I once had a job where I wasn’t entirely sure what I was supposed to be doing. Every time my boss walked into the room, I suddenly felt the need to look busy. The problem was that I wasn’t even sure whether what I was doing was close to what was actually expected of me.

Maybe you’ve felt that way before. Have you ever wondered if you’re spending your time on the things that matter most? Have you ever wished someone would simply tell you exactly what was expected?

I know someone who started a new job and never received any training. A few weeks in, some friends asked how things were going. He replied, “To be honest, I still have no idea what I’m supposed to be doing.”

His friends were stunned and asked what he did all day. He said, “Well, I found a clipboard. Every now and then I walk around looking busy, and I make sure to walk somewhere with a sense of urgency.” As you might expect, he did not last long in that position.

This Sunday, we will finish the final section of what is often called the Olivet Discourse. In these teachings, Jesus responds to His disciples’ questions about the fulfillment of God’s kingdom and His return. Interestingly, Jesus does not focus primarily on when these things will happen. Instead, He focuses on how His followers should live while they wait.

Throughout this section of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus has used parables to answer those questions. He has been showing His disciples that waiting for His return is not passive. It is a time of purposeful and faithful service.

This Sunday, we will study the parable of the sheep and the goats. If you’ve ever wondered what our job is while we wait for his return, this passage offers some of the clearest answers in all of Scripture. It challenges us to examine our lives and ask a sobering question: If Jesus returned today, would my priorities line up with what Jesus has defined in scripture?

We invite you to join us this Sunday at 10:00 AM as we study Matthew 25:31–46 together and consider both what Jesus’ return will look like and what He calls us to do until that day.