The End

Outline for Sermon: “The End!”

Open with video 2012 clip which fades out on sound then I go up.

Introduction:

Today we are going to start with the end in mind!

In Nov. there is another end time’s movie coming off the press in Hollywood. It is called 2012 and you just saw a clip from it. Just this week out in front of the church they put a huge billboard promoting this new movie. I find it amazing how many end time movies and shows are being produced today. We have seen some movie titles flash up on the screen beside me. All these titles tell me that this world is anticipating that the end is near. One of the most recent end time’s Christian depictions of the end has been the “Left Behind Series.” The authors have written sequential volumes painting a picture of the end and they have even made movies focusing on this final event.

Yes! There is a fascination or maybe even a fear of the world’s end. So we have secular people trying to imagine how it will all play out. We have Christians sharing their perception of how this will all happen.

In all these manmade illusions to the end and even Christian reflections of Biblical Prophecy questions stream through our minds like the following:

What will happen? Who will die? What will happen to my family? What will happen to my Church? What will happen to the United States? Is there going to be One World Order? Will destruction come from an army from outer space? What do I need to do to be ready? Will I be tough and be able to make a stand for truth? What will I do if they try to haul my family off? How will I eat? How will I survive? Will I be martyered?

We have secular people producing movies and books and they all cast the vision of fear of the end. They tell us that we need to fear the end because it will be horrible, miserable, many lives will be lost and the earth will be destroyed. A great power will overwhelm this planet and change the way things were. There will be famine, bloodshed, murder, terror, and destruction. When “The End” comes the majority of the world will die and nothing will be able to stop the collapse of this world.

But what does the Bible say about the end times? Should we as Christians be fearful? Should we be gripped with terror? Should we be depressed? Should we feel hopeless?

T.S. – Well let’s look at Romans this morning and learn how we should respond toward end time signs.

Scripture Text:

Romans 8:15: 18-39:

15 “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

Future Glory

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. More Than Conquerors 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.