The Elephant At the End…

This week: Bills and Money Relationship Pressures Work or School Obligations and Hobbies

What if we're living in The Terminal Generation? What if it's the End Times?

Jesus gives specific signs Of the "End of the Age" Why? What does that mean for us?

The point of prophecy Is never prophecy

The point of prophecy Is never prophecy But the return of the One Who owns it all And our response in light of it

Cross is less than a week away "Woe to you…" Mourning Jerusalem

"That temple is awesome, Lord!" "It'll be taken apart"

“Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

False Messiahs leading astray Nation against nation Famine, Earthquakes "Beginning of the birth pains"

Persecution, Hated by all Nations Falling Away and Betrayal by fellow believers

False prophets Lawlessness= love grows cold Gospel proclaimed worldwide Then the end…

Primary and Secondary Fulfillment Isaiah 7:14 Sign to Ahaz/Sign of Messiah

Primary= AD 70 Secondary= Yet to come

Abomination of desolation "Run- don't go back into house" Great Tribulation Astrological Events Jesus returns

Be watchful It'll look normal until it doesn't …the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect

What if it ended This next week?

The point of prophecy Is never prophecy But the return of the One Who owns it all And our response in light of it

In light of the end… 3 Parables: Wise and wicked servants Ten Virgins Talents + Sheep and Goats

For it will be like a man going on a journey The cross is looming In his headlights

For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property Disciples…

Entrusted: To do with as the Master would If the Master were here

To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away

$4 Million- 5 Talents $1.6 Million- 2 Talents $800, Talent Treasure + Time

…each according to his ability… What you have is your portion God will not expect more of you Than what he's entrusted to you

Comparison dies…Jesus is enthroned - More= greater weight of responsibility - Pride? Christian, please!

He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more

So also he who had the two talents made two talents more Treasure + Time + Work

What was the expectation? To do with the Treasure What the Master would do If he were here

Underlying beliefs? - I don't own anything - I'm not owed anything - It's a privilege to be entrusted - I owe the Master one thing: My faithfulness

Did these two do well? Treasure + Time + Work

But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money

Expectation? I don't care Underlying beliefs - This is a burden - Doesn't benefit me, so why…? - I don't owe, I am owed: Entitled

"Christianity" Is divided in America Down this line: What do I get out of it? How can I serve?

Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them

And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, "Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more"

His master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master"

And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, "Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more"

His master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master"

Treasure + Time + Work = Greater Treasure and Great Joy

No promise at the beginning Of reward at the end Faithfulness, not self-seeking

He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, "Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed…

…so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours"

To do with as The Master would do If he were here

Oh, you traded and lost? You were faithful to try I know your ability And expect nothing more Than faithfulness

God is looking for faithfulness Not Success Faith= Taking God at his Word Following as He leads Trusting Him for the results

But his master answered him, "You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?

Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest

So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance

But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away

But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away The entrustment and The choice to be faithful

And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth - Matt

"Christianity" is divided Down this line: What do I get out of it? How can I serve? Only one leads to enter into joy

And there's your Elephant

In light of the end… 3 Parables: Wise and wicked servants Ten Virgins Talents

Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness - 2 Peter 3

The point of prophecy Is never prophecy But the return of the One Who owns it all And our response in light of it

Entrusted= Delivered to us Expectation= Faithfulness Do with as he would If he were here With his return in mind

Life Talent, Treasure, Gifts, Abilities Gospel Opportunity

Treasure (all he's given) + + Time (however long you have) + Work (grace-driven effort) = Faithfulness rewarded with joy

For us… - Christendom is over - Post-Christian America - Favored - Ambivalent - Hostile

"Have a blessed day…" Kentucky Bank Fired

"Virginity Rocks!" Arkansas School Sent Home

It could be another 2,000 years But for this country…?

In response:

What do I have That I treat as mine And not his?

Do I see my life Everything I have As an entrustment?

Treasure + Time + Work

Am I doing with it What Jesus would do If he were here?

What if…the End Comes In your lifetime? It will…for you In that moment, it's over Entrustment, choice is gone

Do I need to surrender To ministry/mission-field Fellowship Ministry

Our time as a church Is an entrustment

We're not interested in: - Entertaining - Promising blessings in exchange for serving and giving - Building a crowd

Treasure + Time + Work "We make disciples Who change their world For Jesus…"

Q and A

Tonight, 6 PM

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