Embracing Life and Death: Hope in Eternity
Summary
In the sermon series "Born to Die. Dying to Live," I explored the profound truths about life, death, and eternity from a biblical perspective, emphasizing the importance of living life fully while being aware of its finite nature. The series began with an introduction to the theme, highlighting the inevitability of death for everyone and the necessity of a healthy, biblical view on this topic. I stressed that while death is a certainty, it should not be approached with fear but with the knowledge of Christ's victory over death and the promise of eternal life.
The sermon delved into the scriptural assertion from Hebrews 9:27-28 that death is appointed to everyone, followed by judgment, but for believers, Christ's sacrifice ensures salvation and eternal life. This foundational truth sets the stage for understanding our mortal existence in light of the eternal life promised to us through Jesus Christ.
Throughout the sermon, I emphasized the dual reality that while we will all face physical death, we have the hope of eternal life through Jesus. This hope is not just for the future in heaven but also empowers us to live enriched and fulfilling lives here on earth. I encouraged the congregation to live each day fully, engaging in loving God and others, serving faithfully, and growing in spiritual maturity.
I also addressed the common fears and misunderstandings about death, highlighting that for believers, death is a transition to a more glorious existence with God. This perspective helps us to live without fear of death, which often hampers people's ability to enjoy and value their current life. By understanding that our earthly life is temporary and designed as a preparation for eternity, we can live more purposefully and joyously.
The sermon series also tackled practical aspects of living and dying well. I urged the congregation to consider their earthly lives as opportunities to serve God and others, reflecting Christ's love and hope to the world. This involves regular self-examination and alignment of one's life with God's will, ensuring that we are not only hearers of the Word but doers as well.
Key Takeaways:
1. Understanding that death is inevitable for everyone helps us live with a sense of urgency and purpose. Recognizing our mortality should drive us to live each day fully for God, knowing that our time here is limited but significant in God's plan. This perspective is crucial for living a life that honors God and prepares us for eternity. [46:01]
2. The certainty of death for our loved ones as well should affect how we interact with them. It's a call to deepen our relationships, cherish the moments we have, and ensure that those we care about also know the hope of Christ. This understanding should transform our relationships and priorities, making us more compassionate and present in the lives of others. [48:19]
3. Every day is a gift from God, and we are to live it with gratitude and vigor. Recognizing the value of each day encourages us to make the most of our time, loving and serving others, growing in faith, and spreading the joy of the gospel. This approach to daily living not only enriches our lives but also prepares us for the life to come. [57:44]
4. The hope of heaven profoundly impacts how we view and experience death. This hope assures us that death is not the end but a transition to eternal life with God. It liberates us from the fear of death and motivates us to live confidently and joyfully, secure in the promise of resurrection and eternal fellowship with Christ. [01:10:35]
5. Living with the awareness of eternity shapes our priorities and actions. It compels us to focus on what truly matters—faith, love, service, and the gospel. This eternal perspective helps us navigate life's challenges with grace and courage, knowing that our ultimate destiny is secure in Christ. [01:09:03]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[36:54] - Introduction to the Sermon Series
[40:08] - The Reality of Life and Death
[46:01] - The Inevitability of Our Death
[48:19] - The Certainty of Others' Death
[57:44] - Valuing Every Day
[01:10:35] - The Hope of Heaven
[01:09:03] - Living with Eternity in Mind
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Hebrews 9:27-28 (NIV): "Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."
2. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NIV): "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."
3. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 (NIV): "Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Hebrews 9:27-28, what is the sequence of events that follows death for everyone? How does Christ's sacrifice change this sequence for believers?
2. In 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, what does Paul say about our present troubles and their purpose? How does this perspective help us in our daily lives?
3. What hope does 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 offer to believers regarding those who have died? How does this hope affect the way we grieve?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding the inevitability of death (Hebrews 9:27-28) influence the way we live our daily lives? How should it shape our priorities? [46:35]
2. What does it mean to view our present troubles as "light and momentary" in the context of 2 Corinthians 4:17-18? How can this perspective change our approach to challenges and suffering? [55:27]
3. How does the hope of resurrection and eternal life (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14) impact our view of death and dying? How can this hope help us support others who are grieving? [01:11:35]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily life. Are there areas where you are not living with a sense of urgency and purpose, knowing that our time here is limited? How can you change that this week? [46:01]
2. Think about your relationships with loved ones. How can you deepen these relationships and share the hope of Christ with them, knowing that death is inevitable for everyone? [48:19]
3. How can you practice living each day with gratitude and vigor, recognizing it as a gift from God? What specific actions can you take to love and serve others more intentionally this week? [57:44]
4. Do you struggle with the fear of death? How can the hope of heaven and eternal life help you overcome this fear? What steps can you take to remind yourself of this hope daily? [01:10:35]
5. How does living with an awareness of eternity shape your priorities and actions? Are there specific areas in your life where you need to realign your focus to reflect what truly matters? [01:09:03]
6. Identify one practical way you can serve God and others this week, reflecting Christ's love and hope to the world. How can you ensure that you are not just a hearer of the Word but a doer as well? [01:04:26]
7. How can you support someone in your life who is currently grieving the loss of a loved one? What can you do to share the hope of Christ with them in a tangible way? [01:11:35]
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace Life with Urgency and Purpose
Understanding that death is inevitable for everyone helps us live with a sense of urgency and purpose. Recognizing our mortality should drive us to live each day fully for God, knowing that our time here is limited but significant in God's plan. This perspective is crucial for living a life that honors God and prepares us for eternity. [46:01]
Psalm 90:12 - "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."
Reflection: How can you live today with greater intentionality to honor God in all that you do?
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Day 2: Deepen Relationships in Light of Eternity
The certainty of death for our loved ones as well should affect how we interact with them. It's a call to deepen our relationships, cherish the moments we have, and ensure that those we care about also know the hope of Christ. This understanding should transform our relationships and priorities, making us more compassionate and present in the lives of others. [48:19]
1 Thessalonians 4:18 - "Therefore encourage one another with these words."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to strengthen a relationship that matters to you?
---
Day 3: Value Each Day as a Gift from God
Every day is a gift from God, and we are to live it with gratitude and vigor. Recognizing the value of each day encourages us to make the most of our time, loving and serving others, growing in faith, and spreading the joy of the gospel. This approach to daily living not only enriches our lives but also prepares us for the life to come. [57:44]
Colossians 4:5-6 - "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."
Reflection: How can you demonstrate gratitude for today's gift of life through your actions and words?
---
Day 4: Embrace the Hope of Heaven to Overcome Fear of Death
The hope of heaven profoundly impacts how we view and experience death. This hope assures us that death is not the end but a transition to eternal life with God. It liberates us from the fear of death and motivates us to live confidently and joyfully, secure in the promise of resurrection and eternal fellowship with Christ. [01:10:35]
2 Corinthians 5:1 - "For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands."
Reflection: In what ways can the hope of heaven change your perspective on the challenges you face today?
---
Day 5: Live with Eternity in Mind to Shape Daily Priorities
Living with the awareness of eternity shapes our priorities and actions. It compels us to focus on what truly matters—faith, love, service, and the gospel. This eternal perspective helps us navigate life's challenges with grace and courage, knowing that our ultimate destiny is secure in Christ. [01:09:03]
Hebrews 13:14 - "For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come."
Reflection: What is one eternal priority you can focus on today, and how will you implement it in your daily routine?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Everything we do, we need to do it as unto the Lord. So if you're walking and you see some trash, pick it up as unto the Lord. Right? That person at work who annoys you, serve them as unto the Lord. And God's going to do amazing things. We have that opportunity. Life presents us with an opportunity to represent Jesus to the people of this world." [01:04:26]
2. "Life is valuable. It should be lived with a purpose, on purpose, and with reverence deserving of such great opportunity. That's life. We have an opportunity to enjoy life. We have an obligation as Christians to point others to eternal life, and we need to do that every day. And simply put, this life, we live as a gift to be enjoyed, and this life we live is an opportunity that we need to steward." [01:07:19]
3. "As a child of God, we can navigate problems and still have joy and still have a rich and abundant life, even though we have problems, because we have Jesus. You recognize that? You can have a whole list of problems, a plethora of things and issues you've got to deal with, but when Jesus is on your side, you're going to be okay." [01:01:26]
4. "Life presents us with an opportunity to love the Lord and to love others the way the Lord loves them. We get to know Jesus before we ever get there. Life presents us with an opportunity to serve the Lord and to serve others as the hands and feet of Jesus extended to them." [01:02:54]
### Quotes for Members
1. "The hope of heaven profoundly impacts how we view and experience death. This hope assures us that death is not the end but a transition to eternal life with God. It liberates us from the fear of death and motivates us to live confidently and joyfully, secure in the promise of resurrection and eternal fellowship with Christ." [01:10:35]
2. "Every day is a gift from God, and we are to live it with gratitude and vigor. Recognizing the value of each day encourages us to make the most of our time, loving and serving others, growing in faith, and spreading the joy of the gospel. This approach to daily living not only enriches our lives but also prepares us for the life to come." [57:44]
3. "Living with the awareness of eternity shapes our priorities and actions. It compels us to focus on what truly matters—faith, love, service, and the gospel. This eternal perspective helps us navigate life's challenges with grace and courage, knowing that our ultimate destiny is secure in Christ." [01:09:03]
4. "The certainty of death for our loved ones as well should affect how we interact with them. It's a call to deepen our relationships, cherish the moments we have, and ensure that those we care about also know the hope of Christ. This understanding should transform our relationships and priorities, making us more compassionate and present in the lives of others." [48:19]
5. "Understanding that death is inevitable for everyone helps us live with a sense of urgency and purpose. Recognizing our mortality should drive us to live each day fully for God, knowing that our time here is limited but significant in God's plan. This perspective is crucial for living a life that honors God and prepares us for eternity." [46:01]
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