Rev. 21:22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

The Lord GOD and the Lamb = Temple The Lord and Lamb = source of light

5) GOD’s Vision is Multi-Ethnic (Rev. 21:22-27; cf. Matt. 28:19-20)

Nations (vv. 24 & 26) = ethnos (also Matt. 28:19-20)

Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

See also Isaiah 2:3-4 = OT vision corroborates w Rev.

Isaiah 2:2 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, 3 and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

If this is GOD’s eternal vision, does our vision line up?

Read Revelation 21 –

“Where does a man go when he dies?”

1) Does it matter if…we are with Him?

Rev. 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”

Our job, even now, is to simply Trust and obey.

Rev. 21:4 [GOD continues] “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

GOD the ultimate comforter

2) Heaven is GOD-centered (21:5-6a)

Revelation 21:5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

GOD is the Originator & Completer of all things

April 17, 2016

3) Those granted and denied (Rev. 21:7-8; 27)

Rev. 21:6b [GOD continued] “To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

a. Spiritual water meets your deepest spiritual need – John 4

b. Those granted access? The Conquers – letters to 7 churches (us)

Rev. 2:7 “To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.”

Rev. 2:11 “He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”

Rev. 2:17 “To him who overcomes, to him I will give…a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.”

Rev. 2:26 “He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and I will give him the morning star.”

Rev. 3:5 “He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments… and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.”

Rev. 3:12 “He who overcomes…I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem.”

Rev. 3:21 “He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”

Conquers overcome because their names are in the Lamb’s book of life (Rev. 21:27)

c. Those excluded? The Cowards, not exhibiting fruits of faith

Rev. 21:8 [GOD continued] “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

This serious warning divides sheep from wolves.

4) The description of the New City is Christocentric (Rev. 21:9-27)

a. “Lamb” 7x (Rev. 21-22) – reminder of how you got there

Rev. 21:9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15 And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16 The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. 17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement. 18 The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

New Jerusalem (vv. 9-10) = bride, Church coming from heaven Radiance like a most rare Jewel (v. 11) = bride adorned 12 = important symbolic number (vv. 12-21):

− 12 gates – like literal Jerusalem − 12 angels – guardians of the gate − 12 Tribes of Israel – Israel is foundational − 12 Apostles of the Lamb – Church is foundational − 12,000 stadia cubed = city is 1,500 miles cubed – NY to Hou − 144 cubits = 12

2 cubits = wall 72 yards thick

− 12 stones of city = 12 of High Priest’s breastplate − 12 gates made of pearl

Brilliance / value of city emphasized (streets of gold, etc.)

Point? Judeo-Christian GOD is the Temple in the New City that is beyond comprehension and gives Him glory!

Grace Church - 10323 28th Ave SW Seattle, WA 98146 (206) 937-8400

gracechurchseattle.org

Let us LOVE God & people by praying for: Denise Englehart

(passing of her mom), Rich Bianchi (back surgery recovery),

Cheri Smith (Roger Smith’s sister-in-law - terminal brain tumor),

Debbie Hinton (seizures), Donna Croom DIL of Paul & Sherry

Croom (breast cancer treatment), Evvie Lundberg (stroke

recovery), and the ongoing health needs of: Bill Hall, Kim Smith

(seizures), and Martha Miller. Please also pray for the Home

Communities, staff, elders, and support ministry teams of

Grace Church.

LOOKING AHEAD

April 23 ··············· Youth Mission Yard Sale 9-4pm @Crowded House

April 24 ··············· Jr & Sr. High Nerf Wars

May 4 ·················· Awana Grand Prix

May 6-7 ·············· Refresh & Restock - a women’s retreat

May 14 ················ Blessing of the Bikers

Pastor Ryan Faust Senior Pastor prfaust@gracechurchseattle.org follow on Twitter @RyanJFaust or his blog: prfaust.wordress.com

Pastor Daniel Hill Worship & Assoc. Pastor danielh@gracechurchseattle.org follow on Twitter @danielhillmusic or his blog: danielhillmusic.com

Pastor Jerry Buell Children’s Ed & Family Ministry jerryb@gracechurchseattle.org

Pastor Lucas Fennell Youth & College Ministry lucasf@gracechurchseattle.org

Janis Lemert Community Life Director janisl@gracechurchseattle.org

April 17, 2016

YOU are pouring into others in such meaningful ways.

As you continue to shepherd, we want to come along side YOU

to refresh YOU & restock YOUR souls for the ministry.

Join us at the Wesley Inn in Gig Harbor - 6pm May 6th through 4pm May 7th

Food and stay included. $119 / shared room $181/ individual room

Great FOOD Relationship Building Intentional Training

LOTS of Laughter Pool & Hot Tub

Contact the church office to register. Limited places, so register ASAP!

PAYMENT DUE BY SUNDAY APRIL 24th

COMMUNITY DAY UPDATE Living in community here at Grace is so

awesome! Thank you to everyone who

participated in Community Day! Your

hands collected 952 pounds of food and

$856 in cash and gift cards. Quote from

White Center Food Bank, “You guys are

awesome.” The power of Christ, through

you, helping our community. Thank you

again for taking time to serve.

CITY SERVE, SAT. AUGUST 20

Get this date on your calendar! Churches

in West Seattle will gather to serve

Seattle Public Schools and non-profit

agencies. Hands on projects are being

developed. Last year it was our privilege

to serve Roxhill and Sanislo Elementary

Schools. We are hoping to “enlarge our

territory” this year. If you are interested

in being a project manager or need

more info, please contact Pastor Jerry.

YOUTH MISSION YARD SALE

Join the youth in supporting Tristan

Ramsell and Johanna Martinez on the

mission field. The yard sale will be at The

Crowded House on Sat, April 23, 9-4pm.

If you have quality items you would like

to donate to the sale, drop off your items

on Thurs. from 7-9pm and Fri from 11-2

or 7-9pm at the Crowded House.

IMPORTANT NOTE TO PARENTS In the interest of the security and safety

of your children, we ask parents/

guardians to pick them up at the end of

morning service. 1st - 5th grade children

stay with parents in the service until they

are dismissed to Kids Church.

THIS WEEK AT GRACE

SUNDAY, APRIL 17

8:30 am Women’s discipleship class - rm 123

10:00 am WORSHIP CELEBRATION - sanctuary 1st-5th dismissed to Kid’s Church - rm 122 - Please be prompt to pick up your child after the service. Kid’s bulletins available in the foyer

6:30 pm High School HC - Ramsell’s

MONDAY, APRIL 18 Church Office open 9 am to 4 pm

8:30 am MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) - various

TUESDAY, APRIL 19 Church Office open 9 am to 4 pm

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20

Church Office open 9 am to 4 pm

6:30 pm Youth Group - the Crowded House

6:30 pm Awana - various

THURSDAY, APRIL 21

Church Office open 9 am to 4 pm

FRIDAY, APRIL 22 Church Office closed

SATURDAY, APRIL 23

Church Office closed

9:00 am Youth Mission Yard Sale - Crowded H.

10:00 am GriefShare - rm 123

SUNDAY, APRIL 24

10:00 am WORSHIP CELEBRATION - sanctuary

6:30 pm High School HC - Ramsell’s

GRACE CHURCH exists to LOVE God & people, PROCLAIM Christ, BUILD community,

EQUIP the saints, MULTIPLY ministers, and missionally SEND out followers of Christ to

be the Church wherever we are.

CONNECT Welcome to Grace! Thanks for joining

us today. Feel free to bring your coffee

into worship and make yourself

comfortable. Take a deep breath, clear

your head, and prepare your heart

and mind to worship our Lord and

Savior, Jesus Christ.

Grace Church is committed to living

authentically in relationship with God

and others. Together we strive to meet

the needs here and around the world.

To learn more, grab a booklet from the

desk in the foyer.

If you would like us to follow up with

you, feel free to fill out this form, tear

it out and drop it at the Welcome

Center or in the offering plate.

today’s date

name

I am a guest of

address

phone

phone (cell)

email

How to begin a relationship with Jesus Want to know more about Grace

Interested in joining a Group

Interested in serving at Grace (if so where?) __________________

Address/info change Add me to the church email list

Interested in baptism

Interested in membership

2016 GRACE SUMMER CAMP

2016 Grace Summer Camp will be held

at Black Lake Bible Camp in Olympia.

Junior High – Grades 6-8 (entering those

grades in the fall) July 10-16. Junior

Camp – Grades 4-6 (entering those

grades in the fall) July 31-Aug 6. Get

these dates on your calendars. Costs

start at $325. Discounts available for

being involved in the car wash fundraiser

to be held on June 12th, etc. – More

details to follow!

SERMON SERIES IN MAY We all long for family and community,

but sometimes we find ourselves alone

or in unhealthy relationships. In May

we’ll take a look at marriage, family, and

community from God’s perspective.

We’ll cover such themes as marriage and

parenting, forgiveness, communication,

finances and sex. If you are married or

not, a parent or not, this series will give

sound principles to help make wise

decisions and/or to be a good counselor

to your friends and family. As we enter

into this series, Pastor Ryan will be

taking your questions by email (prfaust

@gracechurchseattle.org] in preparation

for this series, which is meant for

everyone (even teens, grandparents

and singles).

JR. & SR. HIGH NERF WARS

April 24, 6-8pm TEENS BRING A FRIEND

for a night of Nerf craziness for Jr. & Sr

High. Bring your own NERF equipment

and of course a friend or 2, or 3! We will

rock and roll from 6-8pm. It’s going to be

awesome! Contact Pastor Lucas for more

information.

BUDGET THRU 4/10/16 We are -$3,988.20

below our annual budget BUDGET YTD $441,409.59 GIVING YTD $437,421.39

which is 99% of budget