described in Philippians 3:21, how does the hope of receiving a glorified body shape our attitudes toward physical suffering and mortality?

OPENING / WELCOME
Kody Pritt
SONG LEADER
Roy Pyle
PRAYER OF PRAISE
Roger Robins
LEAD LORD'S SUPPER
Matt Barnhart
 ASSIST LORD’S SUPPER
James Johnson
Dylan Schofield
Wes Grushon
Dan Spargo
SCRIPTURE READING
Tommy Ray
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
PREACHING
Matthew Allen
CLOSING PRAYER
Kevin Shanesy
CLOSING COMMENTS
George Wacks
WELCOME CENTER
Emily McDonald / Taylor Robins
USHERS
Billy Robbins / Mike Rosato
SONG DEVOTIONAL
Jason Schofield
COMMUNION PREP
Hannah Walker
CLOSING THE BUILDING
Ben Baker