The End of the World

August 30, 2026
The End of the World
Sermon Audio

CENTRAL TEXT: Matthew 24:32-44

32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

CALL TO WORSHIP: Based on John 3:16, 1 Corinthians 15:3, and Hebrews 13:8

LEADER: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
ALL: By His love, we have been saved. By His grace, we gather today to praise our God.
LEADER: Christ has died, Christ is risen, and Christ will come again in glory to make all things new.
ALL: We lift our eyes toward the heavens, watching and waiting for the promised return of our King.
LEADER: Let us worship the God who first loved us, and who will lead us safely home to His eternal kingdom.
ALL: Praise be to God, yesterday, today, and forevermore! Amen.

PRAYER/SCRIPTURE READING/CONFESSION OF FAITH: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

LEADER: “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.” The Word of the Lord. 

ALL: Thanks be to God!

Related Scripture:

Leviticus 11:7-8
John 14:3
1 Corinthians 15:50-58
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
2 Peter 3:9
Revelation 3:1-6

Discussion Questions:

  1. What stories or images come to mind when you think about the end of the world? Cite your sources. How might those things distract us from Jesus’ call to look for Him rather than trying to decipher a timeline or decode the “signs”? 
  2.  Read verses 40-41. You’ll notice the ones who are “raptured” are ordinary workers in their places of work. Second you’ll see that they are taken as Christ returns not before. How should this encourage us to keep living ordinary, faithful lives—working, parenting, loving, and serving? What would it look like for you to take both of those realities—his return and your work— seriously this week? 
  3.  Start by reading 2 Peter 3:8-12. The apostle Peter makes it plain that Jesus’ apparent delay is actually an expression of God’s patience toward sinners. How does seeing His delay this way change the way you think about our broken world, your unbelieving friends and family, and your own need for repentance? 
  4.  Jesus calls us to “stay awake” and “be ready” for His return (vv. 42-44). What are some practical ways we can help one another “stay awake” rather than becoming spiritually sleepy or distracted as we wait for Jesus?

Illustrations:

Aug 30, 2026

QUOTES:

Our eschatology should not be Jesus Christ at the end of a series of other decipherable events, but Jesus Christ alone. 
- Frederick Dale Bruner

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