Signs and Times

Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes for snacks; longer, obviously, if a meal is provided).

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). In pairs or groups of three, have participants answer, “How difficult is it for you to wait?”

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). Read Matthew 24:36-44.

What is the thing that only God knows? Not even the angels or Jesus know! [The day of Jesus’ return. "No one knows the day or hour when these things will happen” (Matthew 24:36a, NLT).]

What will it be like when Jesus returns? [No one will realize what will happen until it happens. “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day…” (Matthew 24:37-39 NLT).]

From Matthew 24:42a, “So you, too, must keep watch!” (New Living Translation); “Therefore, stay alert!” (CEB); “Keep awake therefore,” (New Revised Standard Version).

• What does it mean for you to stay alert, or awake, or even keep watch in your day-to-day as we wait for the return of Jesus?

The Preaching Notes for November 30 say, “We aren’t good at waiting. It isn’t in our cultural DNA. I’ve lived in other parts of the world for a time and discovered that other nations, other cultures, do the waiting thing a whole lot better than we do.”

• Are you not great at waiting? What have you observed that can help us improve our waiting tolerance? Is there something from another culture that you noticed about waiting?

Jesus says to “be ready all the time.” What does “be ready” mean to you? What could you add to your life that would help you “ be ready” for the Lord?

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End with the following prayer, a similar prayer, or the Lord’s Prayer:

Heavenly and glorious God of all, we come to you asking for guidance in our day-to-day life through your Holy Spirit about how we can be ready for you. Give us clarity on what we can do to grow closer to you, rather than clinging to the things of this world. In Jesus, your son, our Savior and Lord, we pray, Amen!

Bible verses marked NLT are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Verses marked CEB are from the Common English Bible (CEB) Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible.

Rev. Rosedanny Ortiz serves as the senior pastor at Agape Memorial United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas. She is a local pastor in The United Methodist Church (UMC) with a master of divinity from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University (SMU) and a bachelor of computer engineering from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. Rosedanny is passionate about racial justice, finding new ways to connect with the community, promoting unity and diversity, and working toward creating a multicultural space for all to worship the God of all. You can learn more about Rosedanny and her ministry through her blog, More Faith (morefaithblog.com).