May 4, 2025

Luke 12:35-59

This Day and That Day

Sunday Sermons

Waiting is rarely easy, but in Luke 12:35-59, Jesus calls His disciples to wait with a watchful readiness that is anything but passive. His call is to stay dressed for action (be ready), to keep our lamps burning (stay awake), and to live each day with hearts anchored in the promise of His return (eager for His arrival). Our waiting is not wasted–it is shaped by the character and promises of God in Christ, and it should transform how we live on this day.

Jesus’ words carry both comfort and urgency. He reminds us that the day of His return will come unexpectedly, and the character of our waiting will reveal the true orientation of our hearts. A wake up call for sleepy believers and an invitation to those who don’t yet believe. Join Pastor Tommy as we study together this prophetic teaching from Jesus.

Speaker

Tommy Bailey

Series

The Gospel According to Luke

Go to Series

Scripture

Luke 12:35-59

Topics
Community Life Growth & Discipleship

Sermon Notes

Luke 12:35-59

This Day and That Day

Pastor Tommy Bailey

“There are two days on my calendar: this day and That Day.”
Martin Luther

“Were You to count my sinful ways
How could I come before Your throne
Yet full forgiveness meets my gaze
I stand redeemed by grace alone”
I Will Wait For You (Psalm 130)

“There is one song that you will sing every hour your first ten years in heaven, and the refrain of that song will be: ‘I am so glad God did not let me have it my own way!'”
DeWitt Talmage

“For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome; who can endure it? “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love…”
Joel 2:11–13

1. The call of Jesus on this day

  • Watchful Readiness – personal holiness (v. 35-40)
  • Faithful Stewardship – love for others (v. 41-48)
  • Genuine Discipleship – love for God (v. 54-59)

“Watchfulness includes a waking, a rousing up of the soul. It is a continual, careful observing of our hearts and ways, in all the turnings of our lives, that we still keep close to God and his word.”
Thomas Brooks

“Heart-loyalty is the soil in which holy living grows.”
J.I. Packer, Growing in Christ

2. The promise of Jesus on that Day

  • Unmistakable Arrival (v. 40)
  • Unexpected Timing (v. 35-48)
  • Unmerited Grace (v. 37)

“History is not a random series of meaningless events. It is rather a succession of periods and happenings which are under the sovereign rule of God, who is the God of history.”
John Stott

“Christians inherit in fact the destiny which fairy tales envisage in fancy: we (yes, you and I, the silly saved sinners) live, and live happily, and by God’s endless mercy will live happily ever after.”
J.I. Packer

How Jesus will return:

  • Unexpectedly – “…the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (v. 40)
  • Personally – “The Lord himself will come down from heaven…” (1 Thes. 4:16)
  • Visibly – “Every eye will see him…” (Rev. 1:7)
  • Gloriously – “…will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matt. 24:30)

“The hope of our salvation looks not only back to the cross, but also forward to the day we will worship a resurrected Savior in resurrected bodies on a resurrected earth.”
Nathan Knight

“…you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come…”
1 Thessalonians 1:9–10, emphasis added

“…you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 1:7–8, emphasis added

“…live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us…”
Titus 2:12–14, emphasis added

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…”
Philippians 3:20, emphasis added

“Surely I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
Revelation 22:20

Discussion Questions

  • Faithful waiting and watchful readiness are marks of a true disciple of Jesus. What earthly things distract us and steal our focus? Even good things? Have we drifted into a state of spiritual sleepiness, or are we wide awake –living eagerly and expectantly, as if Jesus might come today?
  • How do we cultivate a watchfulness of soul as we actively wait and work? How are we to order our lives so that we can both flourish here on earth and stay focused on eternity in this already-but-not-yet kingdom?
  • Are we living out a sense of urgency to share the Gospel with those around us? Are we eager to talk about the endless joy that awaits those who look to Jesus? During the week ahead, how can we intentionally point people to Jesus and his glorious salvation on offer while there is still time?

Songs, Readings & Prayer

Songs

“Grace Greater Than Our Sin“ by Julia H. Johnston
“O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing“ by Charles Wesley
“I Will Wait For You (Psalm 130)“ by Jordan Kauflin, Keith Getty, Matthew Merker, and Stuart Townend
“Christ The Sure And Steady Anchor“ by Matthew Boswell and Matthew Papa
“Hymn Of Heaven“ by Bill Johnson, Brian Johnson, Chris Davenport, and Phil Wickham
“Doxology” by Thomas Ken and Louis Bourgeois
All songs are used by Permission. CCLI License #2003690

Call To Worship: Come, Let Worship

Come, let us worship God the Father, the maker of heaven and earth! Let us worship Jesus Christ, the resurrected King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Let us worship the Holy Spirit, the promised comforter and counselor! All glory and praise be to the one true God, now and forevermore, amen!

Confession:

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You this day, in thought, word, and deed; by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole hearts; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your Name. Grant to Your people pardon and peace, that in Your great mercy, we may be forgiven all our sins, and serve You with a quiet and contrite heart. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

Classic Prayer: Charles Spurgeon, 1834-1892

Lord Jesus, take away everything that would hinder the closest communion with God. We ask you to remove any wish or desire that might hamper us in prayer. Take away right now any memory of either sorrow or care that keeps us from fixing our affection wholly on our God. What do we have to do with idols anymore? You have seen and observed us. You know where the difficulties lie. Help us against idolatry and may we come boldly, not merely into some holy place, but into the holiest place of all, your presence, where we would never dare to come if our great Lord had not torn the veil, sprinkled the mercy seat with his own blood and summoned us to enter.

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