TITLE: The Parable of the Budding Tree TEXT: Matthew 24:32-51 THEME: The believer should be prepared for the coming of the Kingdom.

"What to Do If Attacked by an Anaconda" 1. If you're attacked by an anaconda, do not run; the snake is faster than you are.

"What to Do If Attacked by an Anaconda" 1. If you're attacked by an anaconda, do not run; the snake is faster than you are. 2. Lie flat on the ground.

"What to Do If Attacked by an Anaconda" 1. If you're attacked by an anaconda, do not run; the snake is faster than you are. 2. Lie flat on the ground. 3. Put your arms tight at your sides and your legs tight against one another.

"What to Do If Attacked by an Anaconda" 1. If you're attacked by an anaconda, do not run; the snake is faster than you are. 2. Lie flat on the ground. 3. Put your arms tight at your sides and your legs tight against one another. 4. The snake will begin to climb over your body.

"What to Do If Attacked by an Anaconda" 1. If you're attacked by an anaconda, do not run; the snake is faster than you are. 2. Lie flat on the ground. 3. Put your arms tight at your sides and your legs tight against one another. 4. The snake will begin to climb over your body. 5. Do not panic.

"What to Do If Attacked by an Anaconda" 6. The snake will begin to swallow you from the feet end.

"What to Do If Attacked by an Anaconda" 6. The snake will begin to swallow you from the feet end. 7. Step 6 will take a long time.

"What to Do If Attacked by an Anaconda" 6. The snake will begin to swallow you from the feet end. 7. Step 6 will take a long time. 8. After a while, slowly and with as little movement as possible, reach down, take your knife, and very gently slide it into the snake's mouth. Then suddenly sever the snake's head.

"What to Do If Attacked by an Anaconda" 6. The snake will begin to swallow you from the feet end. 7. Step 6 will take a long time. 8. After a while, slowly and with as little movement as possible, reach down, take your knife, and very gently slide it into the snake's mouth. Then suddenly sever the snake's head. 9. Be sure your knife is sharp.

"What to Do If Attacked by an Anaconda" 6. The snake will begin to swallow you from the feet end. 7. Step 6 will take a long time. 8. After a while, slowly and with as little movement as possible, reach down, take your knife, and very gently slide it into the snake's mouth. Then suddenly sever the snake's head. 9. Be sure your knife is sharp. 10. Be sure you have your knife.

Boy Scout Motto “BE PREPARED” which means you are always in a state of readiness in mind and body to do your DUTY.

When will the Kingdom of Heaven come into this world?

What is this Kingdom He is referring too?.

“They will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

What is this Kingdom He is referring too? “They will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” There is: The invisible Kingdom The physical kingdom

I. It will come after a period of great trial and persecution. (32-35)

Matthew 24: “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

I. It will come after a period of great trial and persecution. (32-35) A. The context warns of upcoming trials for Jesus’ disciples.

1. Christ severely reprimands the Jewish leader after they tried to trap him (22-23).

A. The context warns of upcoming trials for Jesus’ disciples. 1. Christ severely reprimands the Jewish leader after they tried to trap him (22-23). 2. Things are coming to a head between Jesus and the Jewish leadership.

A. The context warns of upcoming trials for Jesus’ disciples. 1. Christ severely reprimands the Jewish leader after they tried to trap him (22-23). 2. Things are coming to a head between Jesus and the Jewish leadership. 3. Jesus foresees the destruction of the temple and Jewish worship (24:1-3

A. The context warns of upcoming trials for Jesus’ disciples. 1. Christ severely reprimands the Jewish leader after they tried to trap him (22-23). 2. Things are coming to a head between Jesus and the Jewish leadership. 3. Jesus foresees the destruction of the temple and Jewish worship (24: The disciples are prompted to ask: one question with three subjects. (v. 3)

A. The context warns of upcoming trials for Jesus’ disciples. 1. Christ severely reprimands the Jewish leader after they tried to trap him (22-23). 2. Things are coming to a head between Jesus and the Jewish leadership. 3. Jesus foresees the destruction of the temple and Jewish worship (24: The disciples are prompted to ask: one question with three subjects. (v. 3) “When will this happen?”

A. The context warns of upcoming trials for Jesus’ disciples. 1. Christ severely reprimands the Jewish leader after they tried to trap him (22-23). 2. Things are coming to a head between Jesus and the Jewish leadership. 3. Jesus foresees the destruction of the temple and Jewish worship (24: The disciples are prompted to ask: one question with three subjects. (v. 3) “When will this happen?” “What will be the sign of His coming?”

A. The context warns of upcoming trials for Jesus’ disciples. 1. Christ severely reprimands the Jewish leader after they tried to trap him (22-23). 2. Things are coming to a head between Jesus and the Jewish leadership. 3. Jesus foresees the destruction of the temple and Jewish worship (24: The disciples are prompted to ask: one question with three subjects. (v. 3) “When will this happen?” “What will be the sign of His coming?” “What will be the sign of the end of the age?”

I. It will come after a period of great trial and persecution. (32-35) A. The context warns of upcoming trials for Jesus’ disciples. B. Only after this long period of tribulation will there be signs of hope..

When will the Kingdom of Heaven come into this world?

II.It will come unexpectedly. (36- 41)

Matthew 24: “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;”

Matthew 24:36-41 “39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.”

II.It will come unexpectedly. (36- 41) A. Only the Father knows when that day will come.

II.It will come unexpectedly. (36- 41) A. Only the Father knows when that day will come. B. When it happens people will be living in oblivious rebellion against God.

When will the Kingdom of Heaven come into this world?

III.It will come rather we are ready or not. (42-51)

Matthew 24: “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

Matthew 24: “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’

Matthew 24: “and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

III.It will come rather we are ready or not. (42-51) A. We need to constantly keep watch and be ready for when it does come.

III.It will come rather we are ready or not. (42-51) A. We need to constantly keep watch and be ready for when it does come. B. We need to be faithful and wise servants at all times.

III.It will come rather we are ready or not. (42-51) A. We need to constantly keep watch and be ready for when it does come. B. We need to be faithful and wise servants at all times. C. God will discipline those who are unprepared.

Lee Eclov, “How to get out Alive” “This world is going to end. The Bible promises it will happen when people least expect it. But God’s Word also gives clear directions on “How To Get Out Alive.” We can’t afford to keep quiet. People’s lives are on the line.”

APPLICATION This passage brings us to a decision point. As the great Yogi Berra once said, “If you see a fork in the road, take it.” The followers of Jesus see the fork in the road and they want to take it. In other words, they want it both ways. Jesus will remind them that they can take only one part of the fork—not both (Matthew Woodley, The Ultimate Challenge).

APPLICATION We can believe Christ and follow Him through the hardship and challenges such a decision makes or we can go through life as though nothing matters and we have no responsibility to God.

APPLICATION The fact that Jesus is coming again, at a time we least expect it, should challenge us to be prepared at all times.

Wendy Zoba, “CT Magazine” We should all possess the faith of little Benjamin: we should have our hearts so fixed on Christ's appearance that the attachments of our earthly life pale in comparison. For we are "aliens and strangers on earth … longing for a better country—a heavenly one" (Hebrews 11:13).