Doctrine: Jesus’ Second Coming (John 13:31-14:14)

Several weeks ago I stepped in for our preschool children’s supervisor Ashley as she stepped for a little while to have a baby.

As I walked up and down the hall, I saw mom’s handing over crying babies to the care of our amazing BSF children’s leaders.

I also saw some moms on their knees re-assuring their children that the separation they were about to experience was only temporary.

They were coming back.

For some children…they BELIEVED the words of comfort from their mothers and they confidently walked into the room BELIEVING Mom was coming back…

For other children- they heard the words, but they struggled to BELIEVE…so they were afraid and uncertain..

I have been the mom with the child who BELIEVED my words and confidently walked into class.

But I have also been the mom with the child reaching out and screaming for me hysterically…terrified to let go…

It caused me so much pain as a mom to see my child worry unnecessarily…

To know she was potentially missing out on the joy she could be having because she was too busy being afraid of what might come next.

I knew I was coming back…that there wasn’t any reason to be afraid……

I knew the separation was only temporary…

Her worry came not because she did not hear or understand my words…she understood…but she didn’t BELIEVE……

but my words to my children were always the same…Mommy loves you…I will see you soon…

My children…Jesus said...

…“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You BELIEVE in God; BELIEVE also in me.”

This week Jesus prepares his disciples for the separation…he comforts them with words of hope and truth

He reminds them to love each other as HE has loved them..

and then he promises that He will see them soon…He promises that he is coming back to get them and take them home…

When my daughter finally moved from HEARING to BELIEVING my words she behaved differently…instead of crying hysterically..she walked confidently into the unknown..BELIEVING I was coming back.

So Christ’s PROMISED and IMMINENT return should cause us to have that same reassurance and comfort while living in a place that is NOT our HOME.… a place where we have been dropped off..and the future contains, many unknowns..

Did you know there are over 300 references to the Lord's coming in the 260 chapters of the New Testament. That's approximately 1 out of every 30 verses.

Just like my daughter needed to hear over and over and over that I was coming back… …we too need reminded over and over that Jesus is coming back.

Why…because we forget..circumstances change..life gets hard…and we begin to panic…we forget of the comfort found in Christ and his promises..

Last year my family made a shift and we went someplace new. new people. new unknowns.. and my confident child who had come so far- worried……crying and reaching out for me.

…but we aren’t any different..we so often and quickly forget..

I know you have heard and even know and believe the truth that Jesus is coming back…

But, for many of you right now..your heart is heavy-the future is unclear..

you need to hear this truth right now…AGAIN…b/c your circumstances have changed…but your God has not……

so here it is

…Jesus is coming back to get you…you are his child…Do not let your hearts be troubled……he has not left you or abandoned you in your struggle and he will

mannot leave you here forever..he is coming back to get you.

Let this promise bring HOPE into your most painful circumstance you are walking through right now.

Whether you have walked with God for 5 minutes or 50 years- you NEED this reminder…you NEED this HOPE…you NEED this comfort…

but this hope is not just for those of us sitting in this room.

it is for our friends…families…and neighbors…

the truth of this HOPE..the promise that JESUS IS COMING BACK is one that our world DESPERATELY needs to hear.

and next year as we prepare to study Revelation…my prayer is that each of you will be a part or sharing the HOPE that Jesus is coming back with women and children……some who will come and hear for the first time and others for the 300th..

Jesus Second Coming refers to the promised physical return of Christ to the earth, but this time He is not coming as the “Suffering Servant” but as the “Conquering King”!…

in a moment we are going to share a prayer request and then pray together..

and after that- we are all going to stay right here…

and take some time to individually pray and ask God how and where He wants you to serve next year…

Expectancy of Jesus’s certain return should dominate our priorities while on earth and cause us to look forward to heaven.

– Jesus’s return is far more than a distant promise set on an eternal horizon.

- In what way does Jesus’s second coming help you decide how to invest your time and resources? – How does this reality add value and relevance to your service in BSF this week and beyond? ● Jesus’s powerful words to His disciples about His return and their eternal home offer comfort to us today.

So share a request with a neighbor…then let’s pray and then we will continue to seek God’s wisdom on our call for BSF for next year.…… _______________________-

PRAY

9:40- Adoration- ‌ 9:42- Thanksgiving ‌ 9:44- Supplication- we will now move to supplication, so in groups

BSF Global

HQ-

International- For God to continue to provide classes for our Chinese-speaking communities in North America.

AT- For God to empower AP as they visit classes to shepherd and lead Class Staff in Revelation planning and preparation.

9:45 BSF Local

Teacher- (Megan)- For the Holy Spirit to provide clear explanation of potentially difficult and confusing concepts in Jesus' words to his disciples

Leadership- for God to give clarity and confirmation as to BSF commitments for next year.

Serving Sisters- Jill Cole

Marysville Prison/Transformational Recovery group- That they would find comfort for one another’s fears of their futures with the words of Jesus.

Revelation- that women would be open to prayerfully considering potential BSF leadership, even if it feels totally out of the realm of possibility.

Host Church-

Local BSF Classes-

9:46- ADMIN & AL's ‌ 9:47- BSF KIDS/PSCL's ‌ 9:48- BSF STUDENTS/SPCL's ‌ 9:49- Groups/GL's

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All Leader Training:

We’re a class of 440 women, including leaders, and 299 children, including those waitlisted, now. Our AT has instructed our class to plan for up to 40% growth…

I’m not a big math or numbers person and spreadsheets and stats cause me a lot of anxiety.

But- here is what I know- if we grow by the estimate BSF is making- in order to accommodate for the growth, we would need up to an additional 14 leaders, assuming that each of you were called back next year.

Last year I prayed for 12 new leaders, and God brought in 22..

Revelation perks interest in most people.

They want to know what this book says.

This is an opportunity to invite women and children to come and meet with Jesus..to read his words..his promises..his truths..

The focus of Revelation is JESUS as the conquering King..who comes and defeats satan once and for all and restores what was broken forever. It’s a book about life…a book about hope…

So today..we are trusting and believing that God is going to supply what we need to accommodate all who desire to know more about Jesus through our class here in Kenwood.

This is His class..these are His women..and His children…he knows who he has chosen…the choosing is his job…our job is the serving…and he calls us to continue to selflessly serve and love others as he has loved us…

Now normally…I would stand up here and call you to assumption day……

It’s the day where I assume you are coming back- unless you tell me otherwise..

Remember, if God has called you to BSF leadership, and has not called you out to some other service, His initial calling still stands.

However..next year is different…because of the potential magnitude of leadership needs- It’s helpful for me to know sooner rather than later where you are and what you are thinking.

I know some of you have already prayed through next year…nothing has changed…

If you have prayed already..then you can fill this out today and leave it in the basket..

others of you are unsure of where God wants you. you have not yet taken the time to pray.

DO NOT fill this out without praying- you can’t possibly hear from God if you haven’t taken the time to ask Him.

maybe he is calling you out of leadership..

maybe he isn’t calling you out- but to a different role..

or maybe..he is calling you to simply be more openhanded with where He wants you in leadership.

Some of you were sitting here today thinking this was it…this was your final year.

I need you to do something for me..press pause on that.

because maybe you realize the gravity of the need and the opportunity of women coming for Revelation…and maybe today the Lord is impressing upon your heart to stay one. more. year.

Be still..meet with God.

I want you to give it one week…it’s what I give new leaders and they don’t even know what exactly they are saying yes to..

but you do..

After a week..give this back to me..

this basket will be here this week and next.

‌If you feel God is calling you to serve someplace else- then let me know on here and we will talk..

If something changes after you fill this out. please. please do not send me an email, text, or slack message telling me you are not coming back to leadership…please call me and let’s talk about it, together…

When God called you in- he also let the TL know that you were being called…it’s why you were approached in the first place, which means- he will not call you out without also making it known to me.…

The book of Revelation is a treasure trove of hope,

depicting God’s ultimate victory over darkness and His promise of eternal glory. In its pages, we find

the story of our redemption, the triumph of good over evil, and the fulfillment of all His promises.

Are you excited for what God is going to do?

How might He fan the flame into fire for His people?

How might He grow His Church?

He is going to change lives! How might He use YOU to be a part of that?

So take a few minutes before we move into discussion group and just meet with the Lord and I will let you know when it’s time to transition into discussion groups.