Worship on Sunday, November 16th at 10 am
Event Details
All are welcome to join us for worship on Sunday, November 16th at 10 am. There is Sunday School during the service and coffee afterwards. We hope that you can join with us this Sunday.
Here are Rev. Marlene’s thoughts on the sermon for Sunday.
“Stand firm, and you will win life.” Luke 21:19
This verse beautifully summarizes the central message of this week’s passage.
Steadfastness is the response Jesus calls for amid chaos, persecution, and fear. It reflects trust in God’s sovereignty, even when the world feels uncertain or hostile. The promise “you will win life” assures believers that their faithfulness is not in vain — God is present and will ultimately redeem them. Verse 19 ties together the passage’s warnings and encouragements: even when the temple (a symbol of stability) falls, and even when followers face hardship, faithful perseverance leads to true life.
Jesus’ words and actions in Jerusalem toward the end of his earthly ministry point us toward an uncertain future. Yet, both segments of Jesus’ prophecy offer sound advice. There is no certain sign or authoritative figure that will ensure the arrival of the day. Notice that when Jesus speaks of “the day” here he is speaking on two levels—Immediate and Future.Jesus was referring to the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, which took place in70 CE. When He says, “the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another” (v. 6), He is warning of a real, historical event that would shake the Jewish world — a time of great turmoil and persecution. At the same time, Jesus’ words also point toward the ultimate “Day of theLord” — the time when God’s purposes will be fulfilled, and Christ will return in glory. This is what we often call the Second Coming. So, in this passage, Jesus is blending both near and far horizons.
Even the betrayal and persecution of Jesus’ followers does not indicate an immediate end. Rather, persecution provides believers with the opportunity and responsibility to give witness and to stand firm in their faith. For Luke’s reader, then and now, the fact that Jesus’ first two prophecies were fulfilled stand as assurance that the final one will also see fulfillment, in its own time.
Rev. Marlene
