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Anticipation for the End Times

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  Olivet Discourse- 3   TITLE: Anticipation for the End Times TEXT: Matthew 24:29-35 TONE: Encouragement TARGET: Believers TASK: To encourage believers to live with anticipation of Christ imminent return. TEACH: If you would imagine a child on the night before their birthday, waiting with eager anticipation. The house is a buzz of preparation -decorations subtly hinting at the celebration to come. Inside, a locked cupboard hides a wonderous surprise: a gift long wished for; a promise long awaited. The child can hardly sleep for the expectation of what tomorrow will bring, replaying visions of previous birthdays when surprises were revealed, and joy overflowed.   Now, consider an engaged couple awaiting their wedding day. They count down the months, the weeks, and the days. Each moment brings them closer the culmination of longing, to the joy of union, and the new life they will begin together. Everything they do is imbued with purpose and hopeful a...

Answers for the End Times

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    Olivet Discourse-2   TITLE: Answers for the End Times TEXT: Matthew 24:15-28 TONE: Warning TARGET: Believers TASK: To warn believers of unparalleled persecution by answering some difficult questions. TEACH: TRUTH: This warning includes instructions for flight (24:16–20), a promise that God will shorten those days for the sake of his elect (24:21–22), and a renewed warning against false messiahs and false prophets (24:23–28). This warning primarily relates to the destruction of the temple in 70 CE, but it should be viewed as ultimately intended for God’s people in the end times (cf. 24:21–22), who will face the ultimate antichrist. Jesus’s disciples have throughout history realized the relevance of his warning against false prophets and messiahs. Persecution inevitably causes disciples to long for the Messiah’s appearance, but this longing must not render them vulnerable to deception by messianic pretenders. [1]   The co...
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      Olivet Discourse- 1   TITLE: Anchors for the End Times TEXT: Matthew 24:1-14 TONE: Encouragement TARGET: Believers TASK: To encourage believers to be aware, waiting, prepared, and faithful as they anticipate the Lord’s Return. TEACH: Growing up, some of fondest memories involved bouncing around on the trampoline with my cousins. We had epic wrestling matches and even adventurous sleepovers under the stars. When my kids were younger, some of best times were spent on a trampoline.   However, living in Oklahoma presents a unique challenge for trampoline owners. High winds and tornadoes can quickly transform these playful platforms into hazardous projectiles. We realized we needed a solution to keep our trampoline -and everyone around it -safe. That’s when I decided to anchor it. I drove three-foot metal stakes into the ground, each topped with an eyelet, and secured the trampoline using ratchet straps. This simple yet ...