The End

So what does a title like that stir in you? Anxiety or anticipation? Stress or joy? And of course it may stir in you all kinds of images of time charts and predictions and more. All of this in spite of the realization that scripture really does not spend a lot of time with charts and predictions. What it does do is give us a sense of perspective and assurance in the midst of whatever the future brings - knowing that God holds the future, and if we remain focused on HIm and making His kingdom central, the outcome for us is good.

Yet, somehow in our anticipation of the end, we have sometimes adopted a mindset that is seems to have more in common with fortune telling and predictions than comfort, assurance, and encouragement to remain faithful even in the midst of challenging circumstances.

Listening to Jesus as He talks about "end time" events helps us get things into their proper perspective. In the sermon today, Pastor Jon invites us to listen carefully to what Jesus had say, and where He invites us to place our focus. And, as is always the case, the perspective that Jesus provides is the one that places things in their proper context.

If you would like to listen to this sermon once again, or perhaps for the first time, you can access our sermon library here. If you prefer, you can watch the livestream version of the entire service here.

Matthew 24

NIV

Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.