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SLIDE

Did any of you see the article in the paper last Sunday about a group called the

Preppers? I didnt know that this group existed, but I learned Preppers are folks who prepare themselves for a catastrophic event. They want to be prepared if the water supply becomes contaminated or a tornado devastates a town or the power grid fails. A prepper would be able to survive in their house without leaving their house for a month. It appears to be a movement. Theres going to be a show for Preppers next month at the Blaine Sports Center. Theres a web site called americanpreppersnetwork. They made a list of ten items we should always have ready. I thought it was interesting. The list includes SLIDE Five gallon plastic bucket with lid: Spare batteries, extra toilet paper and paper towels: Water containers: Backpacking stove: Three-day supply of dehydrated food for each family member Crank cell phone charger: Crank flashlight: Candles and lamps Water filter: Sleeping bag: Duct tape and visqueen: Does anyone hear know a prepper? With all due respect to a prepper what is a prepper focused on? A catastrophe. To prepare themselves for a catastrophe who does a prepper ultimately trust? Themselves. This belief that a catastrophe is going to happen is not unique to a prepper. Late last year there was a survey of 16,000 people worldwide. People were asked whether they thought the world would end in their lifetime. Guess how many people said yes? 22 percent. Public Religion Research Institute did a poll. They found that 15% of Americans believe the world will end in their lifetime. They broke it down SLIDE

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Percentages of people who believe the world will end in their lifetime 7% of the Religiously unaffiliated 8% of white mainline Protestants 10% of Catholics 27% of non-whites who are Christians 29% of White Evangelical Protestants 22% who have a high school education or less 5% who are college graduates Weve been looking at the topic of the end of the world for three weeks. Were taking a thoughtful approach. Through this series Im sharing tools to help us understand all the buzz surrounding the end of the world. We need these tools because a lot of people are expecting a catastrophe. The first week we looked at the different theories about the end of the world. Last week we looked at the entire book of Revelation. Today is the most important sermon. Were going to look at what Jesus said regarding the end of the world. I want to encourage you to get out this brochure that is in the bulletin. This series is aimed to share a lot of information. I encourage you to take notes. As part of this series were reading through the book of Revelation. Everyone is encouraged to read a chapter a day. I know a lot of you are doing this because youve talked to me about the book of Revelation. This week were reading chapters 13 to 19. We have four chapters after this. Even if you havent done this you can catch up. This sermon is the most important one of the series. Ultimately Jesus words are most important to us. Being a disciple or follower of Jesus Christ means we value Jesus words more than any other words. One question I always ask myself is if Jesus walked into the room and asked me to do something, would I do it. I realize that if Jesus physically walked into the room, I might have a heart attack. But assume my heart could stand his presence, would I do what Jesus asked me to do. I dont get into disagreements with people often, but when I do I try to ask

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myself if Jesus walked into the room and asked me to agree with the position of the person whom Im disagreeing would I do it? My answer has to be yes. Whatever Jesus asks me to do, Im willing to do. Whether its confess a sin, or develop a friendship or change my opinion, or anything elsehe is my ultimate authority. So when it comes to the end of the world as it does with any question, Jesus words are most important. Today were going to look at what the Master said. Im going to look at three questions. SLIDE 1. Did Jesus say he would return? 2. When did Jesus say he would return? 3. How do we apply the teachings of Jesus to our life today? To get at the first question I want to do some Bible Study with you. If you have a Bible, wonderful. If not, you can look at the words on the screen. Open your Bibles to John 14:1-3. This chapter is part of the high priestly prayerJohn 14-17. Its the last prayer that Jesus shared in John. SLDE Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Fathers house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself John 14:1-3 Most people believe that Jesus reference to my Fathers house is a reference to heaven. In these verses he shared that he would go to heaven and at some point return to earth. Another Scriptureturn to Matthew 24:36. This was part of the reading we heard today. SLIDE But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Matthew 24:36. That day and hour is referring to his return.

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A final Scripture. Acts 1:6-7. This story happened after Jesus resurrection. Jesus was on earth for 40 days after he was raised from the dead. He gathered his disciples together and this conversation took place. SLIDE So when they had come together, they asked him, Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom of Israel? He replied, It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. Acts 1:6-7 Jesus went on to say that the disciples would be filled with the Holy Spirit. A person could rightfully say that the disciples wanted to know when Rome would be overthrown. That they werent asking about Jesus return in this story. But Jesus answer is similar to other statements he made. Theres a pattern in what Jesus said. He said that Abba, Father had set certain times and periods to life on earth. One of those times and periods is when Jesus will return. This assumption that Jesus will return is an underlying assumption of the New Testament. This assumption carried over into the early church and into the letters of Paul. The first question were looking at is Did Jesus say he would return? Whats the answer? Yes. Whats significant is that Jesus didnt spend a lot of time talking about his return. There were other ideas that were much more important to him. Jesus cared more about teaching his followers to love others and to reach out to the poor and marginalized with kindness and compassion. Jesus modeled this in his ministry. Its my experience that when can get obsessed with the idea of Jesus return it it prevents them from caring for others and caring for the world. All this talk about the end of the world diverts us from Jesus central messageto love God and to love others as we love ourselves. If we believe that the world is going to end, why would we love the world?

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To obsess about Jesus return is to take a minor part of Jesus teaching and elevate it to a place that Jesus didnt intend it to be. The bottom line is Jesus taught his followers that he would return, but it wasnt one of the most important parts of his ministry. Next question: When did Jesus say he would return? We already received that answer. Jesus answer was I dont know. He said that the angels didnt know when he would return. He said that he didnt know. Only Abba, Father, knew when Jesus was going to return. Anyone who tells us when Jesus will return is telling us that they know more than God. Jesus did say that his return would be unexpected. A metaphor he used to talk about his return was a thief coming in the middle of the night. At the end of the story we heard today Jesus said this: If you want to turn to the story in your Bibles turn to Matthew 24:43 SLIDE But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would have not let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour. Matthew 24:43-44 Jesus didnt know when he was returning, but he said that it would be a surprise. It was like a thief coming in the middle of the night. Jesus wanted people to be ready. At the end of the reading today, Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour. This leads to the important question, what does it mean to be ready? Does being ready mean were looking for the signs of Jesus coming like a pre-millenialist would? No. Does being ready mean we study the Bible for the exact date of Jesus return as some religious leaders have erroneously done? No.

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I think we can be ready in two ways. I encourage you to write these down. First we can be ready by giving ourselves to Jesus Christ. Part of the purpose of our new church is for people to be disciples of Jesus. A disciple is a followerits someone who has decided to put Jesus first in their lives. A phrase that Presbyterians use is Jesus is our Lord and Savior. If we havent made that commitment, perhaps we could make that. During the Communion liturgy today I am going to encourage all of us to make a prayer of commitment to Jesus. It declares that we are a disciple or follower of Jesus. A second way to be ready is to re-commit ourselves to serving the poor and the disadvantaged. In Matthew 25, the chapter after the one we read today Jesus was clear that when we care for the poor we care for him. Remember his words, I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me; I was naked and you gave me clothing; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me. Truly I tell you, whatever you did to the least of these you did it to me. As we say in our Purpose Statement when we care for the poor we are impacting the world. Im so proud of you for how you are reaching out to people who are struggling, the poor. This week I received a phone call at the office from a woman who received Christmas gifts from us through the CEAP program. She was apologetic because she meant to call sooner. This woman told me that right before Christmas she had to go to the hospital. She couldnt afford Christmas gifts for her family. One day a woman from Chain of Lakes showed up at her residence with Christmas gifts. This meant so much to here that she called about a month after this happened to say thank you. Wow! Im so proud of you as a congregation that we could make an impact in this womans life.

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Also this week I talked to George Black about his experience at Manna Market this past Monday night. Manna Market is one of the only places where low-income folks in Anoka County can receive fresh meat and fresh fruits and fresh vegetables. George shared with me that he was touched by his experience. He was surprised by all the people who were there to receive food. Often low-income folks become invisible to us. But through Manna Market the least of these that Jesus talked about have a face and a name and a story. When we serve at a place at Manna Market its often messy. They had so many volunteers on Monday night that some of our folks had to go home early. The facility they have there is small, and the ceilings arent high. Theres at least a hundred people crammed into this small space. Its messy. The last time I was there I carried the bags for the people who were picking out their food. Each of the people who come bring their own bags. This might be the only food they eat all week. They bring a lot of bags. Im standing next to them holding these bags that are filled with food. We dont walk too fast because there are so many people there. Its not an antiseptic environment. After the guest is finished we walk outside to their car in the cold, January air. Its messy. Its not any messier than what Jesus did for us. I cant imagine anything more messy than dying practically naked on a small wooden cross, with blood streaming out of your body, and eventually dying from choking on your own body fluids. He did that for us. The best part for me is knowing that Im helping to bless this low-income person. The last time I was there helping with the bags most of the people said I didnt have to walk outside with their food. I wanted to do that. I wanted to bless them. After the bags are loaded into their vehicles every person said, thank you.

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How do we know if were ready. We commit ourselves to Jesus Christ; we go out of our way to help the poor and disadvantaged. Ive often asked myself the question, where do I want to be doing when Jesus returns? Say Jesus does return unexpectedly. Say Jesus does return. Say he returns today. What do I want to be doing when Jesus comes? I hope that when Jesus returns Ill be in worship with my familysinging and praying and joining with the saints in this world and the next who are worshiping. Or Id like to be at Manna Market carrying bags for some low-income folks in Anoka Country. Ultimately thinking about the end of the world should deepen our trust in God. A person like a prepper is worrying about a catastrophe. As followers of Jesus Christ we dont need to be worried about catastrophes. God is always with us. God always claims us. Remember the 23rd Psalmeven though we walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil. Thou art with me. Gods rod and staff will comfort me. Or Psalm 9:10the Scripture weve been carrying around with us for the past few weeks. SLIDE Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, will never forsake those who seek you. We dont need to worry about the end of the world because God will never let us go! During this series weve been singing the song, You never let go by Matt Redman right after the sermon. His words are what we need. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, your perfect love casts out fear. Lets sing. Because we dont need to be afraid. We can always trust in God!