In this sermon, we explore the anxiety-ridden church of Thessalonica, convinced they were living in the final moments of history. Sound familiar? When false teachers led them to believe "the day of the Lord is already here" (2 Thessalonians 2:2), the community became paralyzed—abandoning their work and waiting for cosmic rescue. Paul's response wasn't a detailed timeline of the end times, but a pastoral redirection: even if it were the end, you still have work to do.
We examine how this ancient anxiety mirrors our own—post-election uncertainty, climate crisis, and in the church, the constant narrative of decline. On Stewardship Sunday, when we're asked to pledge for 2026, many wonder if there will even be a church in 2026. But the promise isn't that we'll have all the answers about the future. The promise is simply this: "The Lord is faithful."
Drawing on Psalm 17:8 and connecting to themes of resurrection and God's protective presence, this sermon challenges us to stop catastrophizing and start engaging. The world isn't ending. The church isn't ending. There is hopeful work yet for us to do—today, in this moment, with what we have. Because when we allow God to work in the restoration, what's coming isn't just as good as the good old days—it's better.