Jesus Our Coming King: Following Him With Eternal Hope Series

Jesus Our Coming King: Following Him With Eternal Hope

INTRODUCTION — DISCIPLES FOLLOW WITH THEIR EYES ON THE FUTURE

Church, discipleship is not only about the past—what Jesus has done.

It is not only about the present—what Jesus is doing.

Discipleship also stretches into the future—what Jesus will do.

A disciple follows Jesus because of who He is:

Our Saviour

Our Healer

Our Baptiser in the Holy Spirit

And our Coming King

If we lose sight of His return, we lose the urgency, purity, and passion of true discipleship.

Following Jesus is not a hobby for now—it is preparation for eternity.

1. THE ASSURANCE OF HIS RETURN

Jesus will come again — visibly, suddenly, gloriously.

Acts 1:11 (NLT): “Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

The angels didn’t say maybe. They said “someday He will return.”

This is not symbolic.

Not poetic.

Not hypothetical.

It is promised reality.

Three core truths of the Second Coming:

He will return personally — the same Jesus.

He will return visibly — every eye will see Him.

He will return victoriously — as King and Judge.

The Greek word used for His appearing is parousia, meaning arrival of royalty.

Disciples follow knowing the King is coming.

John Piper: “The greatest thing about the Second Coming is not the signs but the Saviour.”

As disciples, our focus is not on the timetable but on the Person—Jesus Christ, the King returning for His people.

2. THE CALL TO BE READY AS HIS DISCIPLES

The King’s return shapes the disciple’s lifestyle.

Matthew 24:44 (NLT): “You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

In Greek, hetoimos means “prepared, fit, in condition.”

Jesus calls disciples to be spiritually awake, alert, aligned with His will.

What does readiness look like?

Holy living

We reject sin because the King is coming.

We pursue holiness not out of fear but out of love.

Faithful service

We use our time, gifts, and resources to serve the Kingdom.

Watchful expectation

We live with anticipation, not anxiety.

Illustration — The Visiting King

Imagine hearing that a king is visiting your home.

You would clean, prepare, set things in order.

Not because you fear punishment—but because you honour his presence.

In the same way, disciples keep their lives ready for the return of Jesus.

Charles Stanley: “Obedience is the key that unlocks the blessings of the future God has prepared.”

Discipleship is readiness expressed in obedience.

3. THE HOPE THAT FUELS OUR DISCIPLESHIP

The return of Jesus is the anchor of Christian hope.

Titus 2:13 (NLT): “While we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.”

Paul calls the return of Christ our “blessed hope.”

Hope in Scripture is not wishful thinking—it is confident expectation based on God’s character.

This hope gives us:

Strength in trials

No suffering is final.

No sorrow is permanent.

Courage in mission

We share the Gospel boldly because time is short.

Perseverance in discipleship

We keep following Jesus even when it’s costly.

Illustration — The Marathon Runner

A marathon runner keeps going because he sees the finish line in his mind long before he reaches it.

The vision fuels the endurance.

The return of Jesus is the disciple’s finish line.

Max Lucado: “Hope is not what you expect; it is what you know will happen because God has promised.”

Our Coming King is our guaranteed hope.

4. THE KING’S RETURN AND THE GOSPEL CALL

The Second Coming is not just a doctrine—it’s a warning and an invitation.

2 Peter 3:9 (NLT): “He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”

Why hasn’t Jesus returned yet?

Because He is merciful.

Because He is giving people time to repent.

The King who is coming is the same King who died on the cross.

He wore a crown of thorns before He will wear a crown of glory.

He bore the judgement we deserved before He will bring judgement to the world.

The Gospel in the light of His return:

Jesus came the first time to save.

Jesus comes the second time to reign.

Those who trust Him now will rejoice when He appears.

Those who reject Him now will mourn when He appears.

APPLICATION — FOLLOW THE KING WITH ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE

Live ready.

Evaluate your heart, choices, habits.

Live holy.

Ask the Spirit to clean what sin has cluttered.

Live hopeful.

Let His return lift your eyes from earthly troubles.

Live missional.

Tell someone about Jesus this week.

Invite someone to church.

Pray for someone lost.

Discipleship is living today in light of that Day.

INVITATION — RECEIVE THE KING BEFORE HE RETURNS