Discerning the Times | Samuel Voo | Nov 2, 2025

We live in a time marked by overlapping crises—economic, social, political, and spiritual. This convergence, what some scholars call “polycrisis,” is not just a collection of problems, but a compounding of them, each crisis amplifying the others. In such a world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, anxious, or even numb. Yet, this is not the first time God’s people have faced such times. The disciples themselves lived under Roman occupation, experiencing political instability, economic exploitation, and religious turmoil. Jesus spoke directly into their context, warning of the destruction of the temple and the coming upheaval, but also teaching them to discern the times and recognize the patterns of history.

Jesus’ words in Mark 13 are layered. He speaks both to the immediate future—the destruction of Jerusalem—and to a greater, cosmic reality that transcends any single historical moment. Biblical prophecy often works this way, revealing patterns that repeat across eras, culminating in God’s ultimate purposes. Jesus calls us to recognize these patterns, to “stay awake,” and to live with spiritual alertness, not just reacting to the world’s chaos, but discerning God’s work within it.

Staying awake is not about living in fear or trying to predict the exact timing of God’s intervention. Rather, it’s a posture of faithfulness, living as if Jesus were present with us at every moment. It means being alert to the ways we can drift into spiritual sleep—through complacency, distraction, or despair—and choosing instead to live with purpose and hope. Exile, whether cultural, spiritual, or personal, is never the end of the story. It is a season, not a sentence. God’s promise is that exile is temporary, and that He is at work even in the midst of our waiting.

The call is to examine our lives: Where are we asleep? Where do we act as if God is distant? What concrete steps can we take to stay alert and faithful? In a world of polycrisis, the invitation is to live with eyes wide open, hearts awake, and hope anchored in the promise that God’s story is not finished.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Polycrisis and Pattern Recognition: The convergence of multiple crises in our world is not new to God’s people. Jesus teaches us to recognize the repeating patterns of chaos, destruction, and opposition to God throughout history, and to discern the spiritual significance behind current events rather than merely reacting to them on a surface level. [13:32]
• 2. The Layered Nature of Prophecy: Biblical prophecy often operates on multiple levels, speaking both to immediate historical events and to larger, cosmic realities. This invites us to read Scripture with humility and attentiveness, seeking not just information about the future, but wisdom for faithful living in the present. [12:26]
• 3. Staying Awake as a Posture, Not a Panic: Jesus’ command to “stay awake” is not a call to anxiety or frantic activity, but to a posture of readiness and faithfulness. It means living as if Christ were present with us, conducting our work, relationships, and daily life in the light of His imminent return, rather than slipping into spiritual complacency. [20:12]
• 4. Exile Is Temporary, Purposeful, and Transformative: Seasons of exile—whether personal, cultural, or spiritual—are never permanent. God uses exile to shape, refine, and prepare His people, and the promise remains that He will bring it to an end in His time. Our challenge is to persevere and remain faithful, trusting that God’s purposes are being worked out even in our waiting. [24:08]
• 5. Concrete Faithfulness in Uncertain Times: In a world where the future is uncertain and crises abound, the call is to take concrete steps toward faithfulness. This means identifying areas where we are spiritually asleep, making intentional commitments to stay alert, and living each day as if it could be the day of Christ’s return—anchored in hope, not fear. [27:02]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:28] - The Reality of Polycrisis
• [01:36] - The Convergence of Crises
• [03:06] - Discerning the Times
• [05:01] - Mark 13 and First-Century Polycrisis
• [06:50] - The Fig Tree and Spiritual Discernment
• [07:45] - Jesus Predicts the Temple’s Destruction
• [08:46] - The Fall of Jerusalem in History
• [10:16] - Cosmic Prophecy and the Son of Man
• [11:20] - Layers of Biblical Prophecy
• [13:32] - Recognizing Patterns in History
• [15:36] - Birth Pangs and the Unfolding of God’s Plan
• [18:26] - The Call to Stay Awake
• [20:12] - Posture of Faithfulness, Not Fear
• [22:26] - Exile and Spiritual Vigilance
• [24:08] - Exile Is Temporary
• [26:20] - Reflective Questions for Staying Awake
• [27:46] - Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

Mark 13:1-37 (ESV) — (You may want to focus on verses 28-37 for group reading, but the whole chapter is the context.)

Observation Questions

1. In Mark 13, what are some of the signs Jesus says will happen before the destruction of the temple and the coming upheaval? ([08:10])
2. What does Jesus mean when he uses the image of the fig tree putting out its leaves? What is he asking the disciples to do? ([06:50])
3. How many times does Jesus command his disciples to “stay awake” in this passage, and what is the context for this command? ([18:26])
4. According to the sermon, what was the “polycrisis” that the disciples were experiencing in their time? ([05:01])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon describes biblical prophecy as “layered,” speaking to both immediate and future realities. How does this understanding affect the way we read passages like Mark 13? ([12:26])
2. Jesus tells his followers to “stay awake” rather than to live in fear or try to predict the exact timing of God’s intervention. What does it look like to have a posture of faithfulness instead of anxiety? ([20:12])
3. The sermon says that exile—whether personal, cultural, or spiritual—is never the end of the story. How might this perspective change the way someone views their current struggles or waiting seasons? ([24:08])
4. The preacher talks about “pattern recognition” in history and in our lives. Why is it important for Christians to recognize spiritual patterns rather than just react to surface-level events? ([13:32])

Application Questions

1. The sermon asks, “Are you asleep in some area of your life?” Take a moment to reflect: Is there a part of your spiritual life where you’ve become complacent, distracted, or numb? What is one sign that you might be “asleep” in that area? ([26:20])
2. Where do you personally have a tendency to “fall asleep” spiritually? Are there specific habits, attitudes, or situations that make you act as if God is distant? ([26:36])
3. The call to “stay awake” is about living as if Jesus could return at any moment. What would it look like for you to live this week with that kind of alertness? Is there a concrete action or decision you could make to help you stay spiritually awake? ([27:02])
4. The sermon mentions that exile is temporary and purposeful. If you are in a season of waiting or hardship, how can you remind yourself that God is still at work? What practical step can you take to persevere in faithfulness during this time? ([24:08])
5. The preacher encourages us to recognize patterns of chaos, destruction, and opposition to God in our world, but not to be overwhelmed by them. How do you typically respond to bad news or crises? What would it look like to respond with spiritual discernment instead of just reacting? ([13:32])
6. The sermon challenges us to make intentional commitments to stay alert. Is there a spiritual practice (like prayer, Scripture reading, or accountability) you want to commit to this month to help you stay awake? ([27:16])
7. Think about a time when you felt like you were in “exile”—disconnected from God, community, or purpose. Looking back, can you see any ways God was at work in that season? How might that encourage you or someone else today? ([23:41])