Preaching from Matthew 24, Terry Baxter helped us think about Jesus and future events. What stuck out to you? How are you seeking to follow Christ from the scriptural encouragements?

Terry posted his outline on his Facebook page:
1. An increase in false religions rooted in a twisted Christian message. Matthew 24:4-5

2. An increase in wars and international instability. Matthew 24:6-7a

3. A dramatic increase in natural disasters, famines and earthquakes. Matthew 24:7-8

4. An increase in persecution and martyrdom specifically aimed at Jews and Christians. Matthew 24:9-14 (Rev 12:17)

5. The development and spread of a pervading philosophical world view rooted in uniformitarianism. 2 Peter 3:3-7 (evolution)

6. An apostasy from within the church accompanied by the hijacking of the temple grounds by a radical Religion. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4. (Liberalism in many denominations and Islam on the temple ground.)

7. A concerted attack on the institution of marriage and quality foods. 1 Timothy 4:1-5 (A push away from biblical marriage.)

8. The spread of an immoral and hedonistic secular culture wrapped in a thin veneer of spirituality. 2 Timothy 3:1-7

9. The military build up of an army from the East that can field 200 million soldiers. Rev 9:16. (This represents more people than were alive world wide in the days of Paul. Today China has such an army.)

10. The emergence of a revived and pure church that is intensionally engaging in world evangelization. Matthew 24:14, Ephesians 5:25-27 (I love track and field, especially the relay teams. A good coach saves his best runner to be the anchor leg or the closer. I believe the baton has been handed to us today as the closers.)

How should we be living?

1. 1 Thes 5:4-11

2. 2 Peter 3:14-18