Francis Chan: Living With Urgency (Part 2)

Sermon Summary

Main Message

This message encourages believers to think about Jesus Christ's return with urgency and anticipation, just as a bride thinks about her wedding day. The Bible presents this idea of Christ's coming as a joyful and exciting event, but often it's not at the forefront of our minds. We're encouraged to live with a sense of urgency and excitement for the day when we'll be reunited with Christ in victory, free from sin and its effects.

Key Scripture References

• 1 Thessalonians 4:17 - This passage emphasizes the importance of encouraging one another with the return of Christ. It's a reminder that our hope and anticipation for His coming should be a central part of our lives as believers.
• Revelation 10 (and possibly 11) - The image of the angel eating the scroll that talks about end-time events is a powerful picture of the dual nature of Christ's return. It represents both victory and pain, joy and sorrow. This dichotomy is something we experience in our own lives as believers.
• 2 Corinthians 5:1-4 - In this passage, Paul emphasizes that our bodies are like earthly tents, and that we long to be with Christ in a heavenly home. This desire for eternal life and reunion with Christ should drive us to live with urgency and anticipation for His return.
• Revelation 22:12-13 - This passage highlights the idea of Christ's coming as a reward for those who persevere in their faith, and encourages believers to look forward to this day with hope and excitement.
• Psalm 16:9-11 - David writes about his desire to be with God in death, but also expresses the hope that he will be raised from the dead and live with God forever. This passage emphasizes the idea of eternal life and reunion with Christ as a central aspect of our faith.

Key Takeaways

• We should think about Jesus Christ's return with urgency and anticipation, just like a bride thinks about her wedding day.
• The Bible presents Christ's coming as a joyful and exciting event, but often it's not at the forefront of our minds.
• Living with a sense of urgency and excitement for Christ's return can help us to persevere in our faith and live victoriously despite the challenges we face.
• We should encourage one another with the hope of Christ's coming and strive to make this a central part of our lives as believers.

Application

This message encourages us to take stock of our priorities and ensure that our focus is on the things that truly matter. We're encouraged to live with urgency and anticipation for Christ's return, and to encourage one another in this hope. This can involve making changes in our lives to prioritize our relationship with God and to live more victoriously despite the challenges we face.

Conclusion

This message is a call to action, encouraging us to think about Jesus Christ's return with urgency and anticipation. It's a reminder that our hope and excitement for His coming should be a central part of our lives as believers. By living with this sense of urgency and excitement, we can persevere in our faith and live victoriously despite the challenges we face.