Heaven Is Our Home

Homeward Bound: Longing for Heaven

Bible Passage: 2 Corinthians 5:1–8, John 14:1–4, Philippians 1:21–26, Psalm 68:4–10

Summary: This sermon explores the Christian hope and assurance of an eternal home in heaven, contrasting the struggles of earthly life with the promise of divine belonging and peace.

Application: This message can encourage Christians to remain steadfast in their faith amidst trials, reassuring them that their true home is in heaven. It can also inspire believers to share this hope with others who feel lost or without purpose.

Teaching: The sermon teaches about the nature of heaven as the ultimate home for believers, emphasizing that our current struggles are temporary and that our true identity and future lie in Christ and His kingdom.

How this passage could point to Christ: In this theme, Christ is seen as the mediator of our heavenly inheritance, the one who prepares a place for us in His Father's house, and the source of our ultimate hope and joy in life and death.

Big Idea: Heaven is our true home, where believers find ultimate fulfillment and peace, offering a profound hope that changes how we live today.

Recommended Study: I suggest you explore the theological implications of heaven in your Logos library, particularly looking at passages that describe the nature of our eternal dwelling. Pay attention to different interpretations surrounding the 'mansions' in John 14:2 and how they relate to the overall promise of God's presence found in Psalm 68. Additionally, consider studying the context of Paul's writings to the Corinthians and Philippians to enrich your understanding of the contrasts he draws between earthly suffering and heavenly glory.

*The Roman Empire's culture of honor and shame plays a significant role in understanding 2 Corinthians 5

1. Brothers and sisters, I’m going to hit you with some truth right away this morning. We cannot stay here. It’s time to get ready to go home. Temporary Tents, Eternal Homes (Realization that there is something more. It’s time to start the journey back home.)

2 Corinthians 5:1 “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

Psalm 68:4-10

(Our earthly bodies are temporary, like tents, but God has promised us eternal, heavenly bodies. As followers of Christ, our true home lies beyond this world. Here, the psalmist, which is David, is praising God for the way He led His people to the promised land. Don’t you believe He will again? What if I told you He already has. There is only one way to get home. His name is Jesus.)

2. How do we get to our eternal homes? Jesus prepared the way! (The Journey)

2 Corinthians 5:2-5

John 14:1–4 ““Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.””

If you write to me, write to me like this: at Westminster, London. Temporary address: Westminster; permanent address: heaven in Christ. I am but a stranger here, heaven is my home. Love so Amazing, 139

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Welsh Preacher and Writer)

(Perhaps this passage can help reassure that Jesus is preparing a place for us, offering profound comfort and assurance that our ultimate home is secured. Amid life's uncertainties, Jesus's promise provides unwavering hope. This can fortify Christians against anxiety, helping them live confidently, knowing their future is held securely by Christ. Jesus mediates our access to the Father's house, where peace and belonging are eternally found.)

3. So, we know there is an eternal longing in the hearts of all mankind. Are you ready to satisfy that longing? Are you prepared and ready to go home and rest? My friends, I want to end this message today with highlighting four words to obtain this eternal peace. Purposeful Living, Heavenly Gain (The Destination)

2 Corinthians 5:6–8 NKJV

So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

-Tell story of Kolton’s experience at RiseFest

-”Christian hope is not merely for the soul but for the complete renewal of creation, including the body.”

Philippians 1:21–26

(Maybe you could explore how Paul's perspective on life and death transforms Christian living. Understanding heaven as our ultimate gain shapes our earthly priorities, driving us to live purposefully for Christ. Paul's example inspires believers to balance their earthly duties with a deep yearning for heavenly fulfillment. This dual focus encourages sharing the hope we have in Jesus with others, fostering a culture of eternal perspective within the church.)

Imagine a time traveler from the past arriving in our modern world. They’d be bewildered yet intrigued by all the wonders they see. That’s how our earthly existence feels compared to the splendor of Heaven. It’s a reminder that we are merely passing through; our real home awaits where every joy we’ve ever tasted will be magnified!

Charles Finney quote: Pg. 201