Church of the Resurrection - Wheaton, IL - Sermon Podcast

How to Behave When the World Goes Bonkersby Matt Woodley

The episode begins with a personal story about Modesto, a man wrongfully convicted of murder who accepted Jesus in Cook County Jail and used his imprisonment as an opportunity for spiritual growth and witness. Pastor Matt Woodley connects this to Luke 21:13, emphasizing that with Jesus, there is always an opportunity to bear witness. He structures the sermon around three parts from the biblical text: challenges, warnings, and a charge. Woodley describes Jesus predicting the destruction of the Jerusalem temple, which was fulfilled in 70 AD when Romans destroyed it after a Jewish revolt. He compares this to modern examples like the World Trade Center, illustrating how human creations are temporary. The sermon lists various challenges Jesus mentions: wars, political instability, earthquakes, famines, pestilences, and persecution. Woodley notes that over 100 million people are currently displaced globally, many of them Christians facing these realities. He contrasts this with American Christians who often feel entitled to avoid persecution. The warnings section focuses on false teachers, particularly regarding sexuality, citing examples like claims that Jesus doesn't care about sexual behavior or that pornography is harmless. Woodley references 2 Timothy 4 about people accumulating teachers to suit their passions. He also warns against panic, emphasizing God's sovereignty and love. The charge section centers on Luke 21:13 about bearing witness and verse 19 about gaining life through endurance. Woodley explains that this involves both words and actions: loving enemies, making peace, caring for the poor, and practicing radical hospitality. He highlights Jesus' promise in verse 14 to give wisdom when needed. The sermon concludes with practical applications: creating art, building ethical businesses, strengthening marriages, serving through organizations like World Relief, or supporting initiatives like the church's baby bank. Woodley urges listeners to move beyond cynicism, despair, or passivity and embrace opportunities rooted in faith.

As heard by us

A sermon on enduring injustice and persecution with faithful service.

Chaos comes into focus through Modesto's story: a prisoner presented as the victim of a robbery whose accused attackers shifted blame onto him after a murder, leaving him convicted and serving a life sentence.

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Why you'd press play

You want a steadier response to an unfair world, with Jesus' promise of presence close at hand.

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