I was meditating on this section while I was at a cafe in San Marino and I got a chance to do a prayer walk nearby in a neighborhood filled with million dollar homes. And God spoke to me and what I am about to say is uncomfortable. It’s uncomfortable for me as I struggle […]
Matt 25 – Waiting for the Coming Bridegroom (pt2 of 3)
In the parable of the ten virgins, half of them were ready and half of them weren’t. The groom, who represents Jesus, is delayed. 5 Since the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. Notice that it is not foolish to sleep. All ten slept, not just the foolish. This is not […]
Matt 25 – Waiting for the Coming Bridegroom (pt1 of 3)
In Oct 1998, I was 23 going on 24 and single. I was making decent money at a startup in downtown San Francisco, plenty for a single guy back then. I was ministering to UC Berkeley students where I went to school. I had some great friends from college who stuck around after graduation that […]
Matt 24 – End Times: Missions, Faithful Service, Perseverance, and Watchful Readiness (pt3 of 3)
Here are some Tier 1 applications. Two are public applications (how we treat others) and two are personal (how we prepare ourselves to meet the coming Christ). 1) The Importance of Evangelism and Missions 14 This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations. And […]
Matt 24 – End Times: Missions, Faithful Service, Perseverance, and Watchful Readiness (pt2 of 3)
In addition to the nations, another group mentioned during the end times is Israel. 15 “So when you see the abomination that causes desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place” (let the reader understand), 16 “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains! This is an odd phrase at […]
Matt 24 – End Times: Missions, Faithful Service, Perseverance, and Watchful Readiness (pt1 of 3)
I want to start by being honest. I have to say, Matthew 24 and Matthew 25 are tough passages. Matthew 24 in particular is one of the hardest in Scripture because it is dealing with eschatology or the study of end times. Chapters like Matthew 24 and 25 make me regret, for a moment, the […]