"A New Heaven and a New Earth" - Henry Knapp

 A New Heaven and a New Earth 

 

In my early twenties, I had a severe back problem. Initially, the doctors tried to handle things with physical therapy, medicines, and other noninvasive actions. Unfortunately, over the months, things just got worse and worse—to the point where there was some paralysis in my leg. For almost a full year, I struggled with significant pain, lack of mobility, the inability to sleep well, and the loss of an active lifestyle. Eventually, the only option available was surgery. The doctors warned of the surgical dangers and the difficult recovery process, but we ultimately determined that moving forward with the procedure was the only viable option. One morning in the early fall, a wonderful team of doctors operated on my back, repairing the damage that was present there. And, immediately upon awakening… I felt like a new man! 

 

Literally. I felt brand-new. For so long I had struggled with the pain and limitations of my back, and the difficulties impacted so much of my life, that coming out of the surgery, I immediately felt such relief, that the only way to describe it was… like I was made new! 

 

Now, to be clear, there wasn’t really anything “new” about me—save for some stitches and the like. I wasn’t really “new” in the sense that something was present that wasn’t present beforehand. The “new” feeling came rather from the sense of being “re-newed.” After the surgery, I was restored to the way I was intended to be, that the brokenness in my back had limited so much so, that I felt “new” when I was fixed. Again, not that something original came into existence. Rather, what was originally intended was able to be in its fullness again. The “newness” was a “renewed-ness,” a change which resulted in an ability to live life the way I was intended to live. The “old me,” the pain-filled body, was no more—the “new” had come! 

 

The Bible frequently speaks of “a new Heaven and a new Earth,” and of the old heaven and earth passing away (Revelations 21; 2 Peter 3; Isaiah 65 and 66; Mark 13). In recent centuries this has become in people’s minds, the destruction of what is presently this world, and the total creation from nothing of a brand new reality. This world will be eliminated, and replaced by an entirely other creation. The motive for such a thought is that this world is so saturated with sin, evil, and wickedness, that the only recourse is for God to start all over again—to take His people from this wrecked world, and insert them into a newly fashioned-from-nothing heaven and earth.  

 

But this view—that the new heaven and new earth is a brand-new creation, that the old is destroyed in such a way as to cease to exist—is hard to square with other Scriptures. In Romans 8, we are told that all creation groans in bondage as it awaits the liberation from sin (vs. 18-25). It is, after all, Satan’s goal to destroy God’s creation. God’s plan is different—not destruction, but liberation, restoration, and redemption. Yes, this world is broken, infected by a dreadful, rebellious sin, a wickedness and evil which is anti-God in every way. But, this describes, not just the world, but you and me as well! And, God’s response to us and our sin? Is it not our destruction, but our restoration - Christ’s own sacrifice destroys sin in every way, but it restores us to our created purpose, God’s original intent for humanity. 

 

In much the same way, God’s work of bringing about a new creation, a new heaven and new earth, is not so much a “new” one in the sense of new-in-origin, new-in-creation, but rather a “new-ness” in character, a new-ness that reflects the vast transformation that occurs when all sin is gone. The new heaven and new earth that awaits us all at the end of time, is a new-ness that exists because of the finality, the totality, of God’s redemptive work in Jesus Christ. What does the new heaven and earth look like? It looks like this world… but so, SO different! This world restored, redeemed, sin-free! That is what awaits us—the world as God intended it to be. 

 

This week as you prepare for worship, read Revelation 21. 

 

1. What image stands out the most from this description of the end times? Why does this grab you? 

 

2. What does it mean for a bride to be prepared for her husband? What is behind that picture? What does the author want us to see about the church here? 

 

3. What is the dominant feature of this new heaven and new earth? What is most important to the author to stress? 

 

4. In verse 5, God says He is making all things new. What might this mean if the word “new” is taken as “brand-new, newly created” versus “renewed, restored to original purpose?” 

 

5. What connections can you see here between the old earth that passes away and the new earth that God brings? 

 

" What Are We Aiming At?" - Henry Knapp

What Are We Aiming At? 

 

It was a dirty trick. And, it took me a long time to figure it out. When I was very young and helping my father around the house, he would subtlety shift the goals for me. As I would be finishing up whatever task he had asked me to do, he would ever so carefully extend the project, just enough, to keep me working. It took me a while, but as I grew older, and more aware of his tactics, I realized what he was doing—by ever so slightly shifting the end goal, he could get more work out of me. 

 

All of us know the importance of having goals in life. Author and historian Bill Copeland captures this well: “The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never score.” Simply put, if you don’t know what you are shooting at, you’ll never know if you’ve hit it. It would be hard to imagine an area of life where this doesn’t apply: in parenting, sports, vocation, education, performance, marriage, music. And, unsurprisingly, it applies to our Christian lives as well.  

 

What is the goal of the Christian life? What should we be aiming at? What is our target, our purpose, our end? Imagine how the answers to these questions would subtlety (or drastically) shift your everyday walk with Jesus. Try some answers on and see: What if the goal in life is to be happy? Everything you would do would aim toward maximizing your joy or pleasure. Or, what if the goal is to be a good person? All things are filtered through the lens of moral improvement. Or, if serving others was key? Forget all else, and give yourself wholly and completely to acts of service. Imagine how each of these answers would radically change how you go about living every moment. 

 

Of course, you could spend a lot of time running up and down the field, and never attain your goal… but that is especially true if you don’t even know what the objective truly is. How do we determine what the right goals are? Who decides what target we should be aiming at? Our families have a powerful influence here. Of course, our culture dictates to us what we should want. One powerful guidance is our own personalities, our likes and dislikes. But, can we speak of the goal of the Christian life with any more definition than that? Well, I think so. Remember who made us? Who redeemed us? Who we now claim as our Lord and Savior. As Creator, Redeemer, Lord, is it surprising that we should look to Him for our purpose in life?  

 

So, what does God Himself say is our purpose? What would He want for our ultimate goal in life? There are many ways to phrase it—“to know Jesus and be known by Him;” “to dwell in the Presence of the Lord;” “to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” There are other ways of describing this, but you get the picture. Our purpose, our goal is Him. And, fixing that goal firmly in mind, not allowing that purpose to drift, will keep us from wandering through life, up and down the field, never scoring.  

 

Once the goal is firmly in mind, what does it look like to approach the target? On the football field, the team responds differently depending on how far they are from the goal line. When you are deep in your own side of the field, you play differently than when you are nearing the end zone. Where is the “end zone” for the Christian life? Are we aiming for heaven? Is our goal to be rid of this world and in our spirits be with the Lord? Is the fulfillment of life only when we die? The Apostle Paul for one would argue strongly against such thoughts. 1 Corinthians 15 is a majestic overview of Paul’s thoughts here, a great biblical summary of the goal, the end zone for the Christian life, and we’ll be exploring it together this Sunday. 

 

In preparation for worship this Sunday, read 1 Corinthians 15. 

 

1. It is easy to imagine that Paul is writing this chapter specifically in response to a set of questions. What do you think some of those questions might be?  

 

2. Why would such questions be on the minds of the Corinthians? I don’t think you need to know anything about the Corinthian Church to guess at the reasons why these questions are important. 

 

3. What is the logic of verses 12-19? Paul is pretty relentless here. What does this tell us about the use of logic in the Christian life? 

 

4. Why would some say there is no resurrection of the dead? Besides the obvious empirical question—why else might one deny the resurrection? 

 

5. Speculate on why you think this is an important issue for Paul? Why doesn’t he just handle this question—is there a resurrection or not?—in short order? Why elaborate as he does? 

"I Believe in the Forgiveness of Sins" - Henry Knapp

Too Much of a Good Thing?

Can you ever really have too much of a good thing? I mean, really? Sure, we are always warned against it, but I’m not sure. Take chocolate for example. I know, I know… too much chocolate will spoil my appetite. It could get me all hyper. It could make me sick. But, honestly… It’s chocolate!


But, of course, we all know that in some areas you really can have too much of a good thing. Too much of something special will often ruin it. Too much vacation can numb the mind; too much fun can blind us from reality; too much work can “make Jack a dull boy.” We worry, and rightly so, that too much of something will lessen its impact, it will rob us of what is special. And so we often try to protect the special things by limiting them, not having too much.

Another fear is that there must be a limited supply. No matter how much is available, surely there’s a limit somewhere! There is only so much time, so much fun, so much chocolate. So, we hoard it, we dole it out in smaller portions, so we don’t “overdo it.” Do we think of divine forgiveness the same way?

The forgiveness we receive from Jesus simply cannot be measured. God’s gift of salvation involves a forgiveness of sin that never, ever stops. No matter the vast quantity of need, there is more and more forgiveness available.

But, if we fear “too much of a good thing,” perhaps we seek to limit forgiveness. All the while knowing that with God there is no end, no limit. Perhaps we are worried that forgiveness will eventually run out for us; that God will eventually not give us what we need. Perhaps this helps explain why we are so afraid of forgiveness—afraid to lean too much on the forgiveness we receive from Jesus. Perhaps it is better to only have a little forgiveness at a time?

Nonsense. My friends, God’s grace never ends; there is no limit to His forgiveness, and we dare not seek to limit that which He freely dispenses. Forgiveness is His gift to all who call on His name, who trust in His salvation. When we approach this gift with fear and anxiety, are we not doubting His goodness? When we are afraid that He will withhold His blessings, are we not limiting His forgiveness? But, we need never do this, for His forgiveness never ends!

The forgiveness of sins that is ours by virtue of the cross, the forgiveness that Christ purchased by His blood, should be embraced wholeheartedly by all—there is never too much of this good thing!

This week in preparation for worship, read Psalm 32.


1. The opening lines of a psalm are generally a summary of the entire psalm, and then the “story” begins. How is that evident here in this passage?


2. In verse 3, the psalmist stays “silent.” Silent from whom? What is he saying here? What is the opposite of “silent” in this context?


3. Have you ever experienced the oppression of verse 4? Why does the psalmist feel so poorly, so oppressed?

4. How is verse 5 a remedy for the oppression the psalmist feels in verse 4? What view of forgiveness must you have for this to take place?


5. Back to verse 1… What does it mean to be “blessed?” How might that differ from “happy” or “joyful?”


6. How does the last phrase in verse 1, “whose sin is covered,” connect to the previous phrase, “transgression is forgiven” What does it mean to “cover” a sin?


7. Who is the active agent in these verses? What role does God play? What role does the psalmist play?

"I Believe in the Communion of Saints" Henry Knapp

 And the Pendulum Swings…

 “You’re overreacting!” Most people know about the tendency to overreact to something. If there is concern or abuse in one area, the inclination is to swing so hard in the other direction that concern or abuse can develop there as well. I can’t begin to tell you how often I have swerved hard to avoid one ditch, simply to end up in another—yes, this is both figurative and literal.

Of course, this is totally understandable. When confronted with a problem, specifically one that is trying or particularly difficult, we want the solution to avoid ever experiencing a repeat. So, the best way to never see the original problem again is to effectively stress its opposite. However, in doing so, we often simply switch one problem for another.

You have undoubtedly heard some variation of the teaching that Christianity is a personal decision, an individual relationship between the believer and the Redeemer; that our standing with God is not something we inherit, or gain through others, but that it arises from our individual connection to, and our personal faith in, Jesus Christ. The stress upon this teaching is crucial—it reflects the clear biblical understanding of our relationship with Christ. For each and every one of us, we stand before our God and either claim the blood of Jesus as our own or reject His mercy and goodness. I truly hope and pray that you have heard this explanation, and that you have taken it to heart.

But, where does such an emphasis come from? Why has this been stressed so stridently for the past decades? Well, at this point, you can probably guess—it is part of the pendulum swing from an earlier, deficient approach.

For hundreds of years, the Church exercised an enormous influence in Western civilization, to such a degree that it was not unreasonable to expect that every person in Western Europe was exposed to and understood the Gospel message. Simply living in a society that was so saturated with the presence and teaching of the Church seemed to qualify you as a “Christian.” This mentality—that you are a Christian simply by being part of the culture—is the very definition of the ditch we MUST avoid!

And so, the pendulum swings. Now, it is not unusual to hear Christianity described as a “me and Jesus” kind-of-thing; that the personal relationship is all that matters, and any communal identity is a distortion of the Gospel. Institutions like the Church or a small group or accountability to another believer are all seen superfluous at best, and more likely, a distraction from one’s pure connection with the divine. And thus, we find ourselves in the other ditch.

The Bible absolutely describes the importance of an individual, vibrant faith in the Lord and there is no substitute for it. Like David, we must individually examine our hearts as we stand before our God. But, equally so, the Bible portrays our salvation as a corporate, collective one. We are not, nor will we ever be, alone. Built into the redemptive plan of God is His goal of gathering a body of worshippers, the Church. Existence outside the Church is way outside God’s plan.

Somehow we have to steer the course, emphasizing that the cross brings us into a personal relationship with Jesus, and, equally so, into a vibrant community of believers—and losing track of either one lands us in a ditch.

 As you prepare for worship this Sunday, read Acts 2:42-47.

1. Note the immediate context of this passage. Why is it helpful to know of the events earlier in chapter 2?

2. In verse 42, the author describes the early Church as “devoted” to things. What does “devotion” look like in your life?

3. What is meant by the apostles’ teaching? Where did they get the information to teach others?

 4. How would you describe in modern terms the four things the believers “devoted themselves to”? What current activities might they correspond to?

 5. In verse 43, what is the connection between “awe,” “miracles,” and verse 42?

 6. How did the early disciples express or display their common unity?

 7. In verses 46-47, what activities marked the early Church? What modern parallels might they have for us today? In what ways can you as an individual express these things?

 

"I Believe in the holy catholic Church" - Henry Knapp

Here is the church; here is the steeple… 

In the summer of 1985, I hitchhiked through England and France (some Switzerland). At that time, if you were willing to eat cheaply, stay at youth hostels, travel around on the Eurorail, you could live fairly inexpensively. Needless to say, it was a fabulous summer—challenging, maturing, and enlightening. I was introduced to different cultures, different lands and vistas, different ways of living. I had just recently become a believer before traveling overseas, so my faith was very immature; and, consequently, I didn’t take advantage of many things that I should have. Funny example: I was shown John Calvin’s chair; and thought… “Huh, that’s nice… Next?” Totally didn’t appreciate what I was seeing! (Note: Calvin was a theologian whose writings and thinking I now love.) 

If you have been in Europe, you know that there are some spectacular, ancient buildings. I marveled at old castles, back-alley neighborhoods, the massive estates. And, of course, the churches—from small, country chapels to awe-inspiring cathedrals. And, the cathedrals truly do inspire awe! Simply overwhelming! I was completely taken in by the architecture, the stain-glass, the pillars, the masonry artwork, the sheer massive-ness of it all. Overwhelming! 

But, I was so young spiritually that I didn’t really think through what the churches and cathedrals meant for the people in their relationship with the Lord. That whole reason for the building’s existence in the first place went completely past me. 

I don’t know when I learned the simple children’s rhyme (with fingers interlocked…): “Here is the church, here is the steeple; open up the doors, and see all the people!” At its best, this little ditty is fun for toddlers and can get them to think about the church and its people. At its worst, this can communicate the idea that the church and people are somehow different. The “church” becomes a building, a place to go, an institution with meetings, facilities, and money. I know I’m getting a lot from some wiggling fingers, but the temptation to identify “the church” with “a building” runs deep. But, it’s a temptation we must resist! 

When the Bible was written, there were no church buildings, and yet the church is frequently spoken of. When Jesus speaks of the church, or Peter or Paul write to the church, they are not addressing a building, but a gathering of people dedicated to the worship of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer. The church does not contain the people of God, the church IS the people of God. 

The cathedrals I saw throughout Europe are amazing in nearly every way—often, they are spectacular witnesses to man’s desire to worship and honor God. But, our buildings can distract us from what God Himself is building. He is building the True Church; He is building a people to worship Him, a people to serve Him, a people to love Him. We do not go to church. We ARE the church. 

In preparation to worship this Sunday as the church, read 1 Peter 2:9-10. 

1. Read through the first 8 verses of this chapter. The “Living Stone” here is obviously Jesus. We are pictured as “living stones” joining together to form the building of God. How do these verses connect to our verses today? 

2. Note: The “you” is a plural “you” not singular. That is, in Pittsburghese, read: “Yinz.” What difference does this make? How differently would you understand this if it were addressed to individuals, rather than a whole people? 

3. What follows in these verses are four nouns with four adjectives. What do each mean?

      Chosen race

      Royal priesthood

      Holy nation

      God’s own possession 

4. What is implied in the idea that we are a priesthood? What does a priest do, and how can we all do that in this world? 

5. To be “holy” means “to be set apart.” But many take that to mean, “to be perfect, or pure.” How do the two definitions connect? 

6. How might you “proclaim the excellencies of God” more this week? How would thinking of yourself as part of the Church—a chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation, God’s possession—effect the way your “proclaim His excellencies”? 

7. What might Peter mean by saying we were “not a people” before?

"God The Spirit" - Henry Knapp

 

God the Spirit

“Forgotten God,” is a book about the Holy Spirit by author Francis Chan. The book is not without its flaws, but it certainly has its benefits. There are many good aspects of the book, and if you were to read it, I’m positive you would appreciate it. But, for me, the title itself is worth the cost of the book: “Forgotten God.” For, if in no other way, there is a challenge right there. 

Is it true? Has the Spirit been “forgotten” by many believers today? It is not hard to make the case. Most of us have some sense of the Father, the divine One ruling over all things. And we frequently speak of Jesus, noting His teachings, His example of godly living, His sacrifice for us. Praying to the Father, rejoicing in His holiness; speaking of the Son, celebrating His redemption; these perhaps come more naturally to us. But, thinking of the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit… that is too… mystical… for many.

Of course, nothing could be further from the truth of the Scripture. Far from being neglected in the Scripture, the Spirit is portrayed there as God, fully equal to the Father and Son. He, the Spirit, is the One who applies the work of the cross into our lives, taking what Jesus did 2000 years ago and making us new. We are born of the Spirit (John 3). We are indwelt by the Spirit (John 14). We are empowered by the Spirit (Ephesians 3). We are transformed by the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3). To search the Scripture for the works of the Holy Spirit, is to soon be overwhelmed by all that He does. By the Spirit:

      The inspiration of the Scriptures (2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16)

      The instrument of Creation (Psalm 104)

      The law is written in our hearts (Jeremiah 31; Ezekiel 36)

      The conviction of sin (John 16)

      The regeneration and new birth (John 3)

      The filling and empowering (Deuteronomy 34; Ephesians 2)

      The purification of sinners (Rom 8; 1 Corinthians 6)

      The illumination of Scripture (1 Tim 4)

      The assurance of salvation (Romans 8, 2 Corinthians 3)

      The unified body of believers (Ephesians 4, Philippians 2)

Hardly forgotten, the biblical witness to the Spirit is overwhelming.

The Apostles’ Creed makes the claim: “I believe in the Holy Spirit.” And, there is good reason: We believe because the Bible consistently witnesses to the Spirit. Our faith in the Spirit of God is grounded in what has been revealed in the Bible, and, by God’s blessings, what we experience of His work in our lives. Because of this, our faith in the Spirit is truly a trusting in Him, relying on His work to shape and transform every moment of our lives.

For this Sunday, read John 14:15-17, 26-27.

 1. Notice where we are in the story of Jesus. He is speaking immediately preceding His arrest and trial. Why might He have chosen this time (and place) to share about the Spirit?

 2. Verse 15 is linked to the statements about the Spirit in verses 16 and following. How do Jesus’s comments about keeping His commandments shape the “mood” for hearing about the Spirit?

 3. Jesus refers to the Spirit here as the Helper. What is implied in that term? What insight into the work of the Spirit might you draw from that?

 4. In Jesus description of the Spirit here, how is the Spirit similar to Jesus? How is the Spirit different?

 5. How might the disciples have felt upon hearing of the Spirit in this setting?

 6. What is the difference between the world and the disciples in verse 17? Why can the one group receive the Spirit and the other can’t?

 7. Verse 27 speaks of peace, yet it is included in this discussion of receiving the Spirit. Why do you think that is? What is the connection?

"A New Voice" - Henry Knapp

Maturing in our faith is a communal effort. Most realize this, but it is not always easy to implement this in our lives. We want to experience God’s grace, freely and overwhelmingly given, and sense that we can do so more together than individually, yet don’t always know the best way to pursue this. This Sunday, we’ll take a small step in that direction, simply by having a guest preacher in our midst, a new voice addressing our hearts. I have known Dan and his family for over two decades, and I’m excited to hear God’s Word proclaimed by him this Sunday. Bio follows…

Dan and Courtney met during their years studying engineering at Geneva College. As they often do, opposites attract, and the outgoing, carefree young man couldn’t believe the quiet and beautiful bookworm even gave him a second look!

Shortly after their wedding in 2004 (the good Rev. Henry Knapp presiding…) Dan and Courtney discerned the Lord pointing them in a different direction than they had envisioned. Embodying what they have since described as the backwards American Dream, their career paths transitioned from two full time Engineering jobs down to one high school Math teaching position. Little did they know, the next step would be overseas, jumping into full-time m!n!stry, completely funded by donations!

Their family grew from 2 to 5, as they welcomed their two boys and a girl in 2007, 2009, and 2011. Now with their hands completely full, they got rid of 99% of their worldly possessions, packed up what was left and hopped on a plane bound for Africa in 2012.

For the next 9 years, Dan and Courtney, Ethan, Nate, and Evie, lived, served, and grew up on the campus of an international boarding school in Kenya. The students who attend there are primarily from families living and m!n!stering cross-culturally as well, in countries all across the continent of Africa. These families are all playing their part in the Great Commission, spreading the good news in hard to reach places.

A few months before COVID changed the world as we know it, Dan and Courtney felt a distinct shift in the Father’s call on their lives. Each of them noticed a growing burden in their hearts concerning the severe lack of access to the good news of the Kingdom in many parts of the world, North Africa specifically.

After the Father closed the chapter on their time in Kenya in 2021, they are now anxiously awaiting their next assignment on the front lines of the Kingdom going forth. Re-launching to North Africa, Lord willing, in July of 2022, they hope to learn the language, become students of the culture, and be the first to share the Father’s plan with many who have never heard.

In the meantime, their family counts it a privilege to spend more time with the faithful brothers and sisters at Hebron, who make it possible for them to follow where He leads. Thank you for your faithful partnership!

As you prepare for worship this week, read Matthew 2:1-6.

1. Why would Herod be troubled by what the wise men said?

2. What can be said about the wise men for traveling as they did? How crucial was their mission?

3. How does the citation from Micah speak to the question at hand? Is this a good reference? Why/why not?

4. In what ways have you acted like Herod in your lifetime? How has that been shown to others?

5. In what ways have you acted like the wise men? Can you identify a particular instance?