Bible Study

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July 28, 2019

Luke 17:20-37 Teachings about the Kingdom


20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation;
21 “nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
22 Then He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.
23 “And they will say to you, ‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’ Do not go after them or follow them.
24 “For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day.
25 “But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
26 “And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:
27 “They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
28 “Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;
29 “but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.
30 “Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
31 “In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back.
32 “Remember Lot’s wife.
33 “Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.
34 “I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left.
35 “Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left.
36 “Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.”
37 And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?” So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”


Main Topics/Questions

Please consider the following topics/questions as you listen to the sermon:

1. What do we know from passages such as Matthew 24:36? What does Jesus tell us in Luke 17:20-37 that let's us know that questions about the Kingdom of God are even more complex than we might think? What does Jesus mean by saying the Kingdom of God is now (in its incomplete form) “within you” or “in your midst”?
2. What are some things Jesus does give His disciples or students to consider about when the Kingdom of God is going to come in its fullness?
3. What are some statistics about Christians and "people groups" that relate to these verses:
Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
Revelation 7:9 going into verse 10 (ESV), 9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
4. What are some examples of people saying Jesus (the Messiah) has already returned? How does the end of verse 23 going into verse 24 (ESV) let us know these were false messiahs and crackpot prognosticators? “Do not go out or follow them. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.”
5. What was Jesus referring to in Luke 17:25 that “first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.” What are the goals tied to each of His visits to earth?
6. What are some other things we need to know in regards to His second coming?
7. What other events does Jesus compare to His second coming?
8. How do the words of 2 Peter 3:3-7 describe our present situation?
3  knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,
4  and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."
5  For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,
6  by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.
7  But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8. What should we do when the end of all things finally comes upon us? What should we not do? Why?
9. How does Luke 17:34-37; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; and Matthew 24:27-31 & 37-42 relate?
10. What is the significance of Jesus giving examples of some people doing daytime activities and some people doing nighttime activities when he returns again? (17: 34-35; Matthew 24: 40)
11. What will happen to believers when Jesus returns? What will happen to those left behind?

Conclusion:
Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin (what we earn from sin) is death and the only way we can be saved is if we receive the free gift of God which is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 says,

13  But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep (or died), lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep (or are dead) in Jesus.
15  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep (or dead).
16  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18  Therefore comfort one another with these words.


Believers in Jesus aren’t perfect (I’m not perfect), but we are forgiven of our sins and thus we have hope. But those who do not believe in Jesus have no hope, because there is no way to overcome death apart from Christ. So what’s going to happen to you? Will you be taken or will you be left?

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Pray

Do you feel an emptiness in your life? Are you seeking answers but don't know where to look? Have you ever wondered if you are good enough? Please read the summary of the gospel message, "Four Things You Need to Know About God"

Please send an email to the Pastor if you have questions.

Life Verse

1 Peter 3:15, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear."

We fully affirm the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.