The Way of Hope: Are We Ready? (Worship 11/30/25)

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus' return will be visible and decisive.

You are called to readiness because Jesus will return in power and great glory; it will not be a quiet, secret event but a public, unmistakable gathering—the Son of Man on the clouds, angels with a loud trumpet, the faithful gathered from the four winds—and those who are unprepared will mourn, so the focus must be on being ready rather than guessing dates [27:02]

Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Reflection: What are two concrete changes you will make this week to prepare your heart for Christ’s return (for example: confess a specific sin, begin a nightly time of Scripture, invite someone to church)? Choose the first one now and do it before tonight.

Day 2: Faith in Jesus is the only way.

You must believe—faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation of readiness; Advent is as much a call to decision as a celebration, and Jesus’ claim that He alone is the way to the Father means sharing that truth matters urgently so others might be gathered with the faithful when He comes [49:35]

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Reflection: Who is one person in your life who needs to hear the gospel? Spend five minutes in prayer for them now, then send a simple, loving message today inviting them to meet, talk, or attend a church event with you this season.

Day 3: Let Scripture shape daily delight and practice.

Make God’s Word your daily nourishment—delight in the law of the Lord, meditate on it day and night, join a study, wrestle honestly with hard passages, and let Scripture penetrate and transform habits so waiting for Jesus changes how you live each day [50:25]

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Reflection: Set aside ten minutes today to read one Psalm or a chapter of the Gospels, then write one sentence about one habit you will change this week because of what you read.

Day 4: Cultivate continual, vigilant prayer every day.

Pray continually—keep short, regular rhythms of prayer for praise, confession, protection, and intercession; use journaling or brief prayer pauses during the day to clear clutter from the heart and to stay awake spiritually as you await the Lord’s coming [52:04]

pray without ceasing

Reflection: Put three alarms or reminders on your phone for today (morning, midday, evening). When each sounds, pray for five minutes: one minute of praise, one minute of confession, and three minutes of intercession—do the first one before you sleep tonight.

Day 5: Worship, teach, and serve as Christ's community.

Live as the extension of God’s kingdom—let the message of Christ dwell richly among you through teaching, gentle admonishing, singing with gratitude, and doing all things in Jesus’ name; be the hands and feet of Christ in both small kindnesses and bold witness so the world sees the kingdom while you wait [53:07]

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Reflection: Identify one small, tangible act of kingdom service you will do today (for example: give a generous tip, encourage a server, call a lonely neighbor, or visit someone in need) and complete it before the day ends; then tell one person why you did it.

Sermon Summary

Advent points us to a hope that isn’t wishful thinking but a promised reality not yet fully revealed. Scripture calls this hope a certainty, and that certainty shapes how we live today. Jesus will return—the Son of Man will be seen coming on the clouds with power and great glory, the trumpet will sound, and His angels will gather the faithful. We don’t know the day or the hour. That is why the call is not to calculate dates but to cultivate readiness.

As we make lists and prepare our homes for the season, we dare not neglect preparing our hearts. Jesus warned that His coming will be like the days of Noah—ordinary life humming along until the door of the ark is shut. Two will be in a field; one taken, one left. The image of a thief in the night reminds us to keep watch; to live alert, undistracted, and faithful. If we had advance notice, we’d be ready—but we won’t. So we live ready.

How? We begin with belief—placing our faith in Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We take up Scripture not just to read but to meditate, wrestle, and obey; and we pray—continually, confessing, interceding, praising. We worship together, teaching and gently holding one another accountable, letting the word of Christ dwell richly among us. And we become an extension of the kingdom in everyday places: choosing blessing over cynicism at a counter, offering a kind word when we feel ignored, remembering that we are the church to one another.

I shared about my brother Kalen. He lived with autism, and in 2007 he died unexpectedly. My grief was met by the hope of Jesus’ return—of a day with no more tears, when minds and bodies are made whole. That promise anchored me then and it anchors me now. Advent calls us to keep the light on—to be a people who are ready, not rattled; faithful, not fearful; awake, not distracted. Are we ready?

Key Takeaways

1. Hope is certain, not speculative Biblical hope is a promised reality, not a hunch. We live between promise and fulfillment, and that in‑between time is meant to form us, not frustrate us. Confidence in God’s future frees us to practice costly faithfulness in the present. Hope is the fuel of endurance and the guardrail against despair. [26:04]
2. No one knows the return Jesus insisted that even heaven’s angels do not know the hour, so date-setting is spiritual malpractice. Humble readiness is better than confident predictions; curiosity must give way to obedience. The surprise is not meant to scare us but to keep us awake and invested in what matters. Trust the Father’s timing and tend to your soul’s timing. [37:30]
3. Remember Noah: ordinary days deceive Judgment arrived while people were eating, drinking, and planning weddings. Routine can lull us into thinking tomorrow is guaranteed, but grace always calls for a response today. God’s patience is real, but the door does close; delayed obedience is often disobedience in disguise. Readiness means acting on truth while there is still time. [42:14]
4. Read, pray, and be formed Meditating on Scripture is not information hoarding; it’s a slow re-patterning of our desires toward God’s kingdom. Prayer—unceasing, honest, and repentant—clears the clutter so love can breathe. Over time, these practices tune the heart to God’s voice and steady the will for daily obedience. Formation, not frenzy, produces readiness. [50:25]
5. Live as an extension of heaven Small choices preach: generosity when service is poor, blessing when irritation feels justified, presence when convenience beckons. The kingdom advances not only through big moments, but through consistent, quiet faithfulness. Holiness in ordinary spaces makes the return of Jesus tangible to our neighbors. Let your everyday conduct carry eternal weight. [55:38]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[26:04] - Hope defined as certainty
[27:02] - Reading Matthew 24 on return
[30:21] - Preparing for the season
[33:57] - Preparing hearts, not schedules
[34:42] - The spectacular return of Jesus
[37:30] - No one knows the hour
[39:54] - Days of Noah as warning
[46:34] - Keep watch like a thief at night
[47:20] - How to be ready
[49:50] - Scripture and prayer practices
[54:32] - Worship and mutual accountability
[55:38] - Extending the kingdom in daily life
[58:42] - Brother Kalen: grief and hope
[63:58] - Closing prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (ESV)
Matthew 24:30–31, 36–44
30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
36 But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Observation questions (3–4)
- What visible signs of Jesus’ return are named in the passage? How does the preacher describe those same signs when he reads the text? [27:02]
- Which everyday activities are used in the Noah comparison to show how ordinary life continues until judgment arrives? [42:14]
- What specific phrases in the passage repeat that “no one knows the day or hour”? How did the speaker use that point to warn against date-setting? [37:30]
- In the text two people are doing the same work but have different outcomes (one taken, one left). What details in the passage and in the sermon highlight that contrast? [28:31]

Interpretation questions (3–4) — written objectively
- How does the sermon interpret the trumpet, clouds, and angels language as evidence that the return will be unmistakably public, and what does that imply for how people should respond now? [36:31]
- What reason does the preacher give for Jesus using the days of Noah as an example, and how does that example function to motivate immediate obedience rather than delayed preparation? [39:54]
- The sermon emphasizes that “not even the Son” knows the hour. What posture toward time and certainty is the sermon asking listeners to adopt because of that claim? [37:30]
- The preacher links biblical hope to present formation (reading Scripture, prayer, worship). How does the sermon argue that hope-as-certainty should change daily spiritual practices? [26:04]

Application questions (5–7)
- Name one non-Christian or spiritually distant person in your life who needs to hear that Jesus is the Way (John 14:6 was quoted). What specific step will you take this week to share the gospel with them? [49:35]
- What is one concrete Bible habit you will start this Advent (time of day, book or passage, minutes per day) so the Word “dwells richly” in you? Put the day/time on your calendar now. [50:25]
- The sermon urged “pray continually.” Pick a practical plan for this week (e.g., three short prayers a day, an alarm to remind you, praying during commute). What will you do and when? [52:04]
- Who is one person in your small circle you could gently admonish or encourage toward faithfulness this month? What exactly will you say or do in your next conversation? [53:07]
- Think of a recent time you were tempted to respond with cynicism or stinginess (a server, a coworker, social media). How will you respond differently next time—be specific about words or actions. [55:38]
- When have you recently been confronted by grief or loss (the pastor’s story about his brother was an example)? How does the sure hope of final healing change one specific worry or decision you face now? What will you do differently this week because of that hope? [01:01:58]
- Identify one ordinary place this week (workplace, school, neighborhood, online) where you will intentionally “be the church” — describe the exact action you will take (a blessing, a conversation, an act of service). [55:38]

Sermon Clips

And that's why Jesus uses this as an analogy. When the Son of Man comes, there will be a judgment coming. Jesus spends three to four chapters in Matthew, Mark, and Luke talking about the upcoming judgment. And so in this passage, he's saying, hey, when the Son of Man comes, when this judgment comes, sure, I'm going to come and bring all the faithful to be with me, but then for all the rest, there's going to be a great tribulation, a great time of judgment. [00:43:29] (33 seconds) #PrepareForJudgment

And it will be like the time that I sealed the boat and all the others outside could not get in, and they were not saved, but they perished. Jesus related to this in Matthew 25. He says there'll be eternal punishment, an eternal reward. And so that's a question we all have to wrestle with. Where are we headed? Where are we headed? And are we ready for Jesus to come back riding on the clouds, to come in glory and power, and for us to stand before Him today? [00:44:02] (37 seconds) #SealedOrLeftBehind

We know what's going to happen, so what do we need to do? And that is we need to be ready. It says, Therefore, keep watch because you do not know what day your Lord will come. Keep watch. We need to pay attention. We need to pay attention today. In this season of Advent, as we light our candles in the window, we need to make sure that we are keeping watch. That's why we light candles, right? We're watching out. It's a sign and a symbol. Jesus is the light of the world. [00:44:52] (34 seconds) #AdventKeepWatch

So how do we get ready? How do we get prepared? That's the takeaway today. We talked about what will happen. The second coming is happening. Jesus is coming back again. I'm not going to give you a time or date because no one knows. But we're called to be ready. We need to be ready for when He does come. And so let's just go through a few things of how we can be ready. The first way is we can believe. We can believe. We can have faith. Faith in Jesus Christ is so important for you. [00:47:12] (35 seconds) #ReadyThroughFaith

And it's so important for me. It's so important for everybody we know in the world. Why? Because Jesus is coming back again in power, riding on the clouds in glory. And He will judge those who do not know Him. Right? That's why it's so important to share our faith story. It's why it's so important that we don't think, oh, it's disrespectful to discount other people's religions. That has nothing to do with Jesus coming back again in power and in glory. [00:47:47] (34 seconds) #ShareYourFaith

Friends, it is so important for us to understand. We have to believe. If you're out there listening, if you're out there today, and you're someone who's been sitting on the fence all your life, you approach things logically, you're a science person, and you say, I just can't say it doesn't relate. I just can't wrap my mind around it. It's got nothing to do with what you can figure out. It's got everything to do with what we know because Jesus told us Himself He is coming back again to judge those who are faithful and to judge those who are unfaithful. [00:48:21] (37 seconds) #DecideToBelieve

And I'm like, wow, Jesus is going to come again. He's going to take us all who believe to a place with no more tears, no more sadness, no more death. My brother is up there with Jesus today and his mind is clear. His biggest desire he obtained on December 8, 2007. Right? And so the second of coming is so important for you and me. This is serious business. It's got nothing to do with where are we going to go to eat this week. It's got nothing to do with how many gatherings can we go to. [01:01:49] (35 seconds) #NoMoreTearsWithJesus

How many people do we have on our Instagram feed. It's got nothing to do with how many likes we've got. It's got nothing to do with what goes on at school and at work and the challenges we have in our relationships. It's got everything to do this season with Jesus coming back again and for you and me to prepare our lives so we can experience full healing, complete healing, forever, eternal healing healing like my brother did December 8th, 2007. [01:02:23] (37 seconds) #ChooseEternalHealing

``Friends, may we not take this for granted. May we not take it for granted. Today, Jesus is calling us, are you ready? You need to ready yourself. You need to keep watch for you know not the day nor time. No one knows and you need to be ready. Friends, are we going to take that seriously? Are we going to take that seriously? And are we going to do what it takes to make our lives ready through faith, through scripture, through prayer, through helping others, through being an extension of the kingdom, through worship? May we ready ourselves and Lord, come. [01:03:01] (54 seconds) #StayReadyWatchful

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