The Kingdom & the Returning King

Sermon 73 in Series

Luke 17:20-37

[20] Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, [21] nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

[22] And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming 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, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. [24] 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. [25] But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. [26] Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. [27] They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. [28] Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, [29] but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all—[30] so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. [31] On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. [32] Remember Lot’s wife. [33] Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. [34] I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. [35] There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.” [37] And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.  How do we tend to accentuate our differences when discussing eschatology? What does it look like to emphasize what we hold in common?
2.  How is the kingdom presented as already and not yet? How have we seen this play out in Luke up to this point?
3.  What does Romans 14:17 tell us about life in the kingdom? How should this direct our eschatological discussions with fellow believers?
4.  How does Jesus describe his Return/Second Coming? What is he trying to protect his followers from doing?
5.  How does this passage emphasize judgment? Where do we also see hope and salvation for the believer?
6.  In what ways does this teaching warn the reader? How does it better equip us to persevere through trials and to bear offences without revenge?
7.  How does this passage inform your eschatology? How does it correct it?

References: 2 Thessalonians 1:3 – 2:12 (corporate reading); 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8; Luke 11:16, 29; 7:22; Isaiah 61:1-2; Psalm 147:7-8; Luke 11:20; Romans 14:17; Luke 11:2; 12:40; 9:26; Titus 2:13; Daniel 7:13-14; Luke 9:22; Gen. 6:5; 13:13; 19:1-29; Matthew 24:15-18; Luke 9:24; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; John 14:3.