Prepper Church: October 22, 2023

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Opening Session

• Welcome and Introduction: Welcome, Prepper Church Family! Embracing faith and preparedness, we gather as a community of resilient souls, united in the spirit of self-reliance and service. Let our shared journey strengthen us and inspire others.
• Opening Prayer: Lord of Creation, as we gather here today, we invite Your presence among us. Bless this service with Your wisdom and grace, guiding us as we learn and study Your Word. Amen.
• Scripture Reading: Proverbs 6:6-8 (AMP):  "Go to the ant, O lazy one; Observe her ways and be wise, Which, having no chief, Overseer or ruler, Provides her food in the summer And gathers her provision [of food] in the harvest."

Worship and Praise

• Video Link:  Bill & Gloria Gaither - Feet On the Rock [Live] ft. Randy Travis
• Reflection:  As listeners engage with these reflections, they can find parallels between the song's message and the values upheld in prepping and outdoor living, emphasizing the importance of faith, preparedness, and community support.
• Foundation and Security in Faith:  Reflect on the imagery of putting your feet on the rock and your name on the roll, symbolizing the firm foundation and security found in faith. Just like a sturdy foundation is essential for building a stable structure, having a strong faith foundation is crucial in the face of life's challenges. In the realm of prepping and outdoor living, this foundation translates into the knowledge, skills, and resilience cultivated through preparation, ensuring a sense of security even in unpredictable situations.
• Eternal Perspective and Preparedness:   Consider the assurance that comes from knowing your home is waiting, something beyond the immediate challenges of this world. Reflect on the concept of preparedness not just in a worldly sense but also from an eternal perspective. Just as prepping equips individuals to face earthly adversities, the song's message encourages listeners to prepare for the ultimate calling, emphasizing the importance of spiritual preparedness alongside practical readiness.
• Community and Encouragement:  Notice the communal aspect of the song, where the call to put your feet on the rock and your name on the roll is extended to others. Reflect on the power of community and encouragement, both in faith and in outdoor lifestyles. In the realm of prepping, this underscores the significance of community preparedness, where individuals support and uplift each other, sharing knowledge, resources, and encouragement to thrive together in challenging situations.

Message: The Urgency of Readiness

Ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters in Christ, today we gather under the weighty truth of God's Word, found in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, verses 1 to 13. In this passage, Jesus imparts a profound lesson about the critical importance of readiness.

I. The Importance of Readiness [Matthew 25:1-4]

A. Recognizing the Call [Matthew 25:1-2]

The call to readiness is not a mere suggestion; it is a resounding trumpet in the ears of believers: “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish [thoughtless, silly, and careless], and five were wise [far-sighted, practical, and sensible].”

Recognizing this call means understanding the urgency of the times we live in. It's a call to be spiritually awake, discerning the moral decay and the shifting sands of our culture.

B. Being Prepared [Matthew 25:3-4]

Preparation goes beyond intention; it requires intentional action: “For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take any [extra] oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil along with their lamps.”

Just as the virgins filled their lamps with oil, we must fill our lives with prayer, Scripture, and righteousness. This preparation allows us to shine brightly in the darkness, illuminating the path for ourselves and others.

II. The Consequences of Unpreparedness [Matthew 25:5-9]

A. Missed Opportunities [Matthew 25:5-7]

The unprepared miss the divine opportunities God places before them: “Now while the bridegroom was delayed, they all began to nod off, and they fell asleep.”

These opportunities are often disguised as challenges or trials, but within them lie blessings and growth. The unprepared heart fails to recognize God’s hand, leading to a life of perpetual dissatisfaction and unfulfilled potential.

B. Regret and Loss [Matthew 25:8-9]

Regret becomes the bitter cup that the unprepared must drink: “But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! The bridegroom [is coming]! Go out to meet him.’”

Loss encompasses not just earthly possessions but also eternal rewards that could have been gained through faithfulness. The unprepared find themselves outside the door of opportunity, their regret echoing through eternity.

III. The Rewards of Readiness [Matthew 25:10-13]

A. Entering into God's Plan [Matthew 25:10-11]

The prepared are welcomed into the unfolding narrative of God’s kingdom: “But while they were going away to buy oil, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.”

Their lives become testimonies of God’s faithfulness and transformative power. They are entrusted with greater responsibilities, serving as vessels of God’s grace and bearers of His light.

B. Experiencing Joy and Fulfillment [Matthew 25:12-13]

Joy fills the hearts of the prepared, a joy that surpasses circumstance: “Later the others also came, and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open [the door] for us.’ But He replied, ‘I assure you and most solemnly say to you, I do not know you [we have no relationship].’”

Fulfillment comes from knowing one's purpose and living it out, from understanding that life is meaningful because it is aligned with God’s will. The prepared stand firm, their faith unshakable, their hearts ablaze with the oil of readiness.

Reflection

It should not be lost on anyone that this passage directly references us, the Church. Christ Jesus is the Bridegroom, and we, the Church, are are the wise virgins... or perhaps the unwise virgins. Ephesians 5:25-27 (NIV) highlights this profound connection: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."

So I implore you, consider your eternity: Are you prepared? Do you truly know Christ? Are you steadfastly following His ways? Have you surrendered your life to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit? The essence of the scripture in Matthew 25:1-13 is this calling - that you and I are ready for the appointed time. Being ready surpasses mere presence; it demands a profound spiritual readiness. Being ready is so much more than just being present.

I beg you to intimately know Christ, to surrender to the Holy Spirit, and to devote your life to serving the Father in all your ways.  For the rest of your days.

Dear brothers and sisters, let us not underestimate the gravity of the call to readiness. It is a call that demands our entire being - our hearts, minds, and souls. May we be a people who recognize this call, who prepare diligently, understanding the consequences of unpreparedness, and eagerly anticipating the abundant rewards of readiness. Let this message resonate in our lives, transforming us into beacons of light in a world desperately in need of the eternal hope we carry. May God grant us the wisdom and determination to heed this call, both today and always. Amen.

Offering

We trust each local group to manage their offerings locally, guided by faith and the Holy Spirit. Let all our generosity strengthen our community and reach those in need around us.

In other words: do collect the offering, but don't send it to me. You decide what to do with it.

Closing

• Closing Remarks and Gratitude for Community Participation
• Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, we humbly come before You, grateful for the wisdom shared today. As we close this service, we thank You for the guidance of Your Son, Jesus Christ, and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. May we carry these lessons in our hearts, empowered by Your divine Trinity, as we navigate our paths with faith, preparedness, and community support. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Local Group Discussion and Fellowship

Continue to gather on your own in fellowship and discussion as you see fit.  Here are five questions to spark discussions about the sermon in relation to bushcraft and prepping:

1. How does the principle of readiness in the sermon relate to the skills and mindset practiced in bushcraft and prepping? In what ways can being prepared in our daily lives be compared to the preparedness required in survival situations?
2. In the context of bushcraft and prepping, what are the "missed opportunities" and "regrets" that might arise from lack of preparation? How can these concepts be translated into lessons for being prepared in the wilderness or during emergencies?
3. Considering the rewards of readiness mentioned in the sermon, how can the joy and fulfillment experienced in bushcraft and prepping activities serve as examples of the rewards of being prepared? How does the sense of accomplishment in mastering survival skills align with the fulfillment described in the sermon?
4. Drawing from the analogy of the ant in Proverbs, how does the industrious nature of ants reflect the importance of preparation in both daily life and survival scenarios? What can we learn from the ant's habits that can be applied to our bushcraft and prepping efforts?
5. Discuss a personal experience when being prepared made a significant difference, either in a wilderness setting or during an emergency situation. How did this experience reinforce the importance of readiness, and how can this lesson be shared with others interested in bushcraft and prepping?