Every Moment Matters When Forever Is Your Measure

In one paragraph

This message was the closing sermon in a multi-week series on full reward, drawing on Revelation 22:12 as its launching point. Brian worked through several New Testament passages on crowns and reward before turning to a extended conversation about Charlie Kirk, whose murder was still fresh on the congregation's mind. The thread holding it all together was the question of what we do with the reward...

Read together

1. Revelation 22:12 opening verse read aloud, Jesus announcing he is coming soon with reward according to each person's works
2. 2 John 1:8 anchor text for the series, warning about losing full reward
3. Psalm 139:16 mentioned as the passage where all deeds are recorded in God's book, verse number stated tentatively
4. 1 Corinthians (unspecified verses) Paul's metaphor of gold, silver, jewels versus wood, hay, straw refined or consumed by fire as works done in the flesh
5. Luke 19:17 parable of the king rewarding a faithful servant with governance of ten cities
6. James 1:12 crown of life promised to those who patiently endure testing and temptation
7. John (unspecified) if you love me you will obey me, cited in connection with the word love in James 1:12
8. Revelation 2:10 Jesus telling a church not to fear suffering, promising the crown of life to those faithful even facing death
9. 2 Timothy 4:8 Paul anticipating the crown of righteousness given by the righteous judge at his return, for all who eagerly await his appearing
10. 1 Peter 5:4 when the great shepherd appears believers will receive a crown of never ending glory and honor
11. Revelation 4:10-11 24 elders casting their crowns before the throne declaring God worthy to receive glory, honor and power
12. Revelation 19:12 description of Jesus at his return with eyes like flames of fire and many crowns on his head
13. Revelation 5:12-13 all creation declaring the lamb worthy to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing
14. Psalm 2 (unspecified verse) ask and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, prayed over the memorial service harvest

Talk about it

1. Brian described the reward Jesus brings at his return as somewhat unclear, talked about in different ways across Paul, Peter, and James. What does it mean to you personally that the reward is described as a crown of victory rather than a crown of royalty, and how does that change how you think about the work you are doing right now?
2. Several people in the room connected Charlie Kirk's life to the passage in Revelation 2 about remaining faithful even when facing death. Do you agree with that connection, and what does it stir up in you when you sit with it?
3. Brian said you can grieve the loss of Charlie Kirk's life and disagree with his politics, and that you can dislike his tactics and still call him a brother in Christ. Where do you find that hard to hold, and where does it feel right?
4. Brian used the image of a present wrapped in wrapping paper you disagree with, connecting it to how people rejected Jesus because of his humble origins, and then to how some in the church have rejected Charlie Kirk. Can you think of a time when you or someone you know rejected something God was doing because of the way it was packaged?
5. The sermon ended with the image of believers laying their earned crowns at Jesus' feet because he is worthy. Brian said he wanted us to receive a full reward so we would have more to lay back at his feet. What does that picture do to your motivation for how you spend your ordinary days?