PowerPoint Presentation

1. August 25, 2013
God Completes the Story
By John R. Wible
Prime Time Sunday School Class
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2. STEP 1 Introduction
Q: What was a time when you read a
book, watched a movie, or a recorded
sporting event a second time?
Q: How did it feel to know the “end of the
story” before you began watching or reading?
Q: What’s the best movie ending of all time?
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4. God’s Story – The Consummation
This 13–week study of God’s Story has been
much more than just a patchwork quilt of
Bible stories; it has been many stories that all
fit together to tell one story of God’s
redemption.
Today, Christ’s return.
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Quilts from Gee’s Bend, Alabama

5. The Plan
Q: Imagine that you are traveling on a trip to a
faraway place: When you travel, do you like
to have a plan, or just figure it out as you go
along?
Q: When you are traveling to a new
location, how does it help to talk to someone
who has already visited there or lives there?
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6. John 14:1-3
1 “Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in
God; believe also in Me.
2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling
places; if not, I would have told you. I am
going away to prepare a place for you.
3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will
come back and receive you to Myself, so that
where I am you may be also.
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7. A Troubled Heart - Handout
Q: What does it feel like when your heart is
troubled?
Q: As humans, do we have the cure for
troubled hearts? Explain.
Notice in the passage, the word “believe” is
used twice in verse 1.
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8. Believe in Me Also
Alternative translations:
1. You believe in God (statement) and you
believe in Me (statement).
2. You believe in God (statement), believe also
in Me (command).
3. Believe in God (command); believe also in
Me (command).
4. Believe in God (command) even as you
believe in Me (statement).
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9. “My Father’s House”
• The place to come, Heaven.
• The site of the statement:
the Jerusalem Temple.
• Will we really have mansions?
• Verse 3, “so that where I am there you may be
also.” The disciples worried about Jesus’
leaving.
• Jesus assured them of His presence with them
forever.
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10. In the end, that’s all that
matters. Whatever Heaven is
like, all that matters is that
Jesus will be there. That is
what makes it Heaven!
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11. How Does Jesus’ Statement Bring
Comfort to Us?
Q: Suppose doctors told you that you are facing
a terminal? (Hint: we are all facing a terminal
illness.)
Q: Suppose your friend is facing a terminal
illness?
Q: Your friend always worries about the future?
Q: When friends complain to you about bad
news and uncertainty of our economy, our
government, our leaders, and ETC.?
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12. Your Favorite Vacation Place
• What’s one of your favorite vacation trips?
• When have you looked forward to visiting a
special place for vacation?
• Was the destination all you expected it to be?
• Or have you ever traveled someplace, but
were disappointed when you?
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14. Revelation 21:1-4
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first
heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea
no longer existed. 2 I also saw the Holy City, new
Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from
God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne:
“Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live
with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will
be with them and be their God.
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will
no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no
longer, because the previous things have passed away.”
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15. Revelation 22:1-5
1 Then he showed me the river of living water, sparkling like
crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
2 down the middle of the broad street of the city. The tree of life
was on both sides of the river, bearing 12 kinds of
fruit, producing its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree
are for healing the nations,
3 and there will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and
of the Lamb will be in the city, and His slaves will serve Him.
4 They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.
5 Night will no longer exist, and people will not need lamplight
or sunlight, because the Lord God will give them light. And
they will reign forever and ever.
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16. Apocalyptic Metaphors
• New heaven and a new earth
• City prepared like a bride
• God’s dwelling is with humanity!
• Wipe away every tear
• River of living water
• Tree of life on both sides of the river
• Fruit every month
• Seventh ending, the curse
• Will see His face: His name … on their foreheads
• Endless day forever and ever
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17. How can we Reflect Heaven?
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18. The Promise – I Come “Quickly”
Rev. 22:12-14
“Look! I am coming quickly, and My reward is
with Me to repay each person according to
what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the
Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning
and the End.
14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so
that they may have the right to the tree of
life and may enter the city by the gates.
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19. “Getting’ Up a Load Now”
Prepare
Q: For the trip to heaven, how do we get ready? How
do we live ready day by day?
Q: What could you say to younger ones to help them
believe that choices have eternal consequences?
Q: How can your words, attitudes, and actions reflect
the urgency of being ready for Christ’s return?
Q: What steps can we take in the days ahead to
prepare our hearts to be joyfully ready for Christ’s
return?
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20. The End of Days
• We can allow the pain and
struggles of life to overwhelm
us, or we can live in joyful
anticipation of His coming.
• You can hang your head and
sing a sad song or …..
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22. The End?
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