After the many troubling words we read in Matthew 26, we can understand why the disciples' hearts were troubled—and why Jesus tells His followers how not to have troubled hearts: 

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3)

Jesus promised us that if He goes from us, He will come back to us and take us to the place He has prepared. Paul writes that when Jesus does this, He will rescue us from the wrath to come, transforming us in the twinkling of an eye to be with Him forever (see 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18). This moment could happen at any moment, unattached to any other moment. This is the first part of His Second Coming, which we call The Rapture of the Church.

This hope is a purifying and comforting hope. So do not let your hearts be troubled—comfort each other with these words. 

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

​There are quite a few troubling words in Matthew 26. Words like crucified, buried, betrayed, broken body, blood shed, strike the shepherd, sheep scattered, stumble, and denial. These are all troubling words that speak of troubling times. But there is hope.

Is your heart troubled today? Perhaps over your own sin and failings? Over others' sin and failings? Maybe your heart is troubled over something in the past, or something that might be in the future. There is hope. And thankfully, Jesus will tell us about the comfort only He can provide for our troubled hearts. 

Watch our study of Matthew 26:1-35 as we consider some troubling words before we read of the comforting words of Christ.

If we know Jesus, His return should not make us fearful but hopeful. His promise gives us purpose as we live and serve Him with joyful anticipation. Knowing Christ transforms our desires and motivations by the Holy Spirit. This transformation can only come about by knowing Him personally (not just facts about Him). We are changed from the inside out as our desires shift from loving and serving ourselves to loving and serving others—not to earn our salvation, but because we’re surrendered to Him.
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God has given you time, talents, and resources to steward for His glory. How you choose to invest these will have an eternal impact. So be wise. Be faithful. Be ready—for every opportunity to honor Him and for His return so that when you see Him, He may find you joyfully trusting and faithfully serving Him.

In Matthew 25, Jesus continues teaching His disciples about His return. At that time, Jesus describes three ways people will be separated.

First, the wise will be separated from the foolish. Second, the faithful will be separated from the unfaithful. And third, the sheep will be separated from the goats.

Through these examples, Jesus shows how true believers will be found busy about their master's business as they anticipate His imminent return.
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Watch our study of Matthew 25 as we consider the hope that we can have now to be ready for His return at any moment.

“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.”
–Matthew 24:42

While no one knows the exact hour of the Lord’s return, we do see indications that it is fast approaching. As faithful followers of Jesus, we want to be ready because we just don't know how bad it's going to get until or before the Great Tribulation.

God is not just the forgiving Father; He is also the righteous judge who is holding back His righteous wrath as long as he can. He’s not slow as some consider slowness. He's patient, and he wants all people to come to repentance. The only way to be saved from Him is to be found in Him.

We're not waiting for the Antichrist or the Tribulation. We're waiting for Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath and judgment that is to come. That’s why we live in anticipation of His imminent return. A faithful servant of Jesus is ready to share His word with His people and tell others about Him.

“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
–Matthew 24:44

​We live at a point in history that the Bible speaks of more than any other time in human history. It may be that many prophecies find their fulfillment in this current generation. While it might seem like science fiction, God’s word has a clear track record of complete accuracy.

Consider just one of the prophecies that we looked at a few weeks ago—the regathering of the Jewish people into the land of Israel. In 70 AD, they were displaced and scattered to every other nation under heaven, and remained so for almost 2,000 years. And yet God said multiple times in Scripture that He would regather them in a single day—and did on May 14th, 1948.

While not all prophecies are as jubilant, all of God’s promises have a purpose. Watch our study of Matthew 24 as we consider Jesus’ prophecy of the time of great tribulation—a specific, defined season of suffering. Though this time will be worse than anything the world has ever seen, He offers us hope and refuge in Him.

Jesus lamented and wept when Israel didn’t recognize the fulfillment of the ancient prophecy of the prophet Daniel. They missed the time of His visitation and would soon experience destruction.

God’s people will be held accountable to know His word, especially what it has to say about the world that we live in today. You cannot just relegate that knowledge to others. You must know for yourself so that you are prepared to answer everyone who asks why you have the hope that you have (1 Peter 3:15). 

One of the most effective ways to give a reasoned response to someone who asks that question is to tell them about fulfilled prophecy. At least one-half of all biblical predictions have already been fulfilled precisely as God had declared. Because of God’s faithfulness in fulfilling these prophecies, we can be assured that He will fulfill the rest of the prophecies in Scripture without fault. 

There are so many to consider. Here are just a few:

• Isaiah 53 & Psalm 22 (how Jesus would be crucified)
• Genesis 5 (the Gospel message in the names in the genealogy from Adam to Noah)
• Daniel 9 (fortelling the exact day of Messiah’s entry into Jerusalem)
• Daniel 7 & 8 (which so accurately define world empires in advance that some think it couldn’t have been written when it was). 

God has given these prophecies (and so many more) to reveal His heart and purposes to you so you may be edified, comforted, and strengthened in your faith. Read His word. It’s great for your soul!

​Near the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, the disciples were impressed by the temple in Jerusalem. And who could blame them? Many of them were from the small communities in Galilee. These were really impressive buildings built with white marble and gold. Sitting high on Mount Moriah, they would have been visible for miles.

But Jesus knew what was coming. As impressive as these stone buildings were, He knew that physical and spiritual destruction was coming. That destruction was weighing on Jesus’ mind when His disciples observed these structures. He wanted to warn them about what was to come. 

Watch our study of Matthew 24:1-2 as we pause for a brief primer on prophecy before continuing in this important chapter.

In Acts 8, the preaching of the word of God is mentioned seven times. And the man at the center of most of those mentions was Philip—one of seven men appointed by the apostles to serve physical food so that the apostles could continue to serve spiritual food.

While Philip was serving, God was teaching him, training him, and forming him for what was next—not only to be the first great missionary in the church, but also to be the first great evangelist in the church.

Watch our study of Acts 8:20-46 as we consider how Philip surrendered to serving the Lord and how the Lord formed in Philip the internal integrity and sensitivity to be ready for anything at any time.

Within Christianity today, there is a temptation to focus on outward appearances that impress others and display success: buildings and budgets. But this is not what God sees, nor the metric He uses to measure success. He is neither blessed nor impressed by those things.

Although these are necessary aspects of ministry, finances and facilities should only facilitate the vision. When they become the focus of ministry, there is a risk of becoming emptied of God’s glory. It’s not about outward appearances; it’s about the heart. As a fellowship, we could have the biggest budget and the biggest building, but if those finances and that facility do not serve the heart of Jesus for His people, then it’s just empty of God’s glory.

The heart of Jesus for His people is found in a real relationship with Him, filled with the Spirit as we walk in the Spirit. It’s seen in lives cultivated with prayer, saturated in the Word, fellowship unhindered by sin, and communion with Him and one another out of the overflow of faith, hope, and love. This is what He is looking for in the heart of any fellowship of believers. This is how Jesus measures success.