The condition of the church in the last days

Sermon Title:  Don't be deceived - The Condition of the church in the Last Days
Series:  The signs of His Coming
Scriptures:  Matthew 24, Revelation 2-3

This week, we continuted looking at what the scriptures tell us about the return of Jesus Christ.  With urgency, the church was called to rekindle their hope in Christ's second coming - a day of eternal joy for the believer, but a day of judgement for those outside of Christ.  

In this message we were reminded that the return of Christ should stir excitement, not fear, in the hearts of true believers.  Yet, Jesus also warned of increasing deception in the last days - false prophets, lukewarm faith, and spiritual compromise within the church.

Examining Revelation 2-3, we walked through the letters to the seven churches and were asked to examine our own hearts.  

• Have we left our first love?
• Are we comprosing on truth?
• Are we becoming corrupted (wrongly influenced) by the world around us?
• Are we drifting into a dead religion?
• Or are we enduring faithfully and keeping His word?

The call is clear: now is the time to build up our faith and to prepare.  We must seek God with all our hearts.  If there is any indication that we may be drifting towards one of these conditions, we must repent now, change our mind and surrender to God's way.  "Let today be the day you go all in".

Questions for further reflection & study:

1. What excites you most about Christ's return?  What fears, if any, do you wrestle with?
2. Which of the seven churches do you most identify with right now?  Why?
3. What does it mean to examine yourself to see whether you are in the faith (2 Cor 13:5)?  Have you done this recently?
4. What are some practical ways you can resist deception in today's culture?
5. Are you as someone who is fully surrendered to Christ or are you holding back in comfort or compromise?  What needs to change?
6. How are you helping others in the church prepare for the return of Christ?

Encouraging thought of the week:
"Let's spend the rest of our time here preparing for our life there."