FBCWF

How Should We Live Since Jesus Is Coming Back?

Matthew 24:32–44

Dr. Bob McCartney, Senior Pastor • September 7, 2025

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I. Live confidently

The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.

Isaiah 40:8 (NASB95)

For, “ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.” And this is the word which was preached to you.

1 Peter 1:24–25 (NASB95)

II. Live Obediently

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;

Acts 1:7 (NASB95)

For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.

1 Thessalonians 5:2 (NASB95)

“Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.”

Revelation 16:15 (NLT)

You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.

James 5:8 (NIV84)

Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.

1 John 3:3 (NIV84)

but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

Acts 1:8 (NASB95)

III. Live Ready

Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!

2 Peter 3:11–12 (NASB95)

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

Titus 2:11–13 (NIV84)

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. share a meal together as friends.” Romans 13:11 (NASB): “For now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.” His words are more certain than the cosmos, the signs will come, the hour is unknown, and the call is clear: be ready.

Revelation 3:20 (NIV84)

Jesus Wins

Matthew 24: 29-31

Dr. Bob McCartney, Senior Pastor • August 31, 2025

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Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”

2 Peter 3:3–4 (NASB95)

I. Jesus will return as a conquering hero.

If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

John 14:3 (NASB95)

BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.

Revelation 1:7 (NASB95)

The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into blood Before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.

Joel 2:31 (NASB95)

for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.

Revelation 16:14 (NASB95)

And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.

Revelation 19:19–20 (NASB95)

II. Jesus will gather every person who has trusted him.

And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

Revelation 7:4 (NASB95)

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

Revelation 7:9–10 (NASB95)

Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Revelation 20:4 (NASB95)

And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day.

John 6:39 (NLT)

The Terrible Tribulation

Matthew 24:15-31

Dr. Bob McCartney, Senior Pastor • August 24, 2025

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1. God will bring history to an awful, powerful end.

“Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation.

Daniel 11:31 (NASB95)

Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 (NASB95)

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 (NASB95)

2. God’s grace is revealed even in the darkest of times.

I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Revelation 7:14 (NASB95)

Then the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.

Job 1:12 (NASB95)

So the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life.”

Job 2:6 (NASB95)

• The World will not continue as it is forever.

• God sets boundaries on our suffering.

• Eternal life is available NOW.

When the World Shifts, We Stand Firm

Matthew 24:1-14

Dr. Bob McCartney, Senior Pastor • August 17, 2025

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1. The World, as we know it, will not last forever.

While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.

1 Thessalonians 5:3 (NASB95)

This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain. Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.

Hebrews 12:27–28 (NLT)

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19–21 (NASB95)

2. Beware of deceptive “signs” that can mislead you.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 John 4:1 (NASB95)

a. Deception

b. Division

c. Disasters

d. Defamation

3. Tell people about Jesus with intensity and urgency.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Romans 1:16 (NASB95)

Go Tell Somebody about Jesus

Matthew 4:18-22

Dr. Bob McCartney, Senior Pastor • August 10, 2025

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God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Genesis 1:31 (NASB95)

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 3:23 (NASB95)

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23 (NASB95)

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Romans 8:20–21 (NASB95)

There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

Proverbs 14:12 (NASB95)

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:16 (NASB95)

and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Mark 1:15 (NASB95)

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 2:8–9 (NASB95)

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

Romans 10:9 (NASB95)

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10 (NASB95)

1. Go tell somebody about Jesus with conviction.

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.

1 Timothy 2:5–6 (NASB95)

And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:15 (NASB95)

2. Go tell somebody about Jesus with compassion.

I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,

Romans 9:1–3 (NASB95)

So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

Acts 20:31 (NIV84)

3. Go tell somebody about Jesus by communicating.

When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require from your hand. But if you on your part warn a wicked man to turn from his way and he does not turn from his way, he will die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your life.

Ezekiel 33:8–9 (NASB95)

Christ-like Compassion

Matthew 9:35-38

--from the Endless Summer series

Sam Powers, Middle School Pastor • August 3, 2025 | 11am

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To Make Him Known

--from the Endless Summer series

Rod Payne, Pastor of Missions and Media • August 3, 2025 | 9:30am

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The Power of Invitation

--from the Endless Summer series

Lewis Howard, Pastor of Education • July 27, 2025

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Seen – Where is God When I Feel Invisible

Psalm 139

--from the Endless Summer series

Dr. Bob McCartney, Senior Pastor • July 20, 2025

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1. God Knows Everything About You

Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

Luke 12:6–7 (NASB95)

I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me,

John 10:14 (NASB95)

2. God’s Presence Is Always With You

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38–39 (NASB95)

3. God Made You With Purpose.

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

all things have been created through Him and for Him.

Colossians 1:16 (NASB95)

• Application:

You are not your GPA, your income, your appearance, or your past. You are God’s masterpiece.

And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE,

Matthew 19:4 (NASB95)

4. God Guides You with Love and Intention

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6 (NASB95)

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.

John 16:13 (NLT)

Hope in the Dark

Psalm 42

--from the Endless Summer series

Dr. Bob McCartney, Senior Pastor • July 13, 2025

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1. I must admit my deep need for God.

Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ”

John 7:37–38 (NASB95)

2. I Must Remember God’s Faithfulness in the Past

If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.

2 Timothy 2:13 (NASB95)

3. I Must Talk to My Soul, Not Just Listen to It

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,”

Hebrews 13:5 (NASB95)

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6 (NASB95)

4. I Must Anchor My Hope in God, Not My Feelings

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,

Hebrews 6:19 (NASB95)