Sunday’s message in our Real Answers about Heaven series was called Present with Christ, taken from Philippians 1:23. Here is a brief outline of the message:

I. Jesus is in heaven right now
   A. Jesus ascended to heaven and sits at the right hand of God
      – Luke 24:51; Colossians 3:1; 1 Peter 3:22
   B. Jesus goes before you to prepare a place for you
      – John 14:1-2
   C. Jesus will take you to be with him so you may be where he is
      – John 14:3

II. When we die we go to be with Jesus
   A. To be absent from the body is to be present with Christ
      – Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:6-8
   B. Our bodies sleep but our spirits are alive with Christ
      – Matthew 27:52; John 11:11-13; Acts 7:59; Hebrews 12:23
   C. Being present with Christ is better by far!
      – Philippians 1:21-24; Revelation 14:13

III. We still await the resurrection
   A. This first stage of heaven is temporary (intermediate state)
      – Revelation 6:9-11
   B. When Christ returns he will raise our bodies and bring us with him
      – 1 Thessalonians 4:14,16
   C. We will live with Christ forever in the new heaven and earth
      – Psalm 23:6; John 14:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:17

Application:
   1) confidence (2 Corinthians 5:6-8)
   2) hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13)
   3) comfort (1 Thessalonians 4:18)

Note: Click on the Sermons tab at the top of the blog for this and other messages.