Sermon Tone Analysis

Announcements:

‘/?

\

Welcome

Today, we’re looking at & .

Last week Jesus gave some vivid detail regarding the end times and how it will be har and there will be trouble.

And his main point was that we need to PAY attention to what God has said!

Because the point isn’t for us to get distracted by the details,

but for us to recognize that Jesus is coming back again and

when he does it will look different than it does now…

or it did when Jesus was speaking to his listeners.

Now, we see Jesus being humble but when he returns, he’s returning in POWER and GLORY.

That’s our setting.

With that in mind, if you’re able, please stand with me for the reading of God’s Word!

matthew 24:36

matthew 25:1-16

The big idea of this passage is: “Blessed are those who are faithful.”

In this life there is uncertainty… there is conflict, there is pain… Humanity has rebelled against God and it has caused a fracturing… a brokenness exists in people and in the WORLD.

As a result, there are many times in this life where we have to wait… the in-between times… the times between struggle and victory.

These are the moments when the end isn’t clear, not at least in the short-term.

Now, as Christians, we know there is hope for those who are in God — we spoke about that last week… that was Jesus’ point.

Jesus was saying, “I am coming again & then I will come in POWER and GLORY.”

This is encouraging… we know where we’re headed… we know the end is good.

But today, we’re focusing on the short-term… I know, as a Christian, my ultimate end is good… but what about today & what about tomorrow?

The big idea of this passage is: “Blessed are those who are faithful.”

No one knows the day and the hour.

(vs.

24:36-44)

So last week, Jesus was talking about the end times and the trouble that godly people will have to endure towards the end.

But the main point Jesus was making was to PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT GOD HAS SAID...

In this passage, it’s almost as if Jesus is making it clear what he is not saying...

Jesus has not told us WHEN the end will come

Jesus has not told us exactly how all this will go about… there have been things he has alluded to and there have been images he’s made reference to… but we don’t know exactly how this will go down… So he courages us to remain humble and patient!

Reminds me of:

Deuteronomy 31:31

There are things we are not going to know and that is part of God’s good and sovereign plan.

The Bible doesn't’ read like a scientific textbook… there is still mystery.

Because we are not God.

Our understanding is limited.

If we know that, it should help us focus on what matters… Jesus is essentially saying, don’t focus on what doesn’t matter… don’t focus on what you have no control over!

Don’t be the guy trying to predict the end of the world, that’s not the point!

The Bible doesn’t tell us that… Plus, it’s not the point!

The point is to remain prepared, to pay attention, to not get distracted away from God!

This leads to our next point… and this is big idea of this passage is: “Blessed are those who are faithful.”

Who then is the faithful and wise servant?

(vs.

24:45-51)

matthew 24:

What is faithfulness?

faithfulness: The doctrine that God will always do what he has said and fulfill what he has promised.

So if we’re faithful, it means we do what we say we will do… we follow through… we are consistent.

Jesus

Jesus point:

Is not to know everything.

It’s not about being good at everything.

It’s not even about achieving a bunch of things...

Jesus says that all of this is really rooted in faithfulness.

Faithfulness is what Jesus is aimed at here.

In the end, what matters is faithfulness.

[EXAMPLE] Relational Soul (book) story

Professional climber… one of the best… dedicates his success to his family, he does it all for them

He’s often gone (away from his family) climbing… dies on a climb… and is remembered for all his accomplishments

Question: I wonder if his kids would have rather had his dad’s accomplishments or his dad’s presence?

The reason I use that example is that sometimes we get focused on what we’re doing for God… or what what we’re accomplishing or learning that we forget what THE POINT OF WHAT WE’RE DOING ACTUALLY IS!!!

Faithfulness is more than about using the right words… faithfulness is about relationship, desire… I want God and that’s where my focus resides.

At the end of the day, God doesn’t want your accomplishments, he wants your heart!

A parable about the foolish and the wise.

(vs.

25:1-13)

Parable of the wise and the fool.

Jesus tells his listeners to stay alert, reminds them that their aim should be to remain faithful… and then tells them a story (like he often does)

The bridegroom is Jesus and the bride is Jesus’ church.

So Jesus isn’t necessarily telling them anything new… but he us further articulating what he has already said!

He doesn’t want them to miss what he is trying to tell them!

matthew 25:11

The prayer here is that we do not become a distracted church…

A distracted church is a church that diverts its focus away from the gospel and onto other things.

A distracted church might even be doing really good things… but “good” without a gospel focus, with a centeredness on Jesus will not end well.

The primary responsibility of the church has always been to help cultivate a deeper love for God by remembering the GOSPEL and repenting of our sin!

So here’s the deal… the moment we stop remembering the gospel and we quit repenting of our sin, we become a false church… we enter into the error Jesus is warning against in this passage.

The things we must also take a notice of is the severity of the consequences.

When we neglect to acknowledge truth, life disintegrates… instead of flourishing, there is chaos.

This isn’t just about following rules, it’s about being in touch with what is real.

If God exists, and God made everything… God is creator, God is over everything.

Therefore, being in relationship with God is being in relationship with what is real.

Therefore, neglecting God will result in the breakdown of all that is good and real.

The big idea of this passage is: “Blessed are those who are faithful.”

This is why the big idea of this passage is: “Blessed are those who are faithful.”

APPLICTION:

Considering this is my last sermon as your lead pastor, I was grateful that it so happened to be on this day with this passage.

I haven’t done everything perfectly, certainly not.

I am not the best pastor, by any stretch.

I’ve made mistakes.

But by God’s grace, my hope is that my ministry as a staff pastor at Veritas could be classified as one of faithfulness… and that is my hope for my life… that is my prayer for you and for our church!

We are living in a time where many well known Christian leaders are publicly renouncing there faith in God.

We live in an odd time, marked by a chaotic view of morality as everyone is now in charge of their own truth!

I believe this will only lead us to more pain and confusion.

And I pray, that we remain faithful to Jesus and to His truth!

Blessed are those who are faithful

Reality is this will certainly not always be easy

Christian, Jesus is teaching us that we have a bright future… despite what the present circumstances are… despite what difficulty may be awaiting you tomorrow… a day is coming when all injustice and pain will be made right.

Our responsibility is not to change the world…

Our responsibility is to remain faithful!

If God uses us in public and amazing ways, that is up to him.

But our ultimate calling, the most courageous thing we can do it to remain faithful to Jesus’ gospel!