"Looking for God in All the Wrong Places: Understanding Jesus' Prophecy of Jerusalem's Destruction" Matthew 24:36-44
Sermon Resources
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Title: Looking for God in All the Wrong Places: Understanding Jesus' Prophecy of Jerusalem's Destruction Sermon Summary: This Advent sermon challenges contemporary misunderstandings of Jesus' prophetic warnings in Matthew 24, arguing that His primary focus was the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD, not solely the end times. The pastor emphasizes the importance of reading Scripture through the lens of first-century Jewish audiences while applying it to 21st-century lives. The message calls for "forgiving God"—essentially humbling ourselves to see God as He truly is rather than as we've made Him in our own image. Like the man on the rooftop who missed God's provision through practical means, we often look for God in the wrong places, missing His actual work in our lives. The sermon reveals God's compassion even in judgment, giving the Jews 40 years and multiple signs before Jerusalem's destruction, demonstrating that Jesus, as the final sacrifice, ended the need for temple sacrifices. This first Sunday of Advent focuses on forgiveness—forgiving our misunderstandings of God and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts.
Key Points:
Scripture must be understood as first-century literature written to first-century Jews before applying it to modern readers
Jesus' prophecy in Matthew 24 primarily concerned the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, which occurred within that generation (40 years)
Historical sources, including Josephus and archaeological evidence, confirm the complete destruction of the Temple as Jesus predicted
The phrase "one will be taken, the other left" refers to judgment (like the flood), not rapture—the wicked were "taken away" in judgment
God showed compassion by providing numerous signs and warnings for seven years before Jerusalem's destruction
The destruction of the Temple ended Jewish sacrificial worship, affirming Jesus as the final Lamb of God
We often look for God in wrong places—in our own terms rather than how He actually reveals Himself
Advent calls us to humble ourselves, "forgive God" for our misunderstandings, and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal truth
5-Day Advent Devotional: Finding God Where He Actually Is Day 1: Seeing Through First-Century Eyes Reading: Matthew 24:1-14
Devotional: When Jesus prophesied Jerusalem's destruction, His disciples couldn't comprehend what He meant. They expected earthly triumph, not divine judgment. Like them, we often interpret God's Word through our expectations rather than His intentions. The disciples needed Pentecost before understanding dawned. Today, ask the Holy Spirit to remove your cultural and personal filters when reading Scripture. What passages have you avoided because they don't fit your image of God? Ancient words written to ancient people still speak, but only when we humble ourselves to hear them as originally intended. God's meaning is fixed; our application must be Spirit-led.
Reflection Question: What preconceptions about God might be preventing you from hearing His full message?
Day 2: The Compassion in God's Judgment Reading: Matthew 23:37-39; Luke 19:41-44
Devotional: "How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks." Jesus wept over Jerusalem even while prophesying its destruction. God's judgment and His love aren't opposites—they flow from the same holy character. For forty years between Christ's ascension and Jerusalem's fall, God sent warnings: prophets, signs, the Gospel message spreading throughout the known world. Judgment came only after persistent rejection. When we face consequences for our choices, God grieves with us. His discipline aims at restoration, not destruction. Even in the darkest warnings of Scripture, look for the heartbroken Father longing to gather His children home.
Reflection Question: Where have you experienced God's loving discipline redirecting your path?
Day 3: Looking for God in the Right Places Reading: Psalm 46:1-11; James 1:5-8
Devotional: The man on the rooftop rejected three rescues while waiting for God to save him "his way." How often do we do the same? We look for God in our achievements, relationships, or circumstances while He's actively working through ordinary means right before us. The Jews sought a conquering Messiah and missed the suffering Servant. We seek comfort and miss the refining fire. God promises wisdom to those who ask, but we must recognize His answer even when it arrives differently than expected. Today, inventory where you're genuinely seeking God versus where you're demanding He show up according to your specifications.
Reflection Question: What "rowboats" might God be sending that you've been refusing?
Day 4: The End of One Age, The Beginning of Another Reading: Hebrews 8:6-13; 10:1-18
Devotional: When the temple fell in 70 AD, an entire system of worship ended forever. No more sacrifices. No more priesthood. The old covenant gave way completely to the new. This wasn't cruelty—it was completion. Christ's sacrifice was sufficient; the shadows could finally fade. Yet change, even God-ordained change, feels like loss. The early Jewish believers had to release practices that had defined their faith for centuries. What is God asking you to release? What "temple" in your life—good things that have become ultimate things—needs to fall so Christ alone remains? Advent reminds us that God's arrivals often require departures.
Reflection Question: What religious practices or spiritual securities might God be calling you to surrender?
Day 5: Forgiving God (and Ourselves) Reading: Romans 9:19-26; Isaiah 55:8-9
Devotional: "Do you need to forgive God?" The question startles us. God is perfect, without error. Yet we harbor resentment toward Him for not being who we want Him to be. We're angry He allows suffering, doesn't answer prayers our way, or includes difficult passages in Scripture. This Advent, practice honest confession: "God, I've made You in my image. I've rejected the parts of Scripture that make me uncomfortable. I've judged You for being God." Then receive His forgiveness for your misrepresentation of Him. The God revealed in Scripture—full of grace AND truth, mercy AND justice—is better than any god we could imagine. Seek Him as He is, not as you wish He were.
Reflection Question: What aspect of God's character do you need to accept and embrace more fully this Advent season?
Closing Prayer for the Week Gracious Father, as we journey through Advent awaiting Christ's arrival, help us see You clearly. Remove our filters, our demands, our carefully constructed images of who we think You should be. Give us eyes to see You in unexpected places and hearts humble enough to accept Your ways above our own. Thank You for Your persistent love that sends warning after warning, invitation after invitation. We choose to seek Your kingdom first—Your rule, Your way, Your truth—every single day. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Small Group Guide: Looking for God in All the Wrong Places Advent Week 1 - Matthew 24:36-44
Opening Prayer (5 minutes) Begin by inviting the Holy Spirit to guide your discussion and open hearts to difficult truths about God's character and His work in history.
Ice Breaker (10 minutes) Question: Share about a time when you were looking for help or an answer in the "wrong place" - when the solution was right in front of you but you didn't see it.
Sermon Recap (5 minutes) This sermon challenged us to read Scripture through the eyes of its original audience - first-century Jews hearing Jesus prophesy about the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The pastor emphasized that we often misinterpret Scripture by reading our modern expectations into ancient texts, and that we sometimes need to "forgive God" - really, to repent of making God in our own image.
Key Takeaways
1. Context Matters: Scripture was written to first-century people and must be understood in their context before applying it to our lives today.
2. Prophecy Fulfilled: Jesus' prophecy about the temple destruction in Matthew 24 was fulfilled in 70 AD, not about a future "rapture."
3. God's Judgment and Compassion: Even in judgment, God shows compassion by warning people and giving them time to repent.
4. We Make God in Our Image: We often reshape God to fit our preferences rather than accepting who He reveals Himself to be.
Discussion Questions Understanding the Text (15 minutes)
1. What was your initial reaction to hearing that Matthew 24 was primarily about 70 AD rather than the end times? How does this change your understanding of the passage?
2.The pastor mentioned we need to "walk in the sandals" of first-century Jews. What makes this difficult for us? Why is it important?
3. Review the story of the man on the rooftop during the flood. In what ways do we sometimes have tunnel vision about how God should work in our lives?
Going Deeper (20 minutes) The sermon stated: "We're looking for God in too many faces - our spouse, our children, our reputation, our job." Where do you tend to look for God (or meaning, fulfillment, security) in the wrong places?
Discuss the historical evidence of Jerusalem's destruction in 70 AD. How does knowing this actually happened change how you read Jesus' warnings? What does this reveal about God's character?
Jesus said, "How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing" (Matthew 23:37). How do you see both God's judgment AND His compassion in the destruction of Jerusalem?
The pastor suggested we might need to "forgive God" - really, to repent of judging God unfairly or making Him in our image. Have you ever been angry at God for something in Scripture that seemed harsh? How do you reconcile difficult passages with God's love?
Personal Application (15 minutes) "Seek ye first the kingdom of God" means His continual rule in our daily lives. What would it look like practically for you to seek God's kingdom first this week?
The sermon mentioned that without humbling ourselves, we can't properly hear God's Word. What pride or preconceptions might be blocking you from hearing what God wants to say to you?
Jesus gave warnings and signs before judgment came - He wanted people to be ready. In what areas of your life might God be giving you warnings or promptings that you're ignoring?
Practical Applications Choose one or two of these to commit to this week:
Individual Practices Daily Scripture Reading with Context: This week, before reading your Bible passage, spend 2 minutes researching or thinking about who the original audience was and what their situation was like.
Forgiveness Inventory: Write down ways you may have been angry at God or judged Him unfairly. Confess these and ask God to reveal Himself as He truly is.
Examine Your Idols: Make a list of places you look for security, meaning, or fulfillment besides God. Pray about surrendering these.
Study the Character of God: Choose one attribute of God that makes you uncomfortable (His judgment, His holiness, His sovereignty) and study what Scripture says about it.
Group Practices Accountability Partners: Pair up and share one area where you tend to "look for God in the wrong places." Check in with each other this week.
Historical Study: As a group, research one biblical event together (like the destruction of Jerusalem) to better understand Scripture in its historical context.
Closing Reflection (10 minutes) Read together: Hebrews 9:27 - "It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment."
Reflect: This is sobering, but remember that Jesus came to take our judgment upon Himself. The same Jesus who prophesied Jerusalem's destruction also said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).
Discuss:
How does understanding God's judgment make you appreciate His grace more? What does Advent (the "arrival" of Christ) mean to you in light of today's discussion?
Closing Prayer (5 minutes) Pray together:
Thank God for sending Jesus to take the judgment we deserve Ask for humility to read Scripture correctly and accept God as He is Pray for the courage to examine where we're looking for God in the wrong places Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal truth and lead us in obedience during this Advent season
Looking Ahead Next Week's Preparation: Continue in Advent Week 2. Consider how today's lesson about judgment and grace prepares us to celebrate Christ's first coming and anticipate His second coming.
Memory Verse for the Week: "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." - Matthew 24:42
Additional Resources Book: "The Jewish War" by Josephus (for historical context of 70 AD) Study: Research "Second Temple Judaism" to understand Jesus' context Reflection: Read through Matthew 23-24 in one sitting, noting Jesus' emotions and warnings
