The Great Round-Up Series

Sunday Morning, August 25, 2002 Bel Aire Baptist Church (Round-Up Sunday)

Series: “The Kingdom Is Near” [#4]

SLIDE 1 (Show this slide as soon as I get up to preach)

SLIDE 2

THE GREAT ROUND-UP

Matthew 24:36-44

Introduction:

1. On this “Round-Up” Sunday we have tried to “round-up” people to come to church, but I want to share with you a time when Jesus will “round-up” all Christians and take them to Heaven.

SLIDE 3-4

John 14:1-6

2. Jesus promised He would come back. Do you believe it? Look with me how it will happen.

SLIDE 5-7

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

SLIDE 8-11

Matthew 24:36-44

3. Let me ask you this question, “When Jesus returns what will He find?” This morning we are going to look at three groups of people that Jesus will find.

SLIDE 12

When Jesus returns He will find…

Wicked Sinners

1. We live in a world that loves self and pleasure and this will only get worse, but we are told that it will get worse.

SLIDE 13-14

2 Timothy 3:1-5

2. Christ will return to violence. The Bible says that there was wickedness and violence in the days of Noah before God flooded the earth. We live in a violent world today. We can read in the paper or watch on the news how murder happens all over the world every single day.

3. When Christ raptures the Church out of this world, most of the people left behind will have no idea why certain people were gone and will believe the lies that will be told to them. Satan and the pleasures of this world have blinded them.

SLIDE 15

When Jesus returns He will find…

Weary And Warm Saints

1. Christ will find many Christians who their love has become cold because of sin.

2. The sin of the world will “rub off” on many Christians. The people will not want to hear the truth of the Word but hear things that make them feel good about themselves.

SLIDE 16-17

2 Timothy 4:2-5

3. This attitude of many Christians will cause them to become lukewarm and immature in the faith. These types of Christians are of no use to the Kingdom of God.

SLIDE 18

Revelation 3:15-16

SLIDE 19

When Jesus returns He will find…

Working And Worshipping Servants

1. Although there will be much wickedness just like in Noah’s day, there will also be some found like Noah who will be found righteous before God. They will be found serving God regardless of how the world is acting. Imagine what Noah went through as he was building the ark, but he completed the job just as God instructed.

2. There will also be many who will be busy looking religious like the Pharisees and priests did in Jesus’ day, but not all people will be found that way. There will be some like Simeon and Anna who were looking for the Messiah and knew that Jesus was the Messiah. They were ready.

3. There also much wickedness in today’s world, but there are some who are working and worshipping servants of God.

Conclusion:

SLIDE 20 (Leave this slide on the screen until service is over)

1. If Jesus returned today, which group would you fit into?

2. Are you ready for Jesus to return?

3. If not, what are you going to do about it?