The Faithful Will Finish

“Whatever it is that you're going through, run back to Jesus.” — Pastor Matthew

Pastor Matthew opened the message by returning to the words of Jesus in Matthew 24. Before exploring that passage, he first reminded the church how Jesus began His ministry. Jesus started with a simple but all-encompassing invitation. He called people to repent and step into the kingdom of heaven. Repentance was not just confession. It was a complete change of mind about everything from personal desires to future plans to sin itself.

Pastor Matthew explained that Jesus invited people into a new way of living that centered on loving God with every part of their lives. This love naturally flowed into loving others with patience, generosity, forgiveness and kindness. The church was invited to a life that reflected God’s heart and pointed people toward Him.

He then acknowledged that many people in the room had made this decision at some point. They had chosen to trust Jesus and enter into His kingdom. But he also pointed out that most believers began their relationship with an expectation. They believed their lives would move in predictable ways that felt blessed and comfortable. They imagined that following Jesus would guide their lives smoothly toward what they preferred.

What actually happens is very different. Life takes turns no one expects. Some seasons are shockingly good. Some seasons are shockingly painful. Pastor Matthew shared personally that he never expected to end up in Lancaster, Ohio, yet this unexpected path has brought deep friendships, purpose and joy. At the same time, he has also walked through seasons filled with difficulty and confusion. This tension sets the stage for the message Jesus shared with His disciples in Matthew 24.

When Jesus and His disciples walked by the temple, the disciples pointed it out with pride. The temple meant stability, forgiveness, direction and God’s presence. It was the center of their daily faith. They expected Jesus to celebrate it with them.

Instead, Jesus told them the temple would be torn down. Pastor Matthew asked the congregation to imagine hearing Jesus say that about whatever brings security into their own lives. Many people do not need to imagine. They are already in seasons where what seemed secure has been shaken.

The disciples felt this same tension, so they asked Jesus privately to explain what He meant. They expected Him to reassure them and tell them that everything would turn out the way they wanted. Instead, Jesus described a future filled with turmoil. He spoke about false teachers, wars, famines, earthquakes, persecution and increasing hatred. He told them that many people would fall away and that the love of many would grow cold.

Pastor Matthew emphasized that Jesus was speaking directly to His disciples about events they would live through. Within a generation, the temple was destroyed. The city was sieged. Christians faced persecution, deception and pressure. Everything Jesus predicted unfolded.

But these words also speak to every generation. Pastor Matthew named the tensions that people feel today. Conflict seems constant. Pressure increases. Culture grows darker. Love grows colder. Political shifts pull on emotions week after week. In that environment, Jesus words still speak with clarity. Followers of Jesus are not promised an easy world. They are promised a Savior who is present and faithful in every moment.

After describing the difficulties ahead, Jesus gave two promises. These promises shaped the heart of the message.

Jesus said that the one who endures to the end will be saved. Pastor Matthew explained that endurance is not passive. It is a steady, daily trust that chooses obedience even when emotions feel unsteady. Salvation is not just a moment in the past. Scripture shows that salvation includes the past, the present and the future.

People are saved from their past. Jesus does not return to old sins or punish His people for forgiven mistakes. In the present, He saves and delivers in seasons of uncertainty. And in the future, He promises eternal life and a restored world with no pain or brokenness. All of this belongs to the one who refuses to quit.

Jesus also said that the gospel will be proclaimed throughout the whole world and then the end will come. Pastor Matthew reminded the church that Jesus entrusted this message to ordinary people with no power and no influence. Two thousand years later, the gospel has reached nearly every part of the earth. It continues to change lives because it is backed by the living God.

He described the gospel clearly. Humanity rejected God, but God moved toward humanity in love. Jesus lived a perfect life, died for the sins of the world and was resurrected. His sacrifice restores people to God when they trust Him. Then He fills believers with His Spirit so they can follow Him and share His grace with others.

The world grows darker, but the gospel shines brighter. Nothing can stop it.

Pastor Matthew then gave the central encouragement of the message. Followers of Jesus must consistently run back to Him. When life feels unsettled, Jesus is the place of mercy, strength and guidance.

He addressed those who feel confused or who are questioning what they once believed. He acknowledged that some are in a season of deconstruction. His challenge was simple. Strip away whatever needs to be examined, but do not let go of Jesus. Jesus is real. He is present. He reveals truth. He guides people back to what is trustworthy.

He spoke to those dealing with sin or addiction. He encouraged them to return to Jesus every time they fall. Whether it happens in the morning, afternoon or evening, Jesus never tires of offering mercy. He welcomes every person who comes to Him for help.
He spoke to those betrayed by family or friends. He pointed them again to Jesus, who is steady when people are not.

Throughout this portion of the sermon, Pastor Matthew emphasized the same theme. Jesus is the only true source of peace, security and hope. Returning to Him is always the right response.

Pastor Matthew shared two personal stories from the week to illustrate how Jesus meets people who bring their anxiety to Him.

During the staff retreat, he taught a devotion on anxiety. He invited each staff member to write down what they were anxious about and decide if they were ready to surrender it. If they were not ready, he encouraged them to hold on to it honestly. If they were ready, they could release it to Jesus during worship.

He watched as many staff members responded with emotion and honesty. Later, in his own private moment, he wrote down the thing that had been gripping his heart and surrendered it. As he did, he felt a physical release. The weight he carried lifted. Jesus met him in that moment.

Later in the week, his son Cole called him after youth group. As Cole talked about the pressures he was feeling around graduation, engagement and upcoming life decisions, Pastor Matthew could see the weight on him. When Cole became emotional, both Pastor Matthew and Mary encouraged him and prayed for him.

The next day, Cole shared that he had given everything to Jesus after the call and felt great peace. As a father and as a pastor, Pastor Matthew cherished that moment. It showed the heart of Jesus for all His people. Jesus wants to meet His followers in their weakness and carry what they cannot carry alone.

At the end of the message, Pastor Matthew invited the church to reflect honestly. Many people feel anxious, ashamed, lonely or unsettled. Jesus cares deeply for every one of them. He is able to save in every season and carry His people through uncertainty.

He invited anyone who needed prayer to come forward and join with the prayer team. Together they could run to Jesus and surrender what was weighing them down. He reminded the church that Jesus always wins, both in this life and in eternity.