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Following Jesus – Seeing the SIGNS! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the July 20, 2025 sermon, “Following Jesus: Seeing the SIGNS!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Matthew 24

 

“As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. ‘Tell us,’ they said, ‘when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’” 
Matthew 24:3 (NIV)

As one called by Jesus to “Come, follow me”, Matthew gives us great teaching on what it looks like to live a life which follows Jesus.  Signs are important tools to help guide us in the ways we ought to go.  As we live life, we find value in observing various signs and responding in appropriate ways.  As Christians, we find ourselves waiting for the return of Christ with a desire to be found ready so we often look for the signs pointing to His return.  As Jesus approaches the end of His time on earth, He answers a question from His disciples about seeing the . . .

  • Suffering:  Matthew 24:4-14

    • As Jesus begins to respond to His disciples about the signs they are asking about, He addresses the suffering that will take place.  The suffering of this world is a result of sin.  Some of it is a direct result of sinful acts that we commit or that others commit, while other aspects of suffering are simply a result of living in a world under the curse of sin.  As we draw closer to the return of Jesus with each tick of the clock, we also see an increase in the suffering which is directly related to a persecution of those who put their faith in Jesus.  Even through suffering and persecution, Jesus assures us that He knows those who are His and that salvation comes to those who remain faithful regardless of the circumstances. 

  • Illusions:  Matthew 24:22-26

    • In addition to a growing culture of suffering, Jesus wants us to see the illusions for what they are so that we are not deceived.  Throughout history prior to the time of Jesus being on earth, as well as since that time, people have claimed to be the Christ or have pointed to others as being the Christ.  But the illusions which multiply as the day of Christ’s return approach are not only about Him having returned or being somewhere on earth, they also involve an illusion of truth which misrepresents Jesus as the only way to the Father.  When our eyes and ears are opened to the illusions of this world, we can live with confidence through a faith that is centered in the goodness of God and His promise not to forget those who are His.

  • Gathering:  Matthew 24:27-31

    • Jesus talks in this chapter about a gathering in two very different contexts.  In the first, He talks about a gathering which surrounds death.  It can be easy to draw a crowd if you use the right bait.  When death reigns in our life, the vultures of the evil one gather quickly in an effort to completely destroy and devour us.  This is not the gathering we ought to be paying attention to.  The other gathering is the one He says can’t be missed.  We prepare ourselves for Jesus to come and gather to Himself all who are His when we practice gathering with other believers simply because we want to.

  • Night:  Matthew 24:36-44

    • When we see the darkness of night, we would be wise to be watchful and prepared.  Jesus makes it clear through His teaching here on earth that even He does not know the day or hour of His return.  That information is exclusive to His Father.  Many people go to great lengths to be prepared as much as possible for the thief who likes to work under the cover of the night.  We put up motion detectors, security lights, cameras, and other surveillance items in attempts to be ready at all times.  Because the days we live in are evil and the darkness seems to grow unhindered, Jesus wants us to see the night and be ready at all times for His return.

  • Sorrow:  Matthew 24:45-51

    • As Jesus responds to the questions of His disciples about the signs of the end of the age, He does so not to frighten them but to both encourage and warn them . . . and us.  The great danger of not seeing the signs and being prepared is that the end of the age will be a time of great sorrow for those who have rejected Jesus.  Seeing the sorrow that is to come ought to motivate us to put our faith in Jesus as the only One who can cleanse us of the sin which brings the eternal sorrow of separation from God.

Today, how will you respond to the SIGNS?