Crossroads Church - Plymouth, IN
A Parable About Expectancy - Matthew 25:1-13
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Crossroads Church
1650 N Oak Dr, Plymouth, IN 46563, USA
Sunday 8:00 AM
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https://crossroadsefc.churchcenter.com/people/forms/478788Matthew 24:36 (ESV) - “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
Jesus made clear what the kingdom of heaven is like.
Jesus made clear that not all will be part of the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus made clear that the way into the kingdom of heaven is through humility and sincere faith evidenced with action.
Matthew 24:42–51 (ESV) - Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43But 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. 44Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 45“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jesus made clear what the kingdom of heaven is like.
Jesus made clear that not all will be part of the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus made clear that the way into the kingdom of heaven is through humility and sincere faith evidenced with action.
Matthew 24:42–51 (ESV) - Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43But 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. 44Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 45“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 25:1–13 (ESV) - “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Matthew 7:21–23 (ESV) - “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Matthew 7:21–23 (ESV) - “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Jesus tells us very clearly the point of the story…
Matthew 25:13 (ESV) - Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Matthew 24:42 (ESV) - Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
Watching entails three things:
1. Prepare – authentic faith…surrender yourself to Christ (Matthew 23:1-36)
2. Anticipate - Live with a sense of expectancy, urgency, and longing for the return of Christ. (Matthew 25:1-13)
3. Participate – actively join in the work of the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 25:14-30)
Matthew 25:13 (ESV) - Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Matthew 24:42 (ESV) - Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
Watching entails three things:
1. Prepare – authentic faith…surrender yourself to Christ (Matthew 23:1-36)
2. Anticipate - Live with a sense of expectancy, urgency, and longing for the return of Christ. (Matthew 25:1-13)
3. Participate – actively join in the work of the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 25:14-30)
Discussion Questions
1. When you are invited to an event, do you usually arrive early, on time, or late? What influences the timing of your arrival?
2. Read Matthew 25:1-13. Why do you think Jesus used the illustration of a first century Jewish wedding to communicate truth about His return?
3. How does this parable help us build knowledge and belief about what Jesus’ return will be like?
4. Do you think the return of Jesus is delayed? Why or why not?
5. Do you believe you are prepared for the return of Jesus? Why or why not?
6. Do you live with anticipation of the return of Jesus? Why or why not?
7. In what way are you actively participating in God’s kingdom work while you wait for the return of Jesus?
1. When you are invited to an event, do you usually arrive early, on time, or late? What influences the timing of your arrival?
2. Read Matthew 25:1-13. Why do you think Jesus used the illustration of a first century Jewish wedding to communicate truth about His return?
3. How does this parable help us build knowledge and belief about what Jesus’ return will be like?
4. Do you think the return of Jesus is delayed? Why or why not?
5. Do you believe you are prepared for the return of Jesus? Why or why not?
6. Do you live with anticipation of the return of Jesus? Why or why not?
7. In what way are you actively participating in God’s kingdom work while you wait for the return of Jesus?