On Sunday (Feb 17, 08) we celebrated the 8 year anniversary of the Agape’ Fellowship Church. We styled the celebration in line with our primary mission & 2008 goal: To demonstrate Agape’ love both in the local FAMILY & also in the area of evangelism.

So, in keeping with the “Home-coming” and “family” atmosphere, I preached a message titled, “When I get Home.” The Scripture text is 2 Corinthians 5:7-8 and the focus is that we must reach out in Agape’ love as long as we are in this mortal body. The three points of the message were:

• When I get home… I will be CLOTHED
• When I get home… I will be CONSIDERED
• When I get home… I will be CROWNED

These topics may seem to be awkward & contrived but if you will download the file & read it, I believe that you will find that the only word might be contrived is “considered” which I chose because I did not wish to use the word “judged.” The “judgment” at the “judgment seat of Christ” is NOT where our eternal destiny is decided (that takes place at our death, or at the rapture). Instead, the “judgment seat of Christ” determines our REWARDS.

The general meaning of each point:

• “Clothed” refers to Paul’s statement that in this life we are “naked“(2 Corinthians 5:3-4). To me, that speaks to the feeling that we often have that we are LACKING in the resources to deal with our present environment.
• “Considered” refers to the fact that Christ WILL consider the deeds that we have done in this body (2 Corinthians 5:10) and distribute rewards commensurate with the true value of those actions.
• “Crowned” has to do with the “rewards” part of the event. In view of that, Paul said that he had looked at God’s awesomeness (“fear of the Lord”) and determined that he would make it his GOAL to “try to persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:11).

In any case, registered users can download the MS Word document here. You may agree or disagree with the concept but I trust that, either way, it will lead to truth in your studies. I welcome registered ministers to join in the forum discussion for this topic where you can speak your piece (hopefully it is also “peace”).