Mar 25, 2012 AM
Discipleship on the Edge #24
Dave MarttunenAudio / Questions / Leaders
Do you agree that a ‘coaching clinic’ sounds much friendlier than a ‘Revenue Canada audit’? Both measure, both require alignment, and both are external assessments. However, we feel differently about them. The first, we believe, will boost and improve our confidence as we are given skills and tips and training. The second we believe, will give us stress and grief as we fear the potential of a penalty if mistakes are discovered. Revelation 20:11-15 is the vision of God’s final audit. How we prepare for the final assessment is determined by our view of God. He is undoubtedly great with evidence that supports his judgment. If he is our coach, we will welcome the audit, but if he is our judge, we will fear it. The point of the passage is not to create fear but to support faith as our lives are measured by their fruitfulness (deeds).
Mar 18, 2012 AM
Discipleship on the Edge #23
Dave MarttunenAudio / Questions / LeadersRevelation 20 has become the focus of widely differing viewpoints. The vision of Satan's fall and judgment in this chapter is often eclipsed when the focus shifts to what the 1000 years mean to us. It is a bit like a child being more interested in the outside wrapping on the box instead of the gift inside. The purpose of the vision is to give us confident hope, but that can be lost if the focus shifts from 1 to 1000. Today, as Pastor Marttunen continues our series in the book of Revelation chapter 20, we will discover that the focus of the chapter is our victory in Christ.
Mar 11, 2012 AM
Discipleship on the Edge #22
Dave MarttunenAudio / Questions / LeadersRevelation 19:11-21 is yet another vision of Christ set in Heaven. In this scene, Christ is our conquering commander. Yet the battle seems over before it begins. There is a marshaling of the Lord's enemies, but no casualty on the victor's side. Amazingly, the only weapon used is the one that is in the mouth of the Lion/Lamb who is now the Commander in Chief seated on a horse. Today, we will explore the meaning of this vision, which is the start of the final cycle of the revelation given to John.
Mar 4, 2012 AM
Discipleship on the Edge #21
Dave MarttunenAudio / Questions / LeadersOur God is the marrying kind. In the Bible, the idea of redemption means that God buys us out of our bondage which makes us his possession. We are enslaved to him. Yet remarkably, the story of redemption in the Bible always has a higher purpose. The focus of God’s salvation is not on our enslavement, (which is still the stunning display of his love, power and glory), but on his choice through redemption for us to become something higher; his Bride. The Church, as God designed it, is to be the place in which the Bride is formed and prepared to become the full partner of God in Heaven.
