MESSAGE NOTES
Look Up with the Churches
Revelation 3:1-6
Dr. Jeffrey Clark
Question: How to understand the “any moment” return of Christ for His church?
The Rapture of the Church
The Timing of the Rapture
A Solution to the Timing
Application
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: Have you heard about the rapture of the church? If so, what ideas or images stick in your mind?
Digging Deeper:
1) The rapture of the church is explicitly taught in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. The term “rapture” is a Latin translation of the Greek word for being “caught up” in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). For believers, the question is not if there will be a rapture of the church, but when.
2) There are three leading options when it comes to locating the rapture with reference to the great tribulation. These include a pre-tribulational view, a mid-tribulational view and a post-tribulational view. About these views, Christians may disagree. What are other examples of subjects about which genuine Christians may disagree?
3) The “hour of trial” is likely a reference to the great tribulation (Revelation 3:10). The purpose of such tribulation is to convert Israel and prepare the earth to receive her king. However, not all believers are “kept” through the great tribulation (6:9-11; 7:14). What does this suggest about the meaning of “keep you from” the hour of trial?
Taking it Home: Be ready for the imminent return of Jesus Christ (Revelation 3:2). Talk with a friend about how you need to prepare today. Identify where you need to turn away from being a Christian in name only (Revelation 3:1) or being lukewarm in your faith (Revelation 3:15,16).
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.
BAPTISM WEEKEND
Aspen Ridge Church is hosting baptism services this weekend. Please join us as we praise God and celebrate the baptisms of Madeline Foster, Abigail and Rebecca Josi and Carson Payor with cake in the lobby after each service.
YEAR-END GIVING STATEMENTS
Aspen Ridge Church would like to thank many of you for your investment in our ministries including generous “end of the year” gifts. These include cash/non-cash gifts (such as certificates of stock or other non-liquid assets). Calendar-year giving statements were emailed this week. If you made a financial investment in this ministry in 2021 and did not receive an “end of the year” giving statement by email, contact the church office.
THE BRIDGE
On Sunday, January 30 from 4:00-6:30 PM we will host The Bridge. This is a meeting for people wanting to know about Aspen Ridge, its ministries, small groups and more. If you are interested in attending, please call the church office to RSVP or note your interest on the communication card! Childcare/dinner are provided.
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.
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.
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!
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 of baked lasagna, green beans, salad, rolls and dessert served in our Celebration Center. The cost is $3.00/person or $10/family, and we would love to meet you there.
GIVING SUMMARY AS OF JANUARY 23, 2022
GENERAL FUND LAST WEEK THIS MONTH FISCAL YTD
Actual $ 8,083 $ 42,455 $ 383,434
Budget $ 14,000 $ 56,000 $ 357,500
Difference $ (5,917) $ (13,545) $ 25,934