The Fourth Quarter Church: Why Now More Than Ever, We Must Be Ready
The Fourth Quarter Church: Why Now More Than Ever, We Must Be Ready
Church, let me tell you something straight from my heart: life hits fast. You know it, I know it. Probably something happened this week that you were not expecting.
Flat tire. Bad news. Good news. A blessing you didn’t see coming. Life is full of surprises.
But there is one event coming that will shock this world more than anything we’ve ever seen: The return of Jesus Christ. I do believe he is coming… we’re in the fourth quarter on the fourth down, and King Jesus is getting ready to punt. And church—we better be ready.
Jesus Is Preparing a Place — And He’s Coming Back for a People
Jesus didn’t leave us guessing. He told us plainly in John 14:
“If I go and prepare a place for you… I will come again and receive you.”
He came. He died. He rose. He ascended. He’s preparing. And He is coming again.
Not for a club. Not for a political movement. Not for a social gathering. He is coming for the bride — the church — those of us who have been saved, washed in His blood.
The Acts 2 Church: United, Generous, Unshakeable
When the Holy Spirit fell at Pentecost, everything changed.
“All who believed were together and had all things in common… they were united in purpose.”
They weren’t united around politics. They weren’t united around preferences. They weren’t united around comfort.
They were united around Jesus Christ.
And listen—this part hits hard:
“There was a level of generosity in the early church… they became generous people.”
Not socialism. Not forced redistribution. Not guilt-driven giving.
Spirit‑filled generosity.
The kind that funds missions. The kind that plants churches. The kind that changes lives.
Daily Faithfulness — Not Casual Christianity
“They continued daily… following Jesus.”
Not occasionally. Not when convenient. Not when someone begged them.
Daily.
And here’s the part that cuts deep:
“I don’t have to beg saved people to come to church.”
If the Holy Spirit is in you, He puts a desire in you. A hunger. A craving. A fire.
Saved people don’t have to be dragged. Saved people don’t have to be bribed. Saved people don’t have to be coddled.
“We’re coddling Christians to apathy… and that’s not biblical.”
The Acts 2 church didn’t need hand‑holding. They needed Jesus— and that was enough.
Stop Quitting Everything
This sermon hit a nerve because it’s true:
“You’re never going to grow in your faith until you stop quitting everything.”
Quit sin. Quit gossip. Quit adultery. Quit lying.
But don’t quit:
Jesus
Prayer
Bible study
Church
Worship
Faithfulness
The enemy is raising a generation of quitters. God is raising a generation of finishers.
Worship Like You’ve Seen a Miracle
The early church didn’t worship because they needed a miracle.
They worshiped because they had experienced one.
“They continued daily… praising God.”
They didn’t scroll their phones. They didn’t watch the back door. They didn’t check out mentally.
They were in awe.
And church— we should be even more in awe because we have seen Calvary, we have seen grace, we have seen forgiveness.
The Real Question: Does Your Life Look Like Acts 2?
Ask yourself:
“Does my life line up with Acts 2:44–47?”
Not your emotions. Not your childhood prayer. Not what someone wrote in your Bible.
Your life.
Your walk.
Your faithfulness.
Your worship.
Your generosity.
Your hunger for God.
The Clock Is Running Out — Are You Ready?
We’re in the fourth quarter… Jesus is getting ready to punt.
He’s coming. Maybe today. Maybe 3,000 years from now. But He is coming.
And when He does, He’s coming for:
The faithful
The changed
The redeemed
The washed
The Acts 2 church
Not the pretend church. Not the political church. Not the coddled church.
Final Call: Be Ready
If you’re saved, live like it. If you’re saved, continue in the faith. If you’re saved, stay the course. Church — let’s be the people God looks at and says:
“Faith Baptist got it right.”
Faithful.
Generous.
Changed.
United.
Focused.
Hungry for Jesus.
The Acts 2 church.
The ready church.
The bride He’s coming back for.
