All Saints Sunday - Together We Have A Future

OPENING QUESTION FOR REFLECTION

When you think about life……

Is your mind mainly thinking about the past, the present or the future? (Picture of signpost pointing in

different directions past, present and future)

TODAY WE ARE LOOKING AT BEING FUTURE FOCUSSED

Quotes about living future focussed

There are strange days

Full of change on the way

But we'll be fine, unlike some

I'll be leaning forward, to see what's coming

Looking forward, looking back

I've come a long way down the track

Got a long way left to go

Making songs, from what I know

Looking forward – Looking Back

Slim Dusty

There is a reason your windscreen is a lot larger than your rear vision mirror

Where you are headed should get a lot more attention than where you have come from.

Common Life Proverb

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for

which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13b-14

REVELATION

Book of Revelation is an encouragement for us to look forward to the future God is creating and has created

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth…..Revelation 21:1a

TOGETHER WE HAVE A FUTURE

1/ That is guaranteed and already secured

He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. Revelation 21:6a

When He had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” John 19:30.

2/ That will be without sin or threat of evil

God will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”  for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. Revelation 21:1 (For Jewish people the sea was the place where the Leviathan and evil dwelt....no sea means no evil)

3/ Where we will always be living with God and all other Christians without sin

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.

Revelation 21:3

FAITH TALK - ask congregation to turn to those around them and discuss

Who from your past are you looking forward to spending eternity with and why?

LIVING THE FAITH

What does it mean for you to live with your mind:

1/ Strongly influenced by the future God has created

2/ Sharing God’s future in the present

3/ Being thankful for those who have shared God’s future with you in the past

My preached sermons are available at www.sydney.lutheran.org.au