The Importance of Being Ready

INTRODUCTION 

(Renovation Church Logo) 

Good morning!  My name is David Sorn, and I’m the Lead Pastor of Renovation Church!  

Before we get started, just a quick reminder to vote this Tuesday.  

We believe the greatest way to change a city, to change a state is to share the gospel and disciple people. 

But that being said, voting matters. 

And listen 1 out every 3 of Christians doesn’t vote.  

But Proverbs 3:27 tells us 

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,

    when it is in your power to act.

And it is in your power to act this week…for the good of those around you.  

Many Christians around the world live under dictatorships and have no power to act and influence the laws around them. 

So go home, pray, study the issues, seek Biblical perspective, study all the candidates on your particular ballot, and then vote

All right, we are starting a new short teaching series this morning.  

(Ready or Not Series Slide) 

For 3 weeks, we are going to jump into the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 25, in a series we’re calling “Ready or Not” 

So go ahead and grab a Bible 

Matthew 25:1 

Page 677 

We are jumping into Matthew’s Book about Jesus, and at this stage in the book, Jesus is speaking a lot about the end times of our world and when all will be judged. 

And so chapter 24 has much to say about signs that the end is near. 

And then chapter 25, our chapter for this series, is much about us being ready for Jesus’ return.  

We’re going to read one of his parables today, which is a short story with meaning 

I’m going to start with just one verse and then I want to stop and catch us up on some historical context. 

(Matthew 25:1) – NIV 

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  

(Ready or Not 

Okay, there are a number of terms here that are used differently in modern day, so let’s talk about this.  

When Jesus says ten virgins, in the language of the ancient near east, 2,000 years ago, he’s really talking about ten bridesmaids for a wedding. 

And these ten bridesmaids have gone out to wait for the arrival of the bridegroom, which, in our day, we’ve just shortened to a “groom” 

And if we’re to really understand this parable, we have to understand a bit about Jewish weddings of Jesus’ day 

Firstly, in those days, engagement was called betrothal 

And a betrothal was significantly more formal than an engagement is today. 

The man & the woman would have a formal agreement before witnesses and enter into the state of betrothal. 

It was a legal contract that could actually only be broken by divorce

Now, you still lived apart and were sexually abstinent, but you were definitely going to get married. 

In fact, betrothal was actually the stage that Mary & Joseph were in when she found out she was pregnant w/ Jesus

The betrothal period typically lasted for one year, and at the end of the year…

…to kick off the wedding feast, the groom and his friends would head over to the bride’s home to pick her up, and they would go back to the groom’s home to start the wedding feast. 

And often the bridesmaids would meet the groom on his way to pick up his soon to be bride. 

That’s the setting for this parable. 

The 10 bridesmaids are waiting for the groom to come. 

And the Groom in this parable represents Jesus. 

And the 10 bridesmaids represent us…and whether we are READY or NOT… 

A LONG TIME COMING 

Let’s keep reading 

Matthew 25:2-5

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(Matthew 25:2-5) – NIV 

2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 

Let me pause here just for a second to say Jesus is telling his followers that, like the groom in this story, He may be a long time in coming back. 

Jesus tells us 4 times just in Matthew 24 & 25 that he will be a long time in coming. 

9 times in the 4 gospels

14 times in the New Testament overall are we told to be patient in waiting for His return, and yet, to be ready. 

Okay, verse 6 now 

Matthew 25:6-9

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(Matthew 25:6-9) – NIV 

6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

(The Importance of Being Ready )

So 5 of the bridesmaids aren’t ready for the groom’s arrival. 

 They’re not going to be able to see in the dark to make it to the wedding feast before it begins. 

And in the Bible, “The Great Wedding Feast” represents heaven. 

So 5 of these bridesmaids weren’t ready for heaven. 

By the way, what does that mean that they “trimmed their lamps, but they didn’t have enough oil?”

This isn’t a common problem for us anymore.   

Your problem would be more like, “You need to see in the dark, but because you didn’t prepare for a long wait, you didn’t charge your phone, and now it’s dead, so you can’t use the flashlight on it” 😊 

So when the Bible says “lamps,” think more like “torches.” 

These are long poles with oil-drenched rags at the top

And when it says that they trimmed their lamps, it means this: 

They had to trim off the charred ends of the rag 

Then they could add new oil to the rags, and light their torches again. 

The problem was that 5 of the bridesmaids didn’t bring any extra oil to light their torches…because they weren’t thinking they’d have to wait that long. 

They’re not prepared. 

And so when someone yells that the “groom is coming,” the foolish bridesmaids don’t have any oil, so they try and borrow oil from the others…

And yet, they’re denied. 

And that’s not in there to teach selfishness…they Bible is clear we’re to lead selfLESS lives. 

This detail is in the parable to teach us that we can’t borrow anyone’s faith. 

The only way that you are going to saved at the end of time (or when we die)…the only way we can be forgiven…is by having a personal saving relationship with the Groom…with Jesus.  

You can’t borrow anyone else’s oil or faith. . 

If you’re parents are really good Christians…it’s irrelevant to your own salvation. 

You have to have to have a saving personal relationship with Jesus yourself.   

EAST BETHEL 

Some of you who have been here for a long time, know that we once taught through the entire book of Luke…verse by verse. 

We took some breaks along the way, but it was a 90-week teaching series. 

And you know what stood out to me more than anything?  After teaching 90 weeks on the life and teachings of Jesus? 

Jesus is incredibly serious about heaven and hell. 

There was one stretch where I had to speak on hell for 5 weeks in a row…because that’s simply what Jesus was talking about in the Bible. 

And so it’s essential that we are ready.  That we know Him. 

And also that the people around us know Him. 

And that’s why we’re starting more locations of Renovation Church 

Not only are we filling up in here (and doing 4 services), but we want to reach lost people, not just in Blaine, but all around us. 

And so we are starting to build a launch team for our East Bethel location.  

If you’re new around here since we started talking about our model for locations last year, it’s quite different than how most churches do it, but the gist of it is this: 

Each new location carries the culture, DNA, and the ministry programs of Renovation Church, but is led by a live pastor at that location, who also preaches live.  

That means each Renovation Church location has:

EACH RENOVATION CHURCH LOCATION HAS: 

1. Bible Teaching  

2. Weekly Gospel Invitations 

3. 1-on-1 Discipleship of New Believers 

4. House Church 

1) Bible Teaching 

They will teach verse-by-verse as we do here (for most of the year, they’ll teach the exact same passage)

2) Weekly Gospel Invitations 

Where they will share the gospel every week. 

3) 1-on-1 Discipleship of new believers  

4) House Church 

Just like we do House Church. 

And they carry our CULTURE with them as well…

…think like “pick up an oar, pray the impossible, disciples who makes disciples, or even just our passion for systems & organization

And we’re all together, not separate churches, but United as One Church

And yet each location is uniquely reaching the city that THEY are in!

And so Pastor Nate Gustafson will be leading a launch team out of here to help start our 3rd location in East Bethel. 

Most of you know this East Bethel location was and is a miracle. 

We were totally out of options for finding a spot in that area, when a generous donor came to us and offered to buy land, and build a multi-tenant commercial building that we could then lease in. 

(Show East Bethel Map) 

And that building will be right on 65 just north of Ham Lake, right into East Bethel. 

Just South of the Emagine Movie Theater

It’s an incredible spot as 30,000 cars pass by every day.   

And construction is well underway 

(Show Drone Construction Video)  

There is highway 65 there in the back.  

The parking lot is now paved, curbs are in. 

And in fact, walls are going to start to go up THIS week!!  

And this building is going to be great. 

(Show floorplan) 

In fact, let me show you the floorplan 

You’ll come in here into the lobby…we’ve got our café over here. 

There is a meeting room, and then 4 classrooms in the Kids Area 

With a sizeable Worship Center…that seats 400 people! 

Having a building allows us to have Youth there, House Church childcare, summer Bible classes, and so much more

We are pumped!  

And we’re pumped not just to be in a building but ultimately to reach a city that is one of the least reached areas in the state. 

Between East Bethel and Oak Grove, there are only 7 protestant churches whose total attendance (cumulatively) adds up to 600 people. 

There are 25,000 people in those two cities!!

And so we need people to go into the mission field! 

Especially if you live up there, and those are your neighbors, we want you to pray about going. 

And just one quick reminder… 

(Map for West Quadrant) 

 If you do live north of here, but also kind of west of here…

If you live in this lower left quadrant… 

West of 65, but South of Andover BLVD…

If you’re interested in going with to one of these locations…

If you’re in that lower left quadrant, we want you to wait for our 4th location, which will be to the West of here. 

We’ll be gathering a launch team for that in late spring, and that’ll launch early next Fall. 

(East Bethel Drone PHOTO 1) 

But right now, we’re forming a launch team for the East Bethel location! 

As you came in this morning, you perhaps saw those East Bethel booklets on your chair, and I want you to open up to pages 9 & 10 if you would now 

I want to walk you through what we’re asking… 

If you look at the left-hand, white column on page 9, you’ll see some key dates. 

(Commitment Sunday slide)

2 weeks from today (November 15th) is what we’re calling Commitment Sunday 

And on that Sunday morning, we’re going to ask people to make an official commitment to join our East Bethel Launch team by turning in a Commitment Card (which is attached to your booklet) 

If you’re out of town that weekend, you can also commit online on our website or app. 

So what are you committing to? 

You would be committing to go to the East Bethel location (to serve, give, be in a House Church there…be all in) for 12 months.  

And then hopefully continue on there, BUT if after 12 months, it’s not the right fit, then just come back here.  It’s the same church.  We’re all one family.  

Our goal is to sign up, not 20, not 80, but hundreds of you for that launch team to help get East Bethel off the ground 

You can also see in the Booklet that starting on Tuesday December 1st, that East Bethel launch team will have its first meeting together. 

And one of the great advantages of these new locations is you get all of the culture of Renovation Church still, but in a smaller setting, which is great!

 But also, don’t just go for that!

Because we’re going to go into these cities and make disciples who makes disciples. 

So these locations are also going to grow! 

Because we want our friends & neighbors to be ready to meet Jesus. 

NOMINAL CHRISTIANS  

Speaking of that, let’s go back into our text in Matthew 25 now. 

We left off with seeing that 5 of the bridesmaids didn’t have any oil, so they were unable to light their lamps and easily follow the groom as he went by to go pick up his bride for the wedding feast. 

Let’s keep reading.  Verse 10 now. 

Matthew 25:10-13

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(Matthew 25:10-13) – NIV 

10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

(The Importance of Being Ready )

So the foolish bridesmaids finally make their way to the wedding feast, but they’re too late. 

They weren’t ready, so they don’t get in.   

They’ve missed out on heaven.  

And here’s the really hard word from this incredibly challenging parable from Jesus 

The 5 bridesmaids who miss out on heaven, represent people who are IN our churches.  

That’s actually the MAIN point of this particular parable in the Bible. 

This is not a passage about atheists, or people that have left the flock to go engage in wild living (like the prodigal son in Luke 15 we studied 5 weeks ago) 

This is a parable about people who come to church, maybe even often, but they don’t actually have a personal saving relationship with Jesus Christ.  

They might look like they do, or speak like they do, or pretend that they do. 

But deep down, God knows the truth, and they don’t actually know Him…and so at judgment, He will say (like verse 12), “Truly I tell you, I don’t know you,” and thus they will spend eternity in hell. 

And this is chilling….

…because how many people are in our churches that THINK that they are going to heaven, but they actually won’t 

Unfortunately, in America, there are, I dare say, millions of people who sit in churches every week and think that when the Groom comes for them, they will be just fine

But the problem is:  They think they will be saved, not because they’ve trusted in Christ as their Savior, but simply because they “go to church” and are a “good person.”  Or because they’re not a Democrat, or one of those Republicans, or because they treat people right. 

But look at me:  if you could be saved (and go to heaven) simply by being a good person, then there would’ve been no reason for Jesus to die….because we could get in another way! 

NO!  The reason Jesus died on the cross is because the only way to heaven is through Him, and by believing He died for our sins. 

(Ephesians 2:8-9) - NIV 

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 

And God’s grace for you is so big. 

You could have been the worst sinner in the world…and ignored Him all of your life up until today, but if you come to Him, his death on the cross is big enough to forgive and cover any of your sins. 

But…Jesus is very clear…that his offer will not stand forever. 

You must accept it before He returns, or before your life is over. 

There will not be another chance after you die. 

THE GOSPEL. 

(The Importance of Being Ready )

That’s why Jesus says in verse 10 (“the door was shut”) 

The people are begging for the door to be opened, but it won’t be. 

And so it’s imperative that you take this seriously. 

I’ve always felt like this is a big part of my role (as a pastor and Bible teacher), to speak to people about their souls. 

You may not like it if your friends or family members talk to you about the state of your soul, or heaven & hell…

…but listen, this is my role in your life (whether you come every week or you’re just trying out church again) 

The role of the pastor, in part, is to speak to about eternal things 

Just like, you may not love it if your friends & family say things about your health or your weight, but when you go to the doctor, you kind of expect it 

So likewise, I hope, that you expect, that when you come to church, we’re going talk about the afterlife.  About eternity.  That you are a soul.  

And so listen, what I’m saying to you, (as your spiritual doctor) is that I cannot urge you enough to take this soberly and seriously. 

Let me ask you: “Do you know, for a fact, that you will be going to heaven when you die?”

I find most Americans don’t take this question very seriously at all. 

The average American puts more thought into their weekly fantasy football lineup or next Amazon purchase, then they do (in their entire life!) their eternal destination. 

I see this when I hear people talking at funerals.   

They’ll say, “Well, George is gone now, but he’s up in heaven with all of his loved ones, and his dog Rex, fishing on his favorite lake” 

But we all know that George never talked to Jesus a day in his life, and there’s nothing in this book that says “In heaven, you fish with your dog on your favorite lake” 

But we just make heaven what we want it to be, and assume all of our wishes will come true. 

But listen, you wouldn’t even do that with your vacation…

Would you book a trip to Siberia with no research, and just say, “Well, it’s going to be great!  Personally, I believe they got great beaches there and snorkeling, and I can’t wait to run on the beach with my dog Rex.

If someone said, “No!  You’ve got Siberia all wrong, do your research, would you listen to them?  Or would you just go with what you want to be true?” 

So I’m telling you, do you research

Take this bible home…read the Book of Matthew that we’re in, study what Jesus says. 

Because like Jesus says in verse 13, we do not know the day or the hour of his return, or our death.  

Make a decision before it’s too late. 

Don’t put this off until you’re on your deathbed, because you may die without getting a chance.  

You can be saved, forgiven, and know Jesus right now.  Right now.  

It’s as simple as believing that He is the Son of God who came to rescue you by dying on the cross for your sins.  

And if you are ready to believe in that, and make Him the king of your life.

And walk away your old life.  

That is to turn from sin, and let Him lead you in His love and his truth…

…you can be saved, forgiven, and spend eternity in heaven.  

If you need to do that today, let’s do it