MESSAGE NOTES
Look Up to the Throne in Heaven
Revelation 4:1-11
Dr. Jeffrey Clark
The Big Idea: John sees characters around a throne in heaven.
Character #1 – One who sits on a throne.
Character #2 – Twenty-four elders around the throne.
Character #3 – Four living creatures around the throne.
Question: What activities mark the elders and creatures toward the One?
Say:
Give:
Fall down:
Lay crowns:
Declare:
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Quick Review: Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything that particularly caught your attention, challenged or confused you?
My Story: What are your impressions about heaven? How have you arrived at these impressions?
Digging Deeper:
1) The context: on the one hand, seven local Christian churches are struggling in Chapters 2/3. On the other hand, a great tribulation awaits the world in Chapters 6 and following. In the mean-time heaven is serene and ordered in Revelation 4. Discuss.
2) Identify the three types of characters in Revelation 4:2-8. Who are these and what do they represent? For what purpose do they exist?
3) These are all very active in ascribing worth and value to the One seated on the throne. Review the five activities listed and talk about how human beings can participate in such? Which of these are in place in your life? Which need to be developed?
Taking it Home: Ask yourself “what do I really think about God?” Such thoughts are the most important of all in your life. In fact, these thoughts define you. Think about God’s greatness and majesty this week in Revelation 4.
NEWCOMERS RECEPTION
We would love to meet you at our Welcome Center in the lobby and share a gift and available opportunities. Our Pastoral team would also love to meet you and will linger in the front after the services to this end. You may let us know you were here by using a Communication Card found in our worship folder. We receive these in containers placed on tables in the Celebration Center.
BENEVOLENT OFFERING
This weekend is an opportunity to contribute to the Benevolent Fund, which is used for our church family and community members in times of need. If you wish to contribute, you may give your gift on the way out of the service today.
UPCOMING WEEKEND FELLOWSHIPS
Please plan to join us on Saturday, February 12 for Soup’er Saturday immediately following the evening service and Sunday, February 13 in-between our morning worship services for our Food Truck Fellowship. This is the perfect season for hot soup and warm fellowship at our Soup’er Saturday event and at our Food Truck Fellowship – we will be introducing Omelet Brats as a breakfast option!
SANCTITY OF LIFE / SHINE ON! COMMUNITY TALK
“Either life is always, and in all circumstance, sacred, or intrinsically of no account; it is inconceivable that it should be in some cases the one, and in some [cases] the other.”– Ronald Reagan quoting Malcolm Muggeridge in a letter to Human Life Review. One of the ways we seek to advance the value of the sanctity of life here at Aspen Ridge Church is by hosting Life’s Options Pregnancy Center for our next Shine On! Community Talk in Fellowship Hall, Saturday, February 26, 2022, from 11:00 AM-1:00 PM with free lunch for all attendees.
BAPTISM
After celebrating baptisms last weekend, we have received interest in providing an additional baptism service. We will do so in the Spring, potentially the weekend of April 16/17. If you are interested in baptism, please indicate on our communication card and we will provide the needed support and orientation.
PARENT DEDICATIONS
Aspen Ridge Church plans on providing a “Parent Dedication” weekend this Spring. A “Parent Dedication” is a time and occasion for parents to make a public and church-wide commitment to raise their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. If you are interested in making this kind of public commitment, please contact the pastoral staff.
BIBLE STUDY FOR ALL
Bible Study for All will be starting a 12-week session study of Daniel on February 2. We have groups for men, women and children of all ages. We meet on Wednesdays from 12:30-2:30 PM. We would love to have you join us.
POSITION AVAILABLE
For a dependable person wanting to make $25 per hour shoveling the snow off the sidewalks at the church. This will require you to have the walks cleared by 7:30 AM each time we receive snow. Please contact Jack Wealing at jackwealing@gmail.com or 219.863.2760.
TOGETHER TO TRANSFORM 2022
Converge Rocky Mountain’s annual conference is being held on March 11-12 at the Orchard Church in Henderson, CO. This year’s conference is entitled “Welcome Home – Your New Home” and is a new missiology for a post-COVID world. Along with breakouts on community outreach, online ministry and effective assimilation systems. Online registration is now open at https://togethertotransform.org and includes a complete schedule and more details.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT DINNER
Please join us on Wednesday from 5:30-6:30 PM for a delicious meal served in our Celebration Center. The cost is $3.00/person or $10/family, and we would love to meet you there.
MOBILE FOOD SHARE
Aspen Ridge Church will make our parking lot available for a Mobile Food Share program on Tuesdays from 3:30-4:00 PM beginning in February. Mobile Food Share is a place where people can come and help reduce food waste by taking rescued food from our local grocery stores. It is a place where people can support their local farmers/ ranchers by participating. And the best part? It’s all FREE! Mountain Resource Center will bring a refrigerated van and distribute free food from our location. When neighbors “donate instead of dump,” and “buy local” our environment is protected, and families are fed instead of landfills. Everyone is eligible, no special requirements or documentation are needed.
GIVING SUMMARY AS OF JANUARY 30, 2022
GENERAL FUND LAST WEEK THIS MONTH FISCAL YTD
Actual $ 13,756 $ 56,211 $ 397,190
Budget $ 14,000 $ 70,000 $ 371,500
Difference $ (244) $ (13,789) $ 25,690