Message Notes
Garden City: Heaven Starts Now
St. Augustine “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”
Matthew 4:17 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Matthew 4:17 ESV “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Heaven Starts Now
Repent = Metanoia; “a change of mind”
Heaven In Your Mind
John 4.24-26, 39 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” 25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” 39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony.
Ephesians 4.22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Colossians 3.1-2 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Romans 12.2 Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking.
Heaven Mending Your Heart
Luke 4.18 “He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted…”
Mark 5.40-42 He took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.
Heaven Through Your Hands
Matthew 6:10 “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
“Start with me, Lord. Orient my life to bring heaven now.”
Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven…”
Matthew 25:34-36 “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
Heaven Starts Now
John Mark Comer “We’re called to a very specific kind of work. To make a Garden-like world where image-bearers can flourish and thrive, where people can experience and enjoy God’s generous love. A kingdom where God’s will is done ‘on earth as it is in heaven,’ where the glass wall between earth and heaven is so thin and clear and translucent that you don’t even remember it’s there. That’s the kind of world we’re called to make. After all, we’re just supposed to continue what God started in the beginning.”
We Bring the Hope of Heaven
Repentance: Heaven in our minds - Rescue: Heaven mending hearts - Restoration: Heaven through our hands
Matthew 6:9-13 “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”