Coming Again | 11:00

Devotional

Day 1: Christmas: Cradle, Cross, Empty Tomb, Throne, Return

Every Christmas we stand at a holy intersection where the infinite became infant. God took on flesh to seek and to save the lost, to rescue us from the dominion of darkness, and to bring redemption through His blood. Yet the story moves forward: the cradle points to the cross, the cross to an empty tomb, the empty tomb to a throne, and the throne points to the sky. The One who came in humility will come again to rule and to reign. Celebrate His first coming with joy and lean forward in hope because He’s coming again [36:30]

John 1:14 — The eternal Word became truly human and lived among us; we saw the unique glory of the Father’s Son, overflowing with grace and truth.

Reflection: Which daily habit this week will remind you that the cradle points to the cross and the empty tomb points to the sky, keeping your heart awake to His return?

Day 2: Trust the Father’s Timing; Steward Today

It is natural to ask, “When will He come?” but God owns the calendar, not us. The call in the in-between is simple: stop predicting the date and start stewarding today. When worry about the future rises, rest in the Father’s authority over times and seasons. Your part is obedience, not obsession; readiness, not paralysis. Live today with quiet faithfulness and open hands [50:25]

Acts 1:7 — He said, “The schedule is not yours to manage; the Father has fixed the times by His authority, and that is enough.”

Reflection: What specific task, conversation, or act of faith have you delayed while waiting for “the right time,” and how will you take one concrete step of obedience today?

Day 3: Empowered Witnesses: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, Ends

In the in-between, you are not left powerless; the Holy Spirit equips you to be a witness. A witness is someone so sure of the truth that they live and, if needed, lay down their life for it. Start where you live—your Jerusalem—then your region, your nation, and the nations beyond. Where you live, work, play, and travel, influence others to know Christ, become like Christ, and do as Jesus did. Let your everyday intersections become avenues for the Great Commission [51:53]

Acts 1:8 — “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and on to the very ends of the earth.”

Reflection: Who in your “Jerusalem” will you pray for and serve this week, and what small, specific act of love will you offer to open a door for Jesus?

Day 4: Active Hope: Eyes on the Promise, Hand on the Plow

“Why do you stand staring into the sky?” is a gentle nudge away from passivity. Be watchful, yes, but also worship and work while you wait. Keep your eyes on the promise and your hand on the plow. Let hope make you diligent, not distracted; present, not paralyzed. Look up and lean in at the same time [53:31]

Matthew 24:42–44 — “Stay awake, because you don’t know the day your Lord will come. If a homeowner knew when a thief would show up, he’d stay alert. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will arrive at an hour you do not expect.”

Reflection: Where do you tend to stall—endless end-times speculation or nonstop busyness—and what one adjustment will help you balance watching and working this week?

Day 5: The King Returns: Mount of Olives to East Gate

God’s promises are precise: He will stand on the Mount of Olives, and the mountain will split from east to west, making a path. History even hints at the stage set—the eastern gate remains shut, awaiting the Lord who once entered and will enter again. None of this is coincidence; it is the kindness of a God who steadies our hope with detail. Let His faithfulness quiet fear and ignite worship. Walk into your week with confidence: He who came will come again [59:41]

Zechariah 14:3–4 — The Lord will go out to fight for His people, and on that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem; the mountain will split in two from east to west, opening a vast valley.

Reflection: How does God’s careful fulfillment of promises give you courage for a specific obstacle you face, and what prayer of trust will you speak as you step forward?

Sermon Summary

Every Christmas we stand at a holy intersection: the infinite became infant, and the God who came near to save promises to come again to reign. The cradle points to the cross, the cross to an empty tomb, the empty tomb to a throne, and the throne points our eyes to the sky. In Acts 1:1–11, the risen Jesus ascends while the disciples stare upward, stunned. Two angels interrupt their gaze: He will return the same way He left—so get busy. That call still holds. We live in the in‑between—no longer who we were, not yet where we will be—and this is not a pause; it’s a vocation of faithful waiting and active witness.

So what do we do until He returns? First, we trust the Father’s timing. I walked us through the difference between the rapture (church gathered to Christ) and the second coming (Christ returns to earth), not to fuel date-setting but to fix our focus on obedience. God owns the calendar; we steward today. Second, we embrace our Great Commission. The Spirit empowers us to witness from our Jerusalem outward—where we live, work, and play—helping people know Christ, become like Christ, and do as Jesus did. Third, we look ahead with active hope: eyes on the promise, hands on the plow. Watchfulness and work are not enemies; they belong together.

I also shared one of my favorite “God is amazing” threads. Scripture says Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives and will return there, entering through the Eastern Gate. That gate is the priestly gate—used in Israel’s worship and the route of Jesus’ triumphal entry. Sixteen centuries after Ezekiel’s prophecy, the Ottoman sultan sealed that very gate to keep Messiah out. Then, in 1964, geologists discovered an east‑west fault running from the Mount of Olives across the Kidron Valley toward that gate—echoing Zechariah’s vision of the mountain splitting east to west. When He comes, the heavens will open—and the earth might, too. Christmas is not just a manger story; it’s a He’s‑coming‑again story. Let’s be ready—trusting His timing, living His mission, and hoping with our hands at work.

Key Takeaways

1. Trust the Father’s calendar God has revealed enough to anchor hope but withheld the dates to cultivate obedience. The rapture and second coming are linked but distinct, reminding us God’s plan is precise even when our timelines are not. Stop hunting for dates; start stewarding this day in faithfulness. [50:25]
2. Live the Great Commission locally outward The Spirit empowers ordinary people for an extraordinary task—witness where you are, then keep moving outward. Mission is not a trip; it’s a way of life that reshapes how we see neighbors, coworkers, and strangers. Discipleship travels on the roads we already walk, carried by courage and compassion. [51:53]
3. Hope that works, not stares The angels rebuked passive wonder and called for active readiness. Real hope doesn’t retreat into speculation; it fuels worship, service, and sacrificial love. Keep your eyes on the promise and your hands on the plow—watchful hearts, working lives. [53:31]
4. History echoes His promised return Ezekiel’s shut Eastern Gate, Suleyman’s masonry, Zechariah’s east‑west split, and a modern fault line all whisper the same story: God keeps His word. These signposts are not for sensationalism but for strengthened confidence in His sovereignty. Let them move you from curiosity to consecration. [59:41]
5. The in‑between is sacred space We’re not stalled; we’re being formed. This season tests patience and deepens trust, teaching us to obey without having every answer. God meets us here, shaping a people who can carry hope into a restless world. [38:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Christmas Eve invite and gratitude
[03:05] - The infinite became infant
[36:30] - Scripture reading: Acts 1:1–11
[38:50] - Living in the in‑between
[44:04] - Rapture and second coming
[47:12] - Daniel’s seventy weeks
[50:25] - Stop predicting, start stewarding
[51:53] - Great Commission: from here to there
[53:31] - Eyes on promise, hand on plow
[54:37] - Mount of Olives to Eastern Gate
[56:02] - Gate sealed by Suleyman
[58:28] - Zechariah’s earthquake and fault line
[60:22] - Christmas: He’s coming back
[63:46] - Invitation and prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
- ACTS 1:1–11

Observation questions

In Acts 1:6–8, what did the disciples ask Jesus about the kingdom, and how did He redirect their focus?
What specific sequence of places does Acts 1:8 name, and what is the purpose tied to that sequence? How was “Jerusalem” described as the place where you live, work, and play? [51:53]
In Acts 1:9–11, what exactly happened to Jesus, what were the disciples doing, and what did the two angels say?
What contrast do you see between staring into the sky and the call to get to work in verse 11? [53:07]

Interpretation questions

“It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set” (Acts 1:7). What does this teach about who owns the calendar and what role obedience plays in daily life? [50:25]
Acts 1:8 ties the Spirit’s power to being witnesses. How does the Spirit’s presence change the way ordinary people think about mission—not as a trip but as a lifestyle from “Jerusalem” outward? [51:53]
“Keep your eyes on the promise and your hand on the plow.” How do watchfulness and work belong together, and what goes wrong when one is present without the other? [53:31]
The Eastern Gate story (Ezekiel/Zechariah) was shared to strengthen confidence, not hype. How can signposts in history move a heart from curiosity to consecration? [59:41]

Application questions

Where are you most tempted to predict, control, or worry about God’s timeline? What is one simple act of obedience you will steward today to trust the Father’s calendar? [50:25]
Name your “Jerusalem.” Who are three people where you live, work, or play that you can pray for and serve this week? What is one specific next step—an invite, a text, a coffee, a ride, a meal—you can take in the next 48 hours? [51:53]
“Keep your eyes on the promise and your hand on the plow.” What daily rhythm could help you practice both—perhaps a short prayer of “Come, Lord Jesus” and one concrete act of service each day? When will you start? [53:31]
Think about the “in‑between” space you’re in right now. Where do you need patience, and where do you need action? Which practice—Scripture, Sabbath, confession, accountability, or serving—will you lean into this week? [38:50]
How will you talk about Jesus’ return with humility and hope this season? What is one speculation‑feeding habit you can reduce (news, social feeds, endless videos) and one Scripture habit you can add (reading Acts 1 or praying through 1 Thessalonians 4)? [53:07]
The Eastern Gate story stirred a sense that God keeps His word. What did it stir in you—wonder, courage, urgency? What is one step of consecration you will take (repentance, reconciliation, generosity, serving) because He is coming again? [59:41]
If Jesus returned this week, what ongoing habit would you be glad He found you doing, and what habit would you want to change? What micro‑change will you make today to live ready and engaged in the Great Commission? [40:25]

Sermon Clips

Every Christmas, whether you know it or not, we stand at a holy intersection where we celebrate the truth that the infinite became infant, but we also that God became flesh and made his dwelling among us in order to seek and to save the lost through the cross, in order to minister to us, to care for us, to rescue us from the dominion of darkness, in order to bring us into the kingdom of his Son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sin. [00:34:54] (35 seconds) #IncarnationAndRedemption

And yet that's not where the story ends. Christmas is just as much about his second coming as it is his first coming. See, Christmas wasn't solely a birth announcement. It was also a promise. For as the cradle points to the cross, the cross points to an empty tomb. So too, the empty tomb points to a throne, and that throne points to a sky. Because one day, Jesus said, he will return just the way he left. And so the God who came special delivery some 2,000 years ago in humility is going to come again to rule and to reign for all eternity. [00:35:29] (49 seconds) #CradleToThrone

In this angelic encounter, we learn that the Jesus who came in the advent, who arose at Easter, and who ascended at Pentecost, he's one day going to return in the future visibly, personally, and gloriously. But this time he's not coming to die for sin. This time he's coming to make an end of sin and to establish a new heaven and a new earth, a whole new era of his kingdom. [00:38:33] (34 seconds) #ReturnToRenewCreation

I'm certain these men and women had spiritual whiplash. And they were standing there going, what do we do now that our secret sauce, now that our Savior is no longer with us? What do we do? Because we were following him, and he had all the power. He was doing all the miracles. When suddenly two angels interrupted and looks at them and says, break out of your staring contest and get busy because he's coming again. And when he comes again, you need to be ready. You need to be engaged in the work of the Great Commission, and you need to be ready when he returns because he's coming back soon. [00:41:01] (47 seconds) #ReadyAndOnMission

Now, just for a little bit of fun, there are a number of views regarding the rapture. You have what's called the pre-tribulation rapture. You have the mid-tribulation rapture. You have the pre-wrath tribulation rapture. You have the post-tribulation rapture. And then you have the pan-tribulation rapture. So let me explain them. Pre-trib, it's going to happen before the tribulation. Mid-trib, it's going to happen halfway. Pre-wrath, it's going to happen three-quarters of the way. Post, it's going to happen at the end. And pan, it's all going to pan out in the end. You just need to be ready for it to come. Okay? [00:44:40] (43 seconds) #RaptureViewsExplained

It means that as we witness this amazing timing of God, our focus shouldn't be on crunching dates and trying to figure out when He's going to return, but to live on mission until He returns. In fact, Jesus' point, I think Jesus' point is twofold. One, God owns the calendar, not us. What we own is obedience. And two, we're to stop trying to predict the date, and we're to start stewarding today. That's what the real message is here. Trust God's timing. [00:50:48] (36 seconds) #TrustGodsTiming

It means that each and every one of us, if we have been rescued, and we've been saved, and we've come into a relationship with God, we now have a calling on our lives to go live the great commission to make disciples of all nations where we live, where we work, where we play, where we travel, wherever our lives intersect with other people, we're called to live on mission to influence other people to know Christ, to become like Christ, and to do as Jesus did. [00:52:16] (30 seconds) #LiveTheGreatCommission

All this to say, Christmas isn't just a manger story. It's a he's coming back again story. At Bethlehem, when the angels announced there will be good news of great joy, it is equally, equally powerful that on the Mount of Olives, they promised that he would return, that he is the one who is to come. Hallelujah. Praise the Lord. I cannot wait for that day. Amen? [01:00:22] (32 seconds) #ChristmasPointsToReturn

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