Preach the Gospel and Look to Jesus

Devotional

Day 1: The Certain Hope of Christ's Return

The world can feel chaotic and uncertain, yet the promise of Christ's return stands as an anchor for the soul. This is not a vague hope but a guaranteed future event, the final act of history where Jesus will reconcile all things to Himself. As often as we take communion, we proclaim this truth: He died, He is risen, and He is coming back. This blessed hope empowers us to live with purpose and confidence, no matter what unfolds around us. [45:48]

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
1 Corinthians 11:26 (ESV)

Reflection: When you consider the current state of the world, what anxieties surface? How does the certain promise of Jesus’s return reshape your perspective on those anxieties?

Day 2: Enduring Faith in the Midst of Trouble

Following Jesus does not promise a life free from difficulty; in fact, Scripture assures us that hardship and persecution will come. The true test of faith is not during times of ease, but when the rains fall and the winds blow. A faith built on the solid rock of Christ will endure, while a faith built on cultural convenience will crumble. The call is to remain steadfast, holding fast to our confession of hope, for the one who endures to the end will be saved. [54:27]

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.”
Matthew 7:24-25 (ESV)

Reflection: What are the signs in your own life that your faith is built on the rock of Christ, rather than the sand of convenience or culture?

Day 3: Our Role in Proclaiming the Gospel to All Nations

Amid the prophecies about the end times, we are given a clear and active role to play. The gospel of the kingdom must be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations. This is not a passive waiting period but an active participation in God’s redemptive plan. Our faithfulness in sharing the good news, whether in times of safety or persecution, is part of the divine timeline leading to Christ’s return. [56:55]

And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:14 (ESV)

Reflection: Who is the “one” person God has uniquely placed in your life—through your hobbies, work, or family—to reach with the gospel? What is one step you can take to engage them with love and truth?

Day 4: Discerning Truth in a World of Deception

The path to the end will be marked not only by trouble but also by widespread deception. False messiahs and prophets will arise, performing signs and wonders to lead people astray. In such a climate, spiritual discernment is critical. We must be rooted in the truth of Scripture to recognize the unmistakable, lightning-like return of the true Christ and reject any cheap imitation, no matter how compelling it may appear. [01:07:13]

For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
Matthew 24:24 (ESV)

Reflection: Where in your daily life—be it in media, popular culture, or even spiritual teachings—are you most susceptible to subtle deception? How can you cultivate a greater familiarity with Scripture to guard your heart and mind?

Day 5: Living Between the Advents: Proclaim and Look

The Christian life is lived between Christ’s first coming and His second. Our calling in this time is beautifully simple yet profoundly deep: preach the gospel and look to Jesus. These two actions are inextricably linked. We look to Jesus as the source of our salvation and strength, and from that place of secure hope, we are empowered to proclaim His name to others. This is our purpose as we await His glorious return. [01:14:15]

Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)

Reflection: As you consider your routine this week, what would it look like to intentionally “look to Jesus” in the midst of your ordinary moments? How might that gaze upon Him naturally overflow into a readiness to proclaim the gospel?

Sermon Summary

Matthew 24 frames the end as both a coming hope and a severe call to faithfulness. Jesus predicts the temple’s destruction and unfolds a sequence of signs—false messiahs, wars, famines, earthquakes, rising lawlessness, and intense persecution—that mark a downward slide before the final act of history. These disturbances function as “birth pangs”: real and frightening, yet not the immediate end. The faithful will face arrest, hatred, and even death, but endurance remains the decisive mark of salvation. At the same time, the proclamation of the kingdom advances globally; the gospel’s witness to all nations forms part of the sequence that precedes the end.

Jesus instructs practical readiness: when the “abomination of desolation” appears, those in Judea must flee to the mountains without delay, even abandoning possessions. The warning emphasizes urgency, the reality of great tribulation, and the necessity of discerning false signs. False Christs and prophets will perform impressive signs and wonders, yet the true return will be unmistakable—like lightning flashing across the sky—so claims of a local or secret messiah must be rejected. The image of vultures gathering at a corpse signals inevitable judgment when Christ comes again.

The text moves from prophetic description to pastoral application. Kingdom people must both proclaim the gospel and keep eyes fixed on Christ. The mission does not stop because the world grows hostile; in fact, persecution often accompanies the spread of the gospel. Personal witness—treating others as image-bearers and pursuing the one person God places in each life—becomes the church’s active role while history unfolds. A contemporary encounter in a woodshop models this: relational rhythms and shared interests can create openings for gospel conversation even where prior attempts failed.

The overarching summons remains clear: live with sober awareness of coming judgment, refuse sensational detours, and posture life around two priorities—preach the gospel and look to Jesus. Those who do will stand firm when trials come; those who do not risk having a faith built on sand. The promise anchors every warning: Christ will return, reign, and bring final reconciliation.

Key Takeaways

1. Preach the gospel and endure Proclaiming the kingdom remains the church’s active role even amid escalating turmoil. The advance of the gospel across nations is not a sideline but part of the horizon that precedes the end; suffering can accompany and even catalyze that spread. Endurance does not equal passive survival but sustained witness under pressure, anchored in the hope that God remains sovereign. [56:11]
2. Look to Jesus amid chaos Fixing eyes on Christ forms the only sure foundation when cultural comforts erode and persecution rises. A rock-based faith withstands storms that overturn superficial, identity-based religion; devotion must outlast convenience. Looking to Jesus reshapes priorities and fuels perseverance when lawlessness cools many hearts. [55:22]
3. Discern false messiahs and signs Extraordinary signs do not confirm true authority; discernment requires Scripture-shaped judgment and communal wisdom. False Christs will perform wonders to deceive, but the coming of the Son of Man will be globally visible and undeniable. Refuse sensational shortcuts and test every claim against the clear character of Christ’s return. [65:17]
4. Find and reach your “one” God often ordains ordinary relationships as gospel opportunities; identify the person uniquely placed in daily life. Intentional hospitality, listening, and kindness create space for the gospel to land where prior attempts failed. Expect God to orchestrate openings and respond with readiness to make an evangelistic impression. [62:36]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[44:18] - Easter and the Lord’s Supper focus
[47:04] - Explaining "eschatological" language
[49:48] - Reading Matthew 24: the temple and signs
[53:48] - Persecution, endurance, and foundation
[56:11] - Gospel proclamation to all nations
[60:18] - A Woodshop story: divine appointments
[63:46] - Abomination of desolation and flight
[65:43] - False Christs and unmistakable return
[71:30] - Lightning, vultures, and final judgment imagery
[74:15] - Application: preach the gospel; look to Jesus

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading: Matthew 24:1-28 (ESV)

Observation questions

According to verses 4-8, what specific signs does Jesus say will mark the period before the end, and what does He call them?
What two contrasting outcomes for people are described in verses 9-13 when faced with tribulation and lawlessness?
In verses 16-20, what specific and urgent instructions does Jesus give for when the "abomination of desolation" is seen?
How does Jesus describe the nature of His return in verse 27, and what does He say we should not believe in verses 23-26?

Interpretation questions

Jesus says the one who endures to the end will be saved (v. 13) and that the gospel must be proclaimed to all nations before the end will come (v. 14). What is the relationship between enduring persecution and actively proclaiming the gospel?
The instruction to flee without delay, even abandoning a cloak (v. 18), paints a picture of extreme urgency. What does this teach about the proper Christian response to impending judgment and the value we place on earthly possessions versus obedience?
Jesus warns that false christs and prophets will perform "great signs and wonders" (v. 24). If miraculous signs are not a reliable indicator of truth, what should a believer use for discernment instead?
The story shared about the woodshop illustrates a divine appointment [01:00:18]. How do ordinary life rhythms and shared interests often serve as God's method for creating openings for the gospel, even after previous attempts have failed?

Application questions

Endurance is not passive survival but sustained witness under pressure [56:11]. What does "sustained witness" look like in your current context, especially when your faith is inconvenient or comes with a social cost?
A faith built on the rock of Christ withstands storms that overturn a superficial, identity-based religion [55:22]. In what areas of your life is your faith more influenced by cultural comfort than by a deep, personal devotion to Jesus that will outlast convenience?
God often ordains ordinary relationships as gospel opportunities [01:02:36]. Who is the "one" person uniquely placed in your daily life—through your hobby, work, or neighborhood—that you believe God has been preparing you to reach?
The return of Christ will be as unmistakable as lightning across the sky [01:12:43]. How does this certainty shape your daily perspective, calming fears about current events and refocusing your priorities on what is eternal?
The command is to reject any claim of a local or secret messiah [01:05:17]. What are some modern "false christs" that promise salvation through things like political power, financial success, or personal fulfillment, and how can we actively reject these deceptive messages?
Intentional hospitality, listening, and kindness create space for the gospel to land [01:02:36]. What is one practical step you can take this week to show intentional kindness to your "one" with no other agenda than to reflect Christ?

Sermon Clips

39s

#EndureToTheEnd

“And so when we look in verse 13 and Jesus says, look here, the one who endures till the end will be saved, he's helping us to understand that, like, when the going gets tough, where is our faith gonna be? When it's no longer convenient, when there's no longer some sort of social benefit, When on the other side of the equation, when the church is persecuted, where will we be? Where will our faith be? And in the midst of that, it's not like we're just sitting around.”

55s

#PreachAndLookToJesus

“This is an expression of the ancient world to say that something is absolutely gonna happen. But it also, just by virtue of the language, has at least some underpinning of judgment. And this, an inescapable reality for the second coming. When Jesus comes back, he comes to judge. But friends, may that not be terrifying to us? Because between now and then, we know that Jesus saves. And so what do we do? What do we do? The the weary traveler going through this world living in Orange County, what do we do? Our big idea. Preach the gospel and look to Jesus.”

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