Be Ready: Faithful Living While Awaiting Christ’s Return

The call today is to live with urgency and faithfulness, knowing that the Lord’s return is certain and could come at any moment. Just as parents instruct their children to clean their rooms before returning home, so too does Christ instruct his people to be ready, attentive, and faithful with the time given. The world is full of distractions—consumerism, pleasure, and the endless pursuit of self—but these are the very things that dull our spiritual senses and draw us away from the things of God. The temptation is strong to blend in, to keep Jesus tucked away for convenience, or to let our children “decide for themselves” about faith, but this is not the way of discipleship. Instead, we are called to raise our children in the faith, to model lives of worship, service, and confession, and to resist the spirit of the age that would have us compromise or remain silent.

Throughout history, false prophets have arisen, predicting the end and leading many astray. Jesus warns us not to waste our time on speculation or fear, but to remain steadfast, even as wars, disasters, and persecution rage around us. The world has always been hostile to the faith, and comfort comes only when we hide our allegiance to Christ. Yet, the call is not to retreat or to be silent, but to confess Christ boldly, to endure suffering, and to use every day as an opportunity to serve, worship, and witness.

The urgency is not just for ourselves, but for our families and neighbors. The time is short, and the Lord’s return will be sudden. We must not be found debating with God over his word or holding grudges, but rather living in readiness—steadfast in worship, prayer, and acts of love. The Lord’s day is not our own to use as we please, but a day set apart for worship and the sacrament, where we receive the gifts that sustain us through the trials of this world.

The true comfort, the real gospel in this call, is that Christ is with us in our suffering and struggle. Not a hair of our head will perish; he will not let us fall. His promises are sure, and his redemption is at the center of all things. As we wait and long for his appearing, we are invited to the foretaste of the feast to come, to gather in worship, to receive forgiveness, and to be strengthened for the journey. Let us not forsake the fellowship, but come eagerly, ready, and prepared, living each day as if the Lord’s return is today.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Live with urgency and readiness The call is to live each day as if Christ could return at any moment. This means not wasting time on distractions or speculation, but being attentive to God’s word, faithful in worship, and diligent in service. The time is short, and our lives should reflect a constant readiness for the Lord’s appearing. [36:31]
• 2. Resist the spirit of the age The world entices us with comfort, consumerism, and compromise, but discipleship means resisting these temptations. We are not called to blend in or keep our faith hidden, but to stand apart, even when it brings suffering or rejection. True faithfulness is found in following Christ, not the patterns of the world. [41:39]
• 3. Raise children in the faith, not the world It is not enough to let children “decide for themselves” about faith. We are called to actively teach, model, and nurture them in the ways of Christ, even when it is unpopular or difficult. The world is eager to claim their allegiance, but we must be more eager to lead them to Christ. [44:12]
• 4. Endure suffering with confidence in Christ’s promises Suffering, persecution, and hardship are not signs of God’s absence, but opportunities to trust his presence and promises. Christ assures us that not a hair of our head will perish, and that he will sustain us through every trial. Our endurance is rooted in his faithfulness, not our own strength. [49:03]
• 5. Worship and the sacraments sustain us for the journey The Lord’s day and the gifts of word and sacrament are not optional extras, but the very means by which God prepares and preserves us. Regular worship, prayer, and participation in the Lord’s Supper are essential for living in readiness and hope, as we await the final redemption.
  
  ** [51:39]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [35:54] - The Call to Clean Our Rooms
• [36:31] - Readiness for the Lord’s Return
• [37:12] - The Danger of Distraction
• [37:52] - False Prophets and Predictions
• [38:35] - Wasting Time on Speculation
• [39:11] - Do Not Be Terrified
• [39:48] - Comfort and Compromise in the World
• [40:26] - Lessons from Noah’s Generation
• [41:05] - The Religion of Babylon
• [41:39] - The World’s Allure and Danger
• [42:15] - Betrayal and Persecution
• [42:55] - Bold Confession in Hostility
• [44:12] - Raising Children in the Faith
• [46:02] - Where Will You Be When He Returns?
• [47:14] - Faithfulness in Worship and Service
• [49:03] - The True Gospel: Christ’s Presence
• [51:39] - The Foretaste of the Feast to Come
• [52:17] - Do Not Forsake the Fellowship
• [52:54] - Closing Hymn

Bible Reading

Luke 21:5-19 (ESV) — 5 And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
7 And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?”
8 And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them.
9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”
10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake.
13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness.
14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer,
15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.
16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death.
17 You will be hated by all for my name’s sake.
18 But not a hair of your head will perish.
19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.

Genesis 6:5 (ESV) — The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Observation Questions

1. In Luke 21:8-9, what does Jesus warn his disciples not to do when they hear of wars, rumors, and false prophets?
2. According to the sermon, what are some of the distractions that can keep us from being ready for the Lord’s return? ([37:12])
3. What does Jesus promise his followers in Luke 21:18-19, even as they face persecution and suffering?
4. How does the example of Noah’s generation in Genesis 6:5 relate to the warning Jesus gives about being ready? ([40:26])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus tell his disciples not to be terrified or led astray by false prophets and disasters? What does this reveal about the kind of faith he wants his followers to have? ([39:11])
2. The sermon mentions that comfort comes when we “stick Jesus in our back pocket” and only pull him out when it’s safe. What does this say about the temptation to hide our faith, and why is this not the way of discipleship? ([39:48])
3. The call to raise children in the faith is emphasized in the sermon. Why is it not enough to let children “decide for themselves” about faith, according to the pastor? ([44:12])
4. The sermon says that suffering and hardship are not signs of God’s absence. How does the promise “not a hair of your head will perish” shape our understanding of God’s presence in trials? ([49:03])

Application Questions

1. The sermon compares Jesus’ return to parents coming home and expecting a clean room. What “rooms” in your life might need cleaning or attention if you knew Jesus was coming back today? ([35:54])
2. What are some specific distractions—like consumerism, pleasure, or the pursuit of self—that you find pulling you away from God? How can you resist these this week? ([37:12])
3. Have you ever felt tempted to “blend in” or keep your faith hidden for the sake of comfort or acceptance? What would it look like to confess Christ more boldly in your daily life? ([39:48])
4. If you have children or influence over young people, how are you actively teaching and modeling the faith for them? Are there changes you feel called to make in your home or relationships? ([44:12])
5. The sermon warns against holding grudges or debating with God over his word. Is there a specific area where you are struggling to obey or trust God’s commands? What step could you take toward surrender or reconciliation? ([46:02])
6. How do you approach the Lord’s Day and the gifts of worship and the Lord’s Supper? Is there a way you could make these a more central part of your week? ([48:23])
7. The pastor says the true comfort is that Christ is with us in our suffering and will not let us fall. Can you recall a time when you experienced God’s presence in a hard season? How did that shape your faith? ([49:03])