“Not Out, Not In, But Up”
This week’s texts from Scripture are:
Sermon Outline:
When the World Pushes Back (Looking Out)
Jesus warns of wars, famines, and persecution (Luke 21).
The temptation: to believe God is absent or that it’s up to us to fix the world.
Either despair or pride can take root.
Our call: discern the times wisely and endure with faith (1 Chronicles 12:32).
When the Church Falters (Looking In)
The early church also faced conflict and failure (Corinthians, Acts, Thessalonians).
We are fallen people worshiping a perfect Savior.
The temptation: to take our eyes off Christ and become distracted or disillusioned.
Story: a childhood bike ride gone wrong—when our eyes drift, our path does too.
The church isn’t perfect, but it belongs to a perfect Lord.
The Call to Look Up
“This is my Father’s world… God is the ruler yet.”
Malachi 4: The “sun of righteousness” rises with healing.
Our hope and peace come from fixing our eyes on Christ, not the chaos around us.
Our Opportunity to Bear Witness
Jesus: “This will be your opportunity to bear witness.” (Luke 21:13)
When the world darkens, we respond with prayer and intercession, not fear.
Paul urges perseverance and grace within the church (2 Thessalonians 3:13–15).
Invitation and Hope
For those not yet believers: where do you look when life grows dark?
John Owen: “By beholding the glory of Christ by faith, we shall find rest to our souls.”
Look not out or in, but up—to Christ, our steadfast anchor (Hebrews 6:19–20).
“Jesus who died shall be satisfied, and earth and heaven be one.”
Application Questions…
Comprehension Questions (Understanding the Text & Message)
What did Jesus warn His followers about in Luke 21, and why does He call these moments “an opportunity to bear witness”?
How does Paul instruct the Thessalonians to respond to disorder and idleness within the church (2 Thessalonians 3:6–15)?
What promise does God make to His people in Malachi 4:2–3, and what does “the sun of righteousness” symbolize?
According to the sermon, what dangers arise when we look outward to the world or inward to ourselves for hope?
How does the hymn “This Is My Father’s World” reinforce the main theme of the sermon?
Life Application Questions (Reflection & Practice)
A. Looking Outward: Responding to the World
6. When you see chaos or conflict in the news, what is your natural response? How might prayer reshape that response?
7. How can you cultivate discernment, like the men of Issachar (1 Chronicles 12:32), to “understand the times” without becoming overwhelmed by them?
8. In what ways can your faith community bear witness to Christ amid a culture of fear, division, or anxiety?
B. Looking Inward: Responding to the Church
9. How do you typically respond when you see flaws, failures, or hypocrisy within the church?
10. What practical steps can you take to encourage or “warn as a brother” rather than criticize or withdraw?
11. Are there areas where your attention has “wandered” spiritually, like the sermon’s bike story? How can you realign your focus on Christ?
12. How can recognizing your own fallenness make you more gracious toward others in the church?
C. Looking Upward: Fixing Our Eyes on Christ
13. What daily practices help you “look up” and remember your hope in Christ when life feels uncertain?
14. How does beholding “the glory of Christ,” as John Owen described, quiet your fears or anxieties?
15. What would it look like for you this week to live as someone whose confidence and peace come not from circumstances but from Jesus Himself?