Luke 21:12-28 (New Living Translation)
12 “But before all this occurs, there will be a time of great persecution. You will be dragged into synagogues and prisons, and you will stand trial before kings and governors because you are my followers. 13 But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. 14 So don’t worry in advance about how to answer the charges against you, 15 for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply or refute you! 16 Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends—will betray you. They will even kill some of you. 17 And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish! 19 By standing firm, you will win your souls.
20 “And when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that the time of its destruction has arrived. 21 Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. Those in Jerusalem must get out, and those out in the country should not return to the city. 22 For those will be days of God’s vengeance, and the prophetic words of the Scriptures will be fulfilled. 23 How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. For there will be disaster in the land and great anger against this people. 24 They will be killed by the sword or sent away as captives to all the nations of the world. And Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the period of the Gentiles comes to an end.
25 “And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. 26 People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory.28 So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!”
I. A responsibility to speak hope (vv. 12-15)
• The four stages of an empire are: Founding – Conquering –
• Loving and caring people
• Persecution is a powerful
• Bible engaged people have a message of
II. A responsibility to endure (vv. 16-19)
• The Gospel has the potential to create
• All people
• Only Christians in the 17 Nations in stagnation or decline consider
•
III. A responsibility to prepare (vv. 20-24)
• There will be a
• Bible engaged people have a message of hope about how to
• The Rapture is not a promise to
• God created us to
IV. A responsibility to build up, fire up, and hold up (vv. 25-28)
• There will be powerful signs in outer
• There will be
• Everyone will see the
• The Bible needs to be preached in 3 ways: to
TAKE OFF
1. When was the last time that you were speechless? Where you knew you needed to respond but nothing was coming to mind quickly?
2. How did last week’s Take Away about improving your Bible engagement go?
TEXT
1. What thoughts or feelings did you have during this week’s sermon?
2. What positive things occur or result from experiencing persecution? (13-19)
3. How does the description of events that will lead up to Jesus’ return in vs. 20-27 make you feel? What do you think was Jesus’ intent or purpose in sharing such details about future events?
4. What responsibility do Christians have as Jesus’ second coming draws nearer? What are helpful and non-helpful ways to use Biblical prophecy about the end times in sharing our faith?
TAKE AWAY
Who is someone in your life that you would like an opportunity to share Jesus with?