Living in Anticipation: Ready for Christ's Return

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we focused on the anticipation of Christ's return and the importance of living a life that reflects readiness for that moment. We began by acknowledging the challenges and distractions that life throws our way, yet emphasized the necessity of maintaining a steadfast focus on Jesus. The call to live righteously is not just about personal piety but about being active participants in God's mission, sharing the gospel, and being part of the church community. We explored the teachings from 2 Thessalonians, where Paul warns against false teachings about the return of Christ and highlights the signs that will precede His coming, such as the apostasy and the revelation of the man of lawlessness.

The sermon also touched on the importance of worshiping the one true God and being vigilant against the deception of false idols and teachings. We were reminded that our worship should be pure and undistracted, focusing solely on God. The discussion on the Antichrist and the end times served as a reminder to be spiritually prepared and discerning, recognizing the signs of the times without being swayed by fear or false teachings.

In our personal lives, we are encouraged to live with the anticipation of Christ's return, ensuring that our actions, thoughts, and worship align with His teachings. This involves being part of a church community, engaging in regular worship, and living out our faith in everyday actions. The message concluded with a call to remain vigilant, faithful, and ready for the return of our Lord, living each day as if it could be the day of His coming.

Key Takeaways:

1. Living in Anticipation: We are called to live in anticipation of Christ's return by maintaining a life of righteousness and active participation in God's mission. This involves sharing the gospel and being part of the church community, ensuring that our lives reflect readiness for His coming. [01:00:15]

2. Discernment Against Deception: Paul warns us about false teachings regarding Christ's return. We must be discerning and not let our minds be shaken by false prophecies or messages. Our faith should be anchored in the truth of the crucifixion, resurrection, and the promised return of Jesus. [01:09:53]

3. Pure Worship: Our worship should be focused solely on God, free from distractions and false idols. We must ensure that our worship is genuine and that we are not swayed by the allure of false teachings or worldly distractions. [01:32:58]

4. Understanding the End Times: The discussion on the Antichrist and the end times serves as a reminder to be spiritually prepared and discerning. We should recognize the signs of the times without being swayed by fear or false teachings, trusting in God's ultimate plan. [01:24:52]

5. Community and Accountability: Being part of a church community is crucial for spiritual growth and accountability. We are encouraged to engage in regular worship, fellowship, and service, supporting one another in our journey of faith and readiness for Christ's return. [01:35:32]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:45] - Opening Announcements
- [03:30] - Prayer and Scripture Reading
- [06:15] - Missionary Moment
- [09:00] - Offering and Giving Back
- [12:00] - Introduction to Sermon Series
- [15:45] - The Return of Righteousness
- [20:30] - Understanding Apostasy
- [25:00] - The Man of Lawlessness
- [30:45] - Living in Anticipation
- [35:00] - Pure Worship
- [40:15] - Discernment Against Deception
- [45:30] - Community and Accountability
- [50:00] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
- [55:00] - Final Blessing and Dismissal

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4

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Observation Questions:

1. What are the two events Paul mentions in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 that must occur before the return of Christ? [55:29]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of the "man of lawlessness" in the end times? [01:24:52]
3. According to the sermon, what are some of the false teachings that were troubling the Thessalonian church? [01:09:53]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of being part of a church community in anticipation of Christ's return? [01:35:32]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the anticipation of Christ's return influence the way believers are encouraged to live their lives according to the sermon? [01:00:15]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest believers can discern against false teachings and deception? [01:09:53]
3. What does the sermon imply about the significance of pure worship and how it should be practiced? [01:32:58]
4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between personal righteousness and participation in God's mission? [01:00:15]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your daily life. Are there specific distractions that prevent you from focusing on Jesus? How can you minimize these distractions this week? [01:04:14]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of being part of a church community. How can you actively engage in your church community to support your spiritual growth and readiness for Christ's return? [01:35:32]
3. Consider the concept of pure worship. Are there any "false idols" or distractions in your life that might be affecting your worship? How can you refocus your worship to be solely on God? [01:32:58]
4. The sermon warns against false teachings. How can you ensure that your faith is anchored in the truth of the crucifixion, resurrection, and promised return of Jesus? [01:09:53]
5. Think about the anticipation of Christ's return. How does this anticipation affect your actions and thoughts in your everyday life? What changes can you make to live more righteously? [01:00:15]
6. The sermon discusses the importance of discernment. How can you cultivate a discerning spirit to recognize the signs of the times without being swayed by fear or false teachings? [01:24:52]
7. Reflect on your role in God's mission. How can you actively participate in sharing the gospel and supporting your church community this week? [01:00:15]

Devotional

Day 1: Living in Anticipation
Living in anticipation of Christ's return involves more than just waiting; it requires active engagement in a life that reflects readiness and righteousness. This means participating in God's mission by sharing the gospel and being an integral part of the church community. The anticipation of Christ's return should inspire believers to live lives that are aligned with His teachings, ensuring that their actions and thoughts are in harmony with His will. By doing so, they not only prepare themselves for His coming but also contribute to the spread of His message and the strengthening of the community of believers. [01:00:15]

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:11-13, ESV)

Reflection: What specific actions can you take today to actively participate in God's mission and reflect readiness for Christ's return?


Day 2: Discernment Against Deception
In a world filled with false teachings and prophecies, discernment is crucial for maintaining a steadfast faith. Paul warns against being shaken by false messages regarding Christ's return, urging believers to anchor their faith in the truth of the crucifixion, resurrection, and the promised return of Jesus. This discernment involves a deep understanding of Scripture and a reliance on the Holy Spirit to guide one's beliefs and actions. By staying grounded in the truth, believers can navigate the challenges of deception and remain firm in their faith. [01:09:53]

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1, ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper understanding of Scripture to better discern truth from deception in your daily life?


Day 3: Pure Worship
Worship should be a pure and undistracted focus on God, free from the influence of false idols and teachings. True worship involves a genuine connection with God, where believers are not swayed by worldly distractions or the allure of false teachings. This purity in worship requires intentionality and a commitment to keeping God at the center of one's life. By ensuring that worship is genuine and focused solely on God, believers can experience a deeper relationship with Him and a more profound sense of His presence in their lives. [01:32:58]

"Therefore, let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:28-29, ESV)

Reflection: What distractions or false idols might be hindering your worship, and how can you refocus your heart and mind on God today?


Day 4: Understanding the End Times
The discussion on the Antichrist and the end times serves as a reminder to be spiritually prepared and discerning. Recognizing the signs of the times without being swayed by fear or false teachings is essential for maintaining a strong faith. Trusting in God's ultimate plan provides peace and assurance, even amidst uncertainty. By understanding the biblical teachings on the end times, believers can remain vigilant and confident in their faith, knowing that God's promises will be fulfilled. [01:24:52]

"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming." (Matthew 24:36, 42, ESV)

Reflection: How can you prepare spiritually for the end times while maintaining peace and trust in God's plan?


Day 5: Community and Accountability
Being part of a church community is crucial for spiritual growth and accountability. Engaging in regular worship, fellowship, and service provides support and encouragement in the journey of faith. The church community offers a space for believers to grow together, hold each other accountable, and support one another in readiness for Christ's return. By actively participating in the life of the church, believers can strengthen their faith and contribute to the spiritual growth of others. [01:35:32]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you engage more deeply with your church community to foster spiritual growth and accountability?

Quotes

"Let's get our Bibles out. Let's raise the word of God high and say this with me. This is my Bible, God's holy word. I'll make it a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path and hide its words in my heart that I might not sin against God. Amen. God bless you all. So listen, as we're going into this, continuing this sermon series, it's all about the return of righteousness. So Jesus is coming back, his return is certain, and then we need to live righteously. So if you're out there and you've thought about this, how am I supposed to live my life prepared for Jesus' return? Right here it is. You keep doing what God wants you to do until he comes back." [00:54:37]

"So wherever you're at in this whole thing, I encourage you to do that. So as we look at this return of Christ and his worship, Paul is warning us in this text in 2 Thessalonians. We're going to start chapter 2 today. He's warning us that there are people that have taught falsely that Christ has already returned. And he's going to set that straight with them and he's going to give us two things that we need to look at that should happen before his return comes. One is the apostasy of the church and two will be the lawless man will come." [00:55:29]

"Those two things we're going to talk about today. So if you've ever wondered about the Antichrist, we're going to start to get into him this week and next week. All right. So if you'd like that revelation stuff, we're on it. It's kind of cool. Billy's teaching right now from Max Lucado's teaching on end times down at the gathering at nine o'clock. If you want to come kind of get some of that theological backgrounds with pre-millennial, pre-tribulation, that kind of stuff. They're talking about that down there on Sunday mornings as well." [00:56:01]

"Listen to the word of the Lord. Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to be easily upset, or troubled either by a prophecy or by a message or by a letter that supposedly is from us. Allegedly that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way for that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed. The man who is doomed for destruction." [00:57:43]

"How do you get ready? You keep doing the right things. Not that your behavior earns, but you continue to live for Jesus. You should continue to be evangelical or gospel people we should be in listen attendance should never vey it should never vein away we should never we should never see a decline but we see that today in fact even in our church not that i'm keeping tabs sometimes i'm lucky to see you here twice a month the church at large once a month these are church folk you all does that sadden you i would consider an apostasy whoo why we're going to talk about that we need to continue to be as church who's jesus coming back for you or the church church you just get to be a part of it amen we're his people he comes back for his people he's always done that now is it individual yeah but don't get caught up in this individualism of americanism we i know we do a good job of that because you need to get saved but it's the church you belong to the church when you get saved you belong to the church when you get saved you belong to the church when you get saved saved, you belong to God's people. You become part of him. You become a child of God. You become part of the family. And so God wants us to live righteously, keep doing the right things. Our life, listen, should we be Sunday Christians? No." [00:58:39]

"What's a Sunday Christian look? The one that comes all the time every Sunday and they look like they got it all together and they live however they want for the rest of the week, right? People should see Jesus in us wherever we do all the time. Now, can we have bad moments? Yes. Then we should be humble enough to admit that. But our lives should show that we have bowed in need of Jesus, that our tongue has confessed him as Lord, and that we live that way. Amen? All right. So if you're living that way, I think you're ready for his return." [01:00:07]

"And then we need to worship the one true God. What will happen in the end is that people will worship false gods and people will end up worshiping this man of lawlessness. All right. Because they're deceived. So if you know Christ, I don't believe that you will be deceived, but Satan is so crafty he can even deceive the elect, scripture says. So we need to be wise enough to know we need to be careful." [01:00:28]

"So we need to make sure, this is why we need church. This is why we need to make sure we're worshiping Christ the right way, that we make sure that we're in the word, that we make sure that we're with God's people, that we make sure we're having fellowship with the light, not the darkness. We make sure that we have fellowship with one another, that we hold each other accountable. So that we do not forsake the assembly of the body of believers, like Hebrews 10 tells us." [01:00:54]

"By the way, in the first century, they had already abandoned regular attendance of coming together. Every church has to fight this battle to see the importance. And I think we linger sometimes because one, life gets hard. Does life get hard? Do you get pulled every which way? Come on, let's admit it, right? I got this problem. I got that problem. Let me tell you, I don't think anybody has a bigger problem than I do. Let me tell you right now on this Sunday morning. My water is being depleted at 0.25 gallons every minute." [01:01:37]

"So as you, as you look at that, I just want to say this, make sure that we're worshiping the one true God. We're here. It should be a priority in life. Our focus should be, I'm focused on Jesus's return. I'm going to live righteously. I'm going to make sure I'm worshiping the one true God. And I, are there distractions that take us away? Yes. Do we go on vacations? Yes. So don't think I'm being too hardcore, but if you are physically able, you need to worship the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. All right." [01:03:16]

"Now, should we treat it like it's imminent? Yes, but we treat it like it's imminent, and this is so important to everybody, and we keep living our lives honoring God in all that we do. Honoring God in our work. Honoring God in our families. Honoring God in our marriages. Honoring God in our church. Honoring God in our community. We go about doing those things, and don't stop those things, and that's going to be Paul's argument through the whole first book of Thessalonians and the second one." [01:05:20]

"Keep living your life ready for Christ to return. He will return, but don't get fooled thinking he's already returned. Live your life in a righteous way. So, in verse one, concerning the coming Lord Jesus Christ and being gathered together. Verse Thessalonians, 417, which I preached in 2023. I know that was a while ago. So, it says this, then we who are still alive when Jesus comes, who are left, we will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord Jesus in the air, and so we will be with him always." [01:06:34]

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Transcript
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