Date: May 29, 2022
Stay Prepared and Ready
The Point: Grow in Christ as you wait for His return.
Get Into the Study
Use the following information to introduce Question #1.
Thursday night April 7th, people were eating dinner in the Bottagra Restaurant in Hawthorne, New Jersey, when the nearby Passaic River began to flood. An evening storm had dumped more than 3 inches of rain on the area in a short period of time. Soon the nearly 200 people in the upscale Italian restaurant were trapped by rising floodwaters. Firefighters arrived and when the waters began to subside, they brought the customers through the fast-moving water to safer ground.
Say: On what should have been a nice evening out, the restaurant patrons were caught unprepared by the rising river. Then call attention to Question #1 (When have you been caught unprepared?) and invite volunteers to respond.
Information for this post was gleaned from:
Study the Bible
Use the following information to introduce Question #2.
The US Army Corps of Engineers began preparing for storms before the 2022 hurricane season arrived. The hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. The Corps of Engineers in the South Atlantic Division held a drill exercise in April to help them be better prepared to respond when the hurricanes come. The Corps is part of the federal government’s response when natural disasters occur. For this year’s drill exercise, the Corps practiced how to respond in a situation where two hurricanes hit land nearly simultaneously. “We are prepared and ready to respond to a hurricane,” said Brigadier General Jason Kelly, South Atlantic Division commander.
Say: These first responders practice to be prepared when natural disasters occur. Brigadier General Kelly says they are “ready.” Then call attention to Question #2 (How would you describe a person who’s prepared for Christ’s return?) and invite volunteers to respond.
Information for this post was gleaned from:
— Donna McKinney wrote these Leader Extras. Donna is retired from a career with the federal government of the United States. She is a veteran Bible study group leader living in North Carolina.
Study the Bible Option (from Advanced Bible Study Teacher Guide, p. 62).
After pointing out that the time for our preparation is limited, to bring out a fresh way to discuss being prepared for Christ’s return, consider using the following:
In 1969, Larry Norman released a song about the return of Christ, based largely on the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 24-25 (specifically 24:40-41, covered in Session 4 on pages 52-53). Click here for a video of the song. More about this song can be found in Dig Deeper on page. 62.
Additional Questions
Icebreakers
- When has preparation helped you accomplish a task?
- What’s something you consider a lifelong pursuit?
- How can we know we will be ready for Christ’s return?
Matthew 25:1-5
- What practical steps can believers take that can provide preparation for Jesus’ return?
- How does considering Christ’s future rule and reign impact your actions now?
- How does the sleepiness of the bridesmaids reflect the attitudes of some believers?
Matthew 25:6-9
- How can we encourage others to be responsible and prepared for Christ’s return?
- Why do people tend to prioritize other things over being prepared for Christ’s return?
- What causes some people to be unprepared for Christ’s return?
Matthew 25:10-13
- What are the possible consequences of putting off thinking about Christ and spiritual growth until later?
- What does this passage teach us about Christ’s return and judgement?
- What are some things that hinder our growth in our relationship with Christ and our preparations for His return?
For Those in Your Group
Send the following link to your group members as either a teaser before the group meets or as a follow-up thought:
Podcast
Click here for a 20-minute podcast for both the group member and the leader.
Podcast (adultsleadertraining): Play in new window | Download
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.