Intro. Oh the glory of it all. Nothing can be more glorious than winning the super bowl. Fans become ecstatic. The winning team and the players on the team bask in the spotlight for weeks. Even their fans share the glory. Fans who have not even touched a football. They feel that their support and faithfulness through all the ups and downs of the season have been richly rewarded. Just being a fan is reward enough.

Yet when we look closely, how much do the fans really share? The players go home with millions of dollars in their pockets. The fans go home with less money then when they came. The coaches and players are touted and praised in the media. The fans receive no individual media attention at all. The players get lucrative offers for endorsements. The fans are expected to buy what they indorse.

Yet we don’t hear the fans complaining. They are more than happy to just be able to say, "My team won". It’s a strange world, don’t you think?

A "FAN-LIKE" SHARING OF THE GLORY"

Is this the kind of "glory sharing" Paul had in mind when he encouraged the Thessalonians to "stand firm and hold on to the teachings we passed on to you" "that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ"? v. 15,14

"Fan" Glory

Applaud His ability to outwit His religious opponents

Praise Him for His power to heal

Marvel in the one overcame sin and conquered death as proved by His resurrection

Worship at the feet of Him Who has been exalted to the right hand of the throne of God in heaven.

Go home and keep the glow of knowing about such singularly unsurpassed exploits and glory.

A "FANATICAL-LIKE" SHARING THE GLORY

(If you are enthusiastic about football (basketball, etc) you are a "fan". If you enthusiastic about the Christian faith, you are a "fanatic".)

A True Sharing; Inclusion in the Victory, Personal Elevation and Recognition, a Joint Tenancy in the wealth

The maturing Christian develops a greater and greater appreciation for what Jesus has accomplished for him and understanding of the future glory

Pagan religious people are "fans". They applaud the feats of their leaders who did little for them.

Mohammed. Became a great leader, left inspired writings and died with a headache.

Glory of the Atonement

A. "katallage" To "exchange" to "make a difference"

Enthusiastic about One Who died for his fans.

About one who gave up his present claims of power, wealth and media praise in order to make others rich

2 Cor. 8:9  For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Profits not yet fully demonstrable

Story of unrecognized wealth. Story of a shopkeeper whose son came to him one day complaining, ‘Dad, I don’t understand how you run this store. You keep your accounts payable in a cigar box. Your accounts receivable are on the spindle. All your cash is in the register. You never know what your profits are. Son, let me tell you something’, answered the dad. When I arrived in this land all I owned was the pants I was wearing. Now your sister is an art teacher. Your brother is a doctor. You are a CPA. Your mother and I own a house a car and this little store. Add that all up and subtract the pants and there is your profit".

Glory of the Resurrection

"That I might attain…"

1. ... I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and ... to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philip. 3:8-11

What if your life depended on John Elway’s pass?

THE GLORY OF IMMORTALITY

Imperishable Power

... it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 1 Cor. 15:42-43

"Imperishable" "deathless, ageless, indestructible, unbreakable, immortal, ageless, datedless"

"Power" Gr. "dumas". Translated "mighty, ability, strength, merciless"

Those who say we are already immortality. In which case I am very disappointed.

Glory of Inheritance

"Heirs of God"

...--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, ... Romans 8:17

"Everything I have is yours" (Parable of prodigal son)

" 'My son,' ... everything I have is yours. Luke 15:31

Conclusion: The church is not a social club or a psychologists couch. It’s aim is not to be political correct or socially adjusted.

It is God’s agency to preach the gospel message to the lost and encourage believers to be hold tenaciously to its teachings.

Salvation is more than a present unburdening of guilt. It’s goal is glory.

You should be asking, "What must I do to be saved?" "What must I do to be faithful?" It applies to the lost and the Christian alike. You should examine your own faith to be sure it measures up to the truth.

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