Is The End Near And Should You Worry?
Preaching
Shaking Wolves Out Of Cherry Trees
And 149 Other Sermon Ideas
Purpose Statement: Jesus' second coming is a fascinating and popular subject for many Christians. It is imperative to preach on this very prominent New Testament concern.
(Another title might be "No End In Sight!") Conservative Christians make this subject central to their preaching and so we assume it is of vital importance to their lives. Because of the nature of the subject, it warrants a more comprehensive approach rather than the selection of isolated verses as I have done here. However, I think the conclusions offered here are valid. At least three things may be said which are relevant to the eschatological event and when it will happen.
a. We can't know. Jesus tells us we cannot know when such an event will happen (Matthew 24:36). Yet the conservatives are busy searching the scriptures for signs. They have so many and they change so often when the time doesn't work out. I remember my conservative friends making much to-do about the second coming scheduled for forty years after the reestablishment of Israel which happened in 1948. You do the math. I was told this was the final piece to the puzzle. The problem is if we knew the time, we could theoretically wait until just before the event before getting ready. Jesus foiled this plan by saying we must always be ready (Matthew 24:44). Many of the signs are taken from the most confusing and least understood book in our Bible, Revelation.
b. It has already happened. Jesus said that it would happen before some of those he was speaking to had died (Matthew 24:34). If he meant us today, then he thoughtlessly misled everyone for 2,000 years. One thought: Jesus has already come twice. Another thought: the event has already happened for everyone who has already died.
c. It shouldn't matter. Knowing a date for a second coming should never make a difference in our life. We should live our best every day regardless of when or if. Would you want your child to be good because he or she didn't know when Mommy or Daddy was coming home, or to be good because that was his or her nature? Some are wont to say, the second coming should be preached to give a sense of urgency to our conversion or commitment to Christ. I would answer that we already have a more realistic and imminent event to give us that sense of urgency -- our death.
(Another title might be "No End In Sight!") Conservative Christians make this subject central to their preaching and so we assume it is of vital importance to their lives. Because of the nature of the subject, it warrants a more comprehensive approach rather than the selection of isolated verses as I have done here. However, I think the conclusions offered here are valid. At least three things may be said which are relevant to the eschatological event and when it will happen.
a. We can't know. Jesus tells us we cannot know when such an event will happen (Matthew 24:36). Yet the conservatives are busy searching the scriptures for signs. They have so many and they change so often when the time doesn't work out. I remember my conservative friends making much to-do about the second coming scheduled for forty years after the reestablishment of Israel which happened in 1948. You do the math. I was told this was the final piece to the puzzle. The problem is if we knew the time, we could theoretically wait until just before the event before getting ready. Jesus foiled this plan by saying we must always be ready (Matthew 24:44). Many of the signs are taken from the most confusing and least understood book in our Bible, Revelation.
b. It has already happened. Jesus said that it would happen before some of those he was speaking to had died (Matthew 24:34). If he meant us today, then he thoughtlessly misled everyone for 2,000 years. One thought: Jesus has already come twice. Another thought: the event has already happened for everyone who has already died.
c. It shouldn't matter. Knowing a date for a second coming should never make a difference in our life. We should live our best every day regardless of when or if. Would you want your child to be good because he or she didn't know when Mommy or Daddy was coming home, or to be good because that was his or her nature? Some are wont to say, the second coming should be preached to give a sense of urgency to our conversion or commitment to Christ. I would answer that we already have a more realistic and imminent event to give us that sense of urgency -- our death.
