Sermon: "Waiting While We Wait" by Dan Matthews

Prayer: Timothy Gillespie

Pastoral Welcome: Joelle Reuer

Children’s Feature: Genevieve Koh Isidro

Meditation:

Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others? Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) American black leader.

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. – Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) Preeminent leader of Indian nationalism.

Only a life lived in the service to others is worth living. – Albert Einstein (1879-1955) German-Swiss-U.S. scientist.

The more a man takes the needs of others on his own heart, the more he must take his own heart to God. – Unknown Source

“If we would humble ourselves before God, and be kind and courteous and tenderhearted and pitiful, (understanding and accepting) there would be one hundred conversions to the truth where now there is only one.” – E. G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Volume 9, 189

Scripture Reading: Psalm 130:5, NASB* Luke 12:35–38, NASB Isaiah 25:9, NASB  - Raul and Lisa Castillo

INTRODUCTION TO THE SERMON

Adventists look for the Advent.  Some of us have been waiting a long time. In fact, generations of us have been reading the “signs of the times” where we have always found new bases for declaring the imminence of our Lord’s return.  Many Adventists from earlier times could not have imagined still being here in the 21st century.  Nearly every week LLUC pastors are called upon to minister to members who face the loss of dear ones in their families.  Often these are precious senior members who have lived long lives of faithful and fruitful service always looking for, and longing for, their Lord’s return.  Twice in the last week this has been my own sad assignment.  Still, we find comfort in the “blessed hope.”  

It is not uncommon to be in conversation with a faithful Adventist when this question is asked.  “With all of the amazing and tragic things that are happening in our world, don’t you think Jesus is coming soon?”  My usual answer is, I know Jesus wants to come very soon, and surely His coming will be sooner than it has ever been before.  But, I really don’t know that I can say He is coming soon.  Still, He will come when least expected. (Luke 12:40 TNIV) 

We have emphasized “soon” until we wonder what it may mean.  According to 2 Peter 3:12 (TNIV) believers are to “look forward to the day . . . and speed its coming.”  How may we “speed” the return of our Lord and maybe make it sooner?  What are we to do?  Yes, telling more people about the coming of Jesus is always appropriate.  However, for all of our efforts at proclaiming the truth of the Advent, general recognition of the most important focus of the church, is disappointing.  This is particularly true in the developed world.  Could a demonstration of the gospel be more effective than a proclamation of the gospel?  Does “Waiting While We Wait” hold a clue to more faithfully obeying our Lord as we respond to His Great Commission?

Dan Matthews
Associate Pastor
Pastoral Care 

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