Being Ready for the Lord's Coming

I. By Overcoming the Evil Generation - Matthew 24:32-44

A. The signs of an evil generation - Matt. 24:32-36
1. A moral generation as in Matt. 11:16; 12:39, 41-42, 45; Prov. 30:11f
B. The days of Noah - Matt. 24:37-39
1. Moral looseness - Matt. 24:37-39
2. The building of the ark - Matt. 24:38; cf. Matt. 16:18
C. Being ready for rapture in our daily lives - Matt. 24:40-44

II. By Being a Supply in the Church Life - Matthew 24:45-51

A. Being faithful to supply the church - Matt. 24:45-47
B. The church life today prepares us for the Kingdom Life in the future - Matt. 24:47
C. Caring for our relationships with the saints - Matt. 24:49a
D. Becoming loose and not being ready - Matt. 24:49b-51

III. By Gaining Christ in Our Daily Life - Matthew 25:1-13

A. The meaning of the parable of the ten virgins
1. The ten virgins = all Christians - 2 Cor. 11:2
2. The lamps = the human spirit - Prov. 20:27; cf. Rev. 4:5
3. The vessels = the soul and body - 1 Thess. 4:4; 5:23; 2 Cor. 4:7
4. Buying oil = gaining Christ in daily life - Phil. 3:7-10; Rev. 3:18; Gal. 5:21b-25
5. Being wise = living a life filled in spirit in the church life for the preparation of the
Bride - Eph. 5:15-19, 25-27
6. Being foolish = not living such a life as the wise - Eph. 5:16-19
7. Trimmed lamps = prepared for the most effective burning - Rom. 12:11;
Titus 2:10-13
B. The significance of the marriage feast
1. Receiving the reward of the kingdom - Matt. 25:10; Rev. 3:18-22
2. Suffering loss and not inheriting the kingdom - Matt. 25:11-12; 1 Cor. 3:13-15;
Gal. 5:19-21

IV. By Serving the Lord Faithfully and Diligently - Matthew 25:14-30

A. The meaning of the parable of the talents
1. His possessions = the riches and purposes of the Triune God
- Matt. 25:14; Eph. 3:2-11
2. The talents = the gifts and abilities of grace - Matt. 25:15; 1 Pet. 4:11-13; Eph. 4:8;
Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 12:4
3. Trading with the talents = using the gifts and abilities the Lord has given to us
- Matt. 25:16; 1 Cor. 3:10-15; 4:1-5
4. The "many things" and "the joy of the Lord" = reigning with Christ in the coming kingdom- Matt. 25:21, 23; Luke 19:11-19; Rev. 20:4

V. The Readiness of the Nations - Matthew 25:31-46

A. Sheep nations = Treating God's people with kindness
B. Goat nations = Mistreating God's people