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6/4/2023 Worship Service and Sermon from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

To honor the privacy of our families whose children helped lead our Call to Confession this morning, that section have been removed from our recording. Brick Lane members and regular attendees may request access to the full recording by contacting Andrew Hageman.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-8
Title: Departed Christians: What Do They Experience?
Worship Leader: TJ Waldy
Speaker: Steve Estes

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Notes:

1. Our future bodies will be far superior to our current bodies
A. Current bodies are likened to mere tents
B. Future bodies are likened to buildings
C. What we were created for
D. Applications

2. A seeming problem
A. When do we receive these bodies?
B. Until then, what do we do in the meantime?
C. Some commentators, troubled by this answer, propose some "creative" ideas

3. Solution to the problem
A. Our groaning is positive, not negative
B. Paul expresses longing, not horror, over heaven
C. Why talk about "nakedness"?
D. God's whole plan is this...