Pastor Jack Graham | America, Israel, and War in the Middle East | Prestonwood Baptist Church

Psalm 103 opens with praise and anchors a call to faithful engagement in a turbulent world. The Bible frames a convictional response to cultural crises, urging active gospel witness through global student missions that baptize, dig wells, and share Christ across Thailand, Uganda, Brazil, Germany, Puerto Rico, New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C. A civic responsibility to protect life surfaces with a pressing critique of chemical abortion, describing how mail-order abortifacients now account for the majority of abortions and demanding legal and moral containment. Political involvement gets situated under biblical priorities: public policy matters when it defends the vulnerable, but theological fidelity remains the chief allegiance.

Scripture shapes a clear posture toward Israel and the wider Middle East. The biblical covenant with Israel receives firm defense: God’s promises, not political convenience, justify steadfast support for Jewish existence while allowing room to critique any government actions. Prophetic Scripture supplies horizon lines for contemporary conflict. References to Matthew, Luke, Second Peter, Ezekiel, and Revelation outline a sequence in which the church’s rapture precedes a tribulation centered on Israel, with Persia (modern Iran) repeatedly appearing as a hostile actor in Scripture and in recent history.

Iran appears both as persecutor and as mission field. Historical notes highlight an early Christian presence in Persia and persistent, often underground, Christian communities today who face persecution, imprisonment, and social ostracism. The present conflict and military action present pastoral priorities: pray for the peace of Jerusalem, support Jewish neighbors against rising antisemitism, and pray for Iranian believers who could witness and grow if persecution eases. The conflict also exposes moral clarity about terrorism, the role of sponsors such as Iran in regional destabilization, and the call for just political responses that protect innocent life.

Urgent evangelistic summons frames the practical application: live expectantly for Christ’s return, practice uncompromising biblical conviction without sliding into triumphalism, and prioritize evangelism amid geopolitical upheaval. Salvation remains the decisive issue; repentance and faith in Jesus stand as the foundational solution to the world’s deepest problem, sin. The Bible calls for courageous, compassionate faith that both speaks truth to power and bears the good news to the nations.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Missions shape global gospel witness Long-term investment in student-led mission trips demonstrates how gospel presence transforms communities materially and spiritually. Tangible acts—baptisms, wells, rebuilding, and street evangelism—model how the church proclaims Christ while serving real needs. These efforts cultivate disciples who understand mission as a lifestyle, not a one-off event. [01:01]
• 2. Resist moral compromise on life The rise of unregulated chemical abortion requires both legal engagement and pastoral clarity about human dignity. Containing pills distributed without medical oversight preserves protections for vulnerable unborn children and supports families making life-affirming choices. Moral urgency does not erase the need for compassionate care for women caught in crisis. [05:01]
• 3. Support Israel for biblical reasons The covenantal promise gives a theological basis for standing with Israel while allowing honest critique of political choices. Scripture frames Israel as central to redemptive history, making prayer for Jerusalem a spiritual duty rather than mere geopolitics. Defense of Jewish life opposes antisemitism and aligns with biblical fidelity. [21:01]
• 4. Expect prophetic fulfillment and readiness Biblical prophecy, read through Matthew, Luke, and Revelation, calls Christians to live expectantly for the rapture and to interpret wars as birth pangs, not final defeat. Prophetic awareness fosters sober hope rather than headline-driven fear, prompting preparation of hearts and families for sudden divine action. Eschatology should increase evangelistic urgency, not fatalistic retreat. [16:51]
• 5. Pray for and empower Iranian believers Persecuted Iranian Christians exemplify faithful witness under threat, and political upheaval could open fertile ground for revival. Sustained prayer, online outreach, and practical support protect underground churches and expand evangelistic reach when access improves. Strategic compassion for Iranian converts honors both human dignity and kingdom advance. [34:09]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:27] - Psalm 103 and Praise
• [01:01] - Global Student Missions
• [03:29] - Urban Outreach in New York
• [04:09] - Capitol Moments and Advocacy
• [05:01] - The Chemical Abortion Crisis
• [06:12] - Political Action for Life
• [13:24] - Why the Middle East Matters
• [16:51] - Rapture, Tribulation, Prophecy
• [21:01] - Biblical Support for Israel
• [26:05] - Israel Crisis Fund and Aid
• [34:09] - Iranian Christians and Persecution
• [39:50] - Call to Evangelism and Readiness
• [43:11] - Invitation to Faith

1. What specific actions does the psalmist command his own soul to do in the opening verses of Psalm 103?
2. According to the sermon, what are some of the tangible acts of service performed by students on mission trips that demonstrate a "gospel presence"? [01:01]
3. What biblical reason, rooted in God's promise, was given for supporting the right of Israel to exist as a nation? [21:01]
4. What did Jesus instruct his followers to do when they see certain events happening, according to Luke 21:28? [15:28]

1. The sermon connects the praise of Psalm 103 to "a call to faithful engagement in a turbulent world." How does remembering God's benefits and character fuel our engagement with difficult cultural issues rather than leading to retreat?
2. The idea was presented that to be complacent is to be complicit with evil. [11:38] What is the difference between a peaceful, trusting heart and a complacent spirit when facing the moral crises of our day?
3. How does a biblical, covenantal view of Israel provide a framework for supporting its right to exist while still allowing for honest critique of its government's political decisions? [21:01]
4. The return of Christ is described as a truth that should lead to excitement and expectation, not "headline hysteria." [37:35] How can a proper understanding of prophecy change our emotional response to troubling world events?

1. The global mission efforts included both spiritual work like baptisms and street evangelism, and practical work like digging wells. [01:01] What is one tangible way you can combine meeting a practical need with sharing the hope of the gospel in your own community this week?
2. With chemical abortion pills now accounting for the majority of abortions, [05:43] what is one specific, actionable step you can take to advocate for the protection of the vulnerable unborn, whether through legal awareness, supporting a pregnancy resource center, or compassionate conversation?
3. Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is described as a spiritual duty. [14:55] How will you incorporate prayer for Israel, its people, and its leaders into your regular routine? Will you also commit to standing against antisemitism when you encounter it in your own circles?
4. The persecuted church in Iran is described as potentially the fastest growing in the world. [34:46] How does the faithfulness of believers under severe persecution challenge your own commitment to Christ? What is one way you can regularly pray for and support our brothers and sisters in Iran and other hostile nations?
5. Living on the "tiptoe of excitement" for Christ's return involves expectant readiness. [38:01] If you knew Christ was returning next week, what relationship would you prioritize mending, what conversation about faith would you finally have, and what activity would you immediately stop?
6. The most important question amidst all geopolitical turmoil is, "Do you know Jesus?" [40:18] Whether for the first time or as a renewed commitment, have you settled the question of who is Lord of your life? What does it look like for you to move from a "casual, convenient Christianity" to a courageous, convictional faith today? [12:57]