Before Jesus sends His disciples out into the dangerous world, He gives them four gifts to fortify them. We’ll look at those four gifts, all in John 14, with the help of Tim Keller these next four weeks.
First is hope — this life is not all there is!
When my granddaughter, Sadie, was in 4th grade in public school in New York, her teacher asked them to write a paragraph answering the question, “What is life?” This is her essay and artwork:
Sadie at 5
Sadie has hope, and so should we, for Jesus told His disciples and us:
Let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
John 14:1-3
In biblical days, after the betrothal, the bridegroom went away to add a room to his father’s house. When the father said all was ready, he would come for his bride with his friends, blowing a shofar horn. She didn’t know when she would hear that “trumpet,” but while he was gone she made sure she her wedding gown was ready. How? We’ll look at that in addition to listening to the sermon.
Sermon Click Below
https://gospelinlife.com/sermon/confident-in-hope/
Sunday: “Home”
Photo by Sebastian on Pexels
1. What stands out from the above. Why?
2. What associations do you have with the word “home?”
In another sermon, Keller said that the reason people sit in the same place each Sunday is because that feels like home. I liked that as I used to be a bit judgmental about that!
3. In what ways do you think heaven will be the home you always yearned for? Explain.
Monday: “What Will Heaven Be Like, Dee?”
C. S. Lewis says our earthly homes will never fully satisfy us, for we were made for another home. Recently my friend Ron asked me, “Dee — what will heaven be like? Where will it be?”
I said, “It will be right here on earth, (Job 19:25-27) but it will be made new and joined to a new heaven. (Isaiah 65:17). Our Bridegroom, King, and Friend will be there. It won’t be ethereal but tangible. Isaiah 65 speaks of homes, vineyards, and animals. There will be no more sin, sorrow, or death. We will be with Jesus and our loved ones in the Lord in resurrected beautiful bodies. Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, what God has prepared for us.”
5. How would you have answered Ron’s question?
6. Meditate on John 14:1-3.
A. What are the promises of this passage?
B. What does the wedding gown seem to represent in Revelation 19:7-8
C. What does it seem to represent in Matthew 22:12?
D. What does it seem to represent in Psalm 45:13-14 Might this be different than the other two Scriptures? If so, what might it mean? (I’ll share my thoughts eventually too!)
Listen up to minute 8/28 or read up to 8:28
7. How does John 14 begin and end according to John 14:27. What is this so important for us to hear in this world? (See John 16:33)
8. He refers to the movie “Up” and the movie “The Trip to Bountiful.” Choose one — what was his point for the movie you chose?
Tuesday: I’m Going To Make This Place Your Home
I imagine Jesus singing this to me when I’m near the end, and longing for Him to come for me:
Listen or read up to minute 14:18
9. What stands out to you in particular and why?
10. What did Jesus know the disciples were going to face?
Here is C. S. Lewis’s close to Narnia, alluding to heaven: “The Term is over! The holidays have begun!”
Photo courtesy of RDNE of Pexels
11. Can you identify with the above? Explain.
12. What makes a home a home?
13. He quoted D. L. Moody and George Herbert. Share one and your thoughts.
Wednesday: Rage Against the Dying of The Light
When the evidence is clear we will all die, it is quite amazing how man tries to repress it, to deny it. Ernest Becker, in his book, The Denial of Death, writes:
“Modern man is drinking and drugging himself out of awareness, or he spends his time shopping, which is the same thing.”
It is far wiser to realize it’s reality so we can apply our hearts to wisdom, and put our trust in the only One who can rescue us.
14. In another message Keller feels that sometimes we make funerals too happy, when even though the loved one was a believer, we must not deny that death is an enemy, though it is the last enemy. Thoughts about this?
Read or Listen up 10 22:12.
15. What stands out from this portion of the sermon and why?
16. What are some various reactions that Keller describes that people have when they are dying?
17. How did Jonathan Edwards describe heaven? (For those who want to read the essay, here is the link: https://www.biblebb.com/files/edwards/charity16.htm
18. What do you learn from George Hebert’s poem?
Thursday: How Jesus Prepared A Place For Us
Listen or read up to 27:16
I’ve always thought that when Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for us He meant He was working on paradise, but Keller says He meant He was going to die for us so we could go to Paradise. I guess the God who spoke the earth into being can do the same for the New Heaven and New Earth.
19. What stood out and why?
20. How do the following verses support Keller’s view that “going to prepare a place for you” means going to the cross.
A. John 13:36
B. John 14:5-6
20. List the things that Jesus gave up to assure a place of love, fellowship, and comfort for us.
21. How did Donald Barnhouse explain death to his children?
22. What did the dying woman in Virginia teach Keller?
Friday: He Has All of Eternity to Make It Up To Me
Listen or read to the end.
23. What did the dying woman in Virginia teach Keller?
24. What was his point with the tower analogy?
Saturday:
25. What is your take-a-way and why?
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Friday: He Has All of Eternity to Make It Up To Me
Listen or read to the end.
23. What did the dying woman in Virginia teach Keller? – She taught him that on the ground level, on the lower surface, things may look bad, but when you get up in the watch tower, you can see so much more of what God is doing. He was in control of those people who had hurt her and if judging was needed, He would judge them in time.
24. What was his point with the tower analogy? – Jesus is our Watchtower, but if we don’t dig in to his Word and learn about him and what he has planned for us, our relationship with him will not grow and will not stand the test of time. It won’t be strong enough to climb in to that watchtower. We need to be near Jesus and know him like we know ourselves to find the peace that he tells us will wash our troubles away.
20. List the things that Jesus gave up to assure a place of love, fellowship, and comfort for us.
He gave up His life. He gave up His home. He was forsaken, and cast out.
21. How did Donald Barnhouse explain death to his children?
Hr asked if they would like to pass in the shadow of the truck or be hit by the truck. He said Jesus was hit by the truck so we could pass through the shadow. I’m not sure I get the analogy here….
23. What did the dying woman in Virginia teach Keller?
I think the story was told for him to keep his eyes on the prize. She told him to not worry about justice, God would take care of it in the end. She said it was His job to give people what they deserve. She also said that God would make everything right. She was up in the watch tower and could see how it would be and wanted him to see it too.
24. What was his point with the tower analogy?
I believe the watch tower analogy was to see what was ahead, the fortification, the help on the way, during the struggle which you cannot see because you are below the top within it.
Makes me think of this Toby Mac song:
https://youtu.be/aVgetIvEIAs?si=PCY-Qn6FgviDv12j
Great Toby Mac song — little loud for this old lady, but still loved the lyrics
25. What is your take-a-way and why?
Jesus already has my place saved in heaven! Thank You Lord! It makes me feel wanted to know this. So often in this life I can wonder if I mean anything to anyone. It’s easy to get distracted and start a pity party (I do not do this a lot). Every so often I think, “No one calls me to do anything or just chat, no one cares.” Jesus cares and loves me. He gave His life to make that spot in heaven just for me!
9. What stands out to you in particular and why? Heaven is a place of love. It’s nice to know that our loved ones who have passed are in a place of perfect love where there is no fear no rejection. Love
10. What did Jesus know the disciples were going to face? Trouble, wandering, danger, horrible deaths
11. Can you identify with the above? Explain. I’m not certain
12. What makes a home a home? Love
13. He quoted D. L. Moody and George Herbert. Share one and your thoughts. DL Moody It’s just a good way to look at the loss of a loved one as we’re feeling that gaping hole inside. I think Billy Graham spoke the Moody quote and added that he’s just changed his address and gone into the Presence of God.
14. In another message Keller feels that sometimes we make funerals too happy, when even though the loved one was a believer, we must not deny that death is an enemy, though it is the last enemy. Thoughts about this? I don’t know what to think-whatever will bring the most comfort to the loved ones and leave them feeling they honored the deceased
Read or Listen up 10 22:12.
15. What stands out from this portion of the sermon and why? That heaven is a place that is a fountain of love with no access to hinder its access. It overflows in streams and rivers of love and delight enough for all to drink and even swim in
16. What are some various reactions that Keller describes that people have when they are dying?
17. How did Jonathan Edwards describe heaven? (For those who want to read the essay, here is the link: https://www.biblebb.com/files/edwards/charity16.htm
18. What do you learn from George Hebert’s poem? That a Christian because of Christ breaks the bondage of death and we should not let it taunt us
9. What stood out and why? That preparing a place for us for Christ meant going to the cross What a sacrifice by Christ for me to be able to call heaven my future home
20. How do the following verses support Keller’s view that “going to prepare a place for you” means going to the cross.
A. John 13:36 Jesus was Peter He was headed to the cross and Peter would come later
B. John 14:5-6 Jesus is the way to the Father and the cost for Jesus to give me entry was His death on the cross for my sins
20. List the things that Jesus gave up to assure a place of love, fellowship, and comfort for us. His place next to the Father, He took on flesh with its struggles against sin, health, temptation The continual Presence with the Father, His royal position in heaven and what was displayed in the transfiguration
21. How did Donald Barnhouse explain death to his children? He passed a truck with a shadow and asked his if he’d rather be hit by the shadow of the truck or by the truck itself. He explained that Jesus was hit by the truck for us and now when we die we only experience the shadow of the truck because we are with God as his mom was with God x
22. What did the dying woman in Virginia teach Keller? To view death from the watchtower of God’s Presence above all the daily trials and snarls because God’s kingdom is a better place
25. What is your take-a-way and why? That even when our hearts are heavy look forward to heaven and be thankful loved ones are there knowing they would never want to come back here. Kind of reminds me of the picture of lady in Jesus arms. First day in heaven. The absolute delight and joy of being welcomed home
What is your take-away and why?
I am silently following up and completing these studies. I have a couple of lasting take-aways from this week and from the sermon. The first is the connectedness of the verses in John: John 14:1, John 14:27, and John 16:33. Keller expressed the common thread running through all of these verses; “Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not let your hearts be troubled (or afraid), and “in this world you will have trouble”. I wrote all of them down on an index card. I do, and will, have trouble in this world; personally as in physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual troubles, as the result of my own sin and failures, and the sins of others that negatively affect me, and the general state of trouble in our world. Yet I want to hold onto Jesus’ words to not let my heart be troubled but rather to trust in Him, to take heart, because He has ultimately triumphed over it all. And the peace that He gives me is lasting and cannot be taken away from me. If I seek the peace that this world offers, I can lose it, it can be taken away, or taken back.
Secondly, I like metaphors and especially sensory ones. The one that stuck out was when Keller referenced Edwards’ sermon in which he talked about the Father, Son, and Spirit being like a fountain of love that will be bursting and flowing and in which we can splash in and delight in. I can almost feel it when I picture it in my mind! I can hear the splashing and feel the water and the sensation of an ocean of love.
A sobering take-away is when Keller said that the wages of sin is loneliness, exile, homelessness. As someone who has been shadowed most of my life with a sense of loneliness, I can relate to this deeply. Perhaps it is the longing I have for deep connection and love, without masks, without fear – that no earthly home can ever truly satisfy, that I often feel this loneliness even when I am with other people. But it’s also a sign to me to examine my own heart for sin which might be causing me to feel a loneliness with God.
Lastly, Keller’s examples of how people face death. “Conscience makes us cowards” (Hamlet) in the face of death as we ruminate on how we lived our life. It produces anxiety in the face of death. Others are indifferent, not believing in an afterlife, but Keller says it takes a lot of work to get yourself there. Only the gospel gives us confidence and triumph. How impactful this is to hear Keller having preached about this as a man who faced his own death.