The Elephant At the End… This week: Bills and Money Relationship Pressures Work or School Obligations and Hobbies

The ElephantThe Elephant

At the End…At the End…

This week:This week:

Bills and MoneyBills and MoneyRelationship PressuresRelationship PressuresWork or SchoolWork or SchoolObligations and HobbiesObligations and Hobbies

What if we're living inWhat if we're living inThe Terminal Generation?The Terminal Generation?

What if it's the End Times?What if it's the End Times?

Jesus gives specific signsJesus gives specific signsOf the "End of the Age"Of the "End of the Age"

Why?Why?What does that mean for us?What does that mean for us?

The point of prophecyThe point of prophecyIs never prophecyIs never prophecy


But the return of the OneBut the return of the OneWho owns it allWho owns it all

And our response in light of itAnd our response in light of it

Cross is less than a week awayCross is less than a week away

"Woe to you…""Woe to you…"Mourning JerusalemMourning Jerusalem

"That temple is awesome, Lord!""That temple is awesome, Lord!"

"It'll be taken apart""It'll be taken apart"

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

False Messiahs leading astrayFalse Messiahs leading astrayNation against nationNation against nationFamine, EarthquakesFamine, Earthquakes

"Beginning of the birth pains""Beginning of the birth pains"

Persecution, Hated by all NationsPersecution, Hated by all NationsFalling Away andFalling Away andBetrayal by fellow believersBetrayal by fellow believers

False prophetsFalse prophetsLawlessness= love grows coldLawlessness= love grows cold

Gospel proclaimed worldwideGospel proclaimed worldwideThen the end…Then the end…

Primary and SecondaryPrimary and SecondaryFulfillment Fulfillment

Isaiah 7:14Isaiah 7:14Sign to Ahaz/Sign of MessiahSign to Ahaz/Sign of Messiah

Primary= AD 70Primary= AD 70Secondary= Yet to comeSecondary= Yet to come

Abomination of desolationAbomination of desolation"Run- don't go back into house""Run- don't go back into house"Great TribulationGreat Tribulation

Astrological EventsAstrological EventsJesus returnsJesus returns

Be watchfulBe watchfulIt'll look normal until it doesn'tIt'll look normal until it doesn't

……the Son of Man is coming at the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expectan hour you do not expect

What if it endedWhat if it endedThis next week?This next week?




In light of the end… 3 Parables:In light of the end… 3 Parables:

Wise and wicked servantsWise and wicked servantsTen VirginsTen Virgins

TalentsTalents+ Sheep and Goats+ Sheep and Goats

For For itit will be like a man going on will be like a man going on a journeya journey

The cross is loomingThe cross is loomingIn his headlightsIn his headlights

For For itit will be like a man going on will be like a man going on a journey, who called his a journey, who called his servantsservants and and entrustedentrusted to to them them hishis property property

Disciples…Disciples…

Entrusted:Entrusted:To do with as the Master wouldTo do with as the Master would

If the Master were hereIf the Master were here

To one he gave five talents, to To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, another two, to another one, to to

each according to his ability.each according to his ability.Then he went awayThen he went away

$4 Million- 5 Talents$4 Million- 5 Talents$1.6 Million- 2 Talents$1.6 Million- 2 Talents$800,000- 1 Talent$800,000- 1 Talent

Treasure + TimeTreasure + Time

……each according to his ability…each according to his ability…

What you have is your portionWhat you have is your portionGod will not expect more of youGod will not expect more of youThan what he's entrusted to youThan what he's entrusted to you

Comparison dies…Jesus is Comparison dies…Jesus is enthroned enthroned

- More= greater weight of - More= greater weight of responsibilityresponsibility- Pride? Christian, please!- Pride? Christian, please!

He who had received the five He who had received the five talents talents went at once went at once and traded and traded

with them, and he made with them, and he made five talents morefive talents more

So also he who had the two So also he who had the two talents made two talents moretalents made two talents more

Treasure + Time + WorkTreasure + Time + Work

What was the expectation?What was the expectation?

To do with the Treasure To do with the Treasure What the Master would doWhat the Master would do

If he were hereIf he were here

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

Did these two do well?Did these two do well?


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

Expectation? I don't careExpectation? I don't care

Underlying beliefsUnderlying beliefs- This is a burden- This is a burden

- Doesn't benefit me, so why…?- Doesn't benefit me, so why…?- I don't owe, I am owed: Entitled- I don't owe, I am owed: Entitled

"Christianity""Christianity"Is divided in AmericaIs divided in America

Down this line:Down this line:What do I get out of it?What do I get out of it?How can I serve?How can I serve?

Now after a long time the Now after a long time the master of those servants camemaster of those servants came

and settled accounts and settled accounts with themwith them

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

His master said to him, "Well His master said to him, "Well done, good and done, good and faithful faithful servant. servant.

You have been You have been faithful faithful over over a a little;little; I will set you I will set you over much. over much.

Enter into the joyEnter into the joy of your master" of your master"

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

His master said to him, "Well His master said to him, "Well done, good anddone, good and faithful faithful servant. servant.

You have been You have been faithfulfaithful over a over a little; I will set you over much. little; I will set you over much.

Enter into the joy of Enter into the joy of your master"your master"

Treasure + Time + Work =Treasure + Time + Work =Greater Treasure and Great JoyGreater Treasure and Great Joy

No promise at the beginningNo promise at the beginningOf reward at the endOf reward at the end

Faithfulness, not self-seekingFaithfulness, not self-seeking

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

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

To do with asTo do with asThe Master would doThe Master would do

If he were hereIf he were here

Oh, you traded and lost? Oh, you traded and lost? You were faithful to tryYou were faithful to try

I know your abilityI know your abilityAnd expect nothing moreAnd expect nothing more

Than faithfulnessThan faithfulness

God is looking for faithfulnessGod is looking for faithfulnessNot SuccessNot SuccessFaith= Taking God at his WordFaith= Taking God at his WordFollowing as He leadsFollowing as He leads

Trusting Him for the resultsTrusting Him for the results

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

Then you ought to have invested Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and my money with the bankers, and

at my coming I should have at my coming I should have received what was my received what was my

own with interestown with interest

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

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

taken awaytaken away

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

taken awaytaken away

The entrustment andThe entrustment andThe choice to be faithfulThe choice to be faithful

And cast the worthless servant And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping place there will be weeping and gnashing of teethand gnashing of teeth- Matt. 24-25- Matt. 24-25

"Christianity" is divided"Christianity" is dividedDown this line:Down this line:

What do I get out of it?What do I get out of it?How can I serve?How can I serve?Only one leads to Only one leads to enter into joyenter into joy

And there's yourAnd there's yourElephantElephant

In light of the end… 3 Parables:In light of the end… 3 Parables:

Wise and wicked servantsWise and wicked servantsTen VirginsTen Virgins

TalentsTalents

Since all these things are thus to Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people be dissolved, what sort of people

ought you to be in lives of ought you to be in lives of holiness and godlinessholiness and godliness

- 2 Peter 3- 2 Peter 3




Entrusted= Delivered to usEntrusted= Delivered to usExpectation= FaithfulnessExpectation= Faithfulness

Do with as he wouldDo with as he wouldIf he were hereIf he were hereWith his return in mindWith his return in mind

LifeLife

Talent, Treasure, Gifts, AbilitiesTalent, Treasure, Gifts, AbilitiesGospelGospel

OpportunityOpportunity

Treasure (all he's given) + Treasure (all he's given) + + Time (however long you have) + Time (however long you have) + Work (grace-driven effort) + Work (grace-driven effort)

= Faithfulness rewarded with joy = Faithfulness rewarded with joy

For us…For us…- Christendom is over- Christendom is over- Post-Christian America- Post-Christian America

- Favored- Favored- Ambivalent- Ambivalent- Hostile- Hostile

"Have a blessed day…""Have a blessed day…"

Kentucky BankKentucky BankFiredFired

"Virginity Rocks!""Virginity Rocks!"

Arkansas SchoolArkansas SchoolSent HomeSent Home

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

In response:In response:

What do I haveWhat do I haveThat I treat as mineThat I treat as mine

And not his?And not his?

Do I see my lifeDo I see my lifeEverything I haveEverything I have

As an entrustment?As an entrustment?


Am I doing with itAm I doing with itWhat Jesus would doWhat Jesus would do

If he were here?If he were here?

What if…the End ComesWhat if…the End ComesIn your lifetime?In your lifetime?

It will…for youIt will…for youIn that moment, it's overIn that moment, it's overEntrustment, choice is goneEntrustment, choice is gone

Do I need to surrenderDo I need to surrenderTo ministry/mission-fieldTo ministry/mission-field

Fellowship MinistryFellowship Ministry

Our time as a churchOur time as a churchIs an entrustmentIs an entrustment

We're not interested in:We're not interested in:- Entertaining - Entertaining

- Promising blessings in exchange for - Promising blessings in exchange for serving and givingserving and giving

- Building a crowd- Building a crowd


"We make disciples"We make disciplesWho change their worldWho change their worldFor Jesus…"For Jesus…"

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The Elephant At the End… This week: Bills and Money Relationship Pressures Work or School Obligations and Hobbies