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In this in-depth expository sermon on Mark 13:28–31, we examine Jesus' parable of the fig tree and the meaning of His statement that His coming is "near." What does "near" actually mean? Can Christians know when Christ will return? What is the significance of the fig tree, summer, harvest, judgment, and the phrase "this generation will certainly not pass away"? Rather than trying to calculate the date of Christ's return, Jesus calls His followers to something deeper: certainty, readiness, encouragement, and confidence in His word. If you enjoy the episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving a 5-stars rating. This helps others find the podcast. My sermons are the fruit of nearly 30 years of pastoral ministry, biblical counseling, formal seminary training, and a lifelong passion for God's Word. Since childhood, I've been drawn to the beauty and power of expository preaching—opening Scripture verse by verse and applying it to real life. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute, I spent the next 27 years serving as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and host of the Food For Your Soul radio broadcast. Along the way, I also earned a Master of Sacred Literature and a Doctor of Religious Studies. For more content from D. Richard Ferguson, visit TreasuringGod.com. Follow on social: • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrell.r.ferguson/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.DRichardFerguson

What will actually happen when Jesus Christ returns? Who are the mysterious "powers of the heavens" that will be shaken at His Second Coming? And what does Jesus' teaching in Mark 13:24–27 tell us about the Tribulation, final judgment, the rapture, the resurrection, and the return of Christ? In this message, we take a deep dive into Jesus' stunning prophecy in the Olivet Discourse and examine His description of the glorious Second Coming. Jesus says that "the Son of Man" will come in the clouds with great power and glory, and that He will send His angels to gather His elect from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens. This passage raises profound questions about the end times. If you enjoy the episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving a 5-star rating. This helps others find the podcast. My sermons are the fruit of nearly 30 years of pastoral ministry, biblical counseling, formal seminary training, and a lifelong passion for God's Word. Since childhood, I've been drawn to the beauty and power of expository preaching—opening Scripture verse by verse and applying it to real life. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute, I spent the next 27 years serving as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and host of the Food For Your Soul radio broadcast. Along the way, I also earned a Master of Sacred Literature and a Doctor of Religious Studies. For more content from D. Richard Ferguson, visit TreasuringGod.com. Follow on social: • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrell.r.ferguson/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.DRichardFerguson

What would it take to become a truly great thinker—not by the world's standards, but by God's? In 2 Peter 3, the apostle writes with deep affection to stir something in you—a way of thinking that will protect you from being deceived and draw you into deeper and deeper closeness with God. This sermon on 2 Peter 3:1–3 explores what it means to develop a mind governed by Scripture rather than by the desires of the flesh. Peter calls believers to "pure thinking"—not merely thinking about pure subjects, but learning to think, reason, evaluate, and make decisions according to God's truth. The world often measures thinking by IQ, education, creativity, logic, knowledge, or the ability to solve complex problems. But God's definition of great thinking is different. According to Peter, the greatest thinkers are those whose minds are directed by the Word of God. Your thoughts are constantly moving from one idea to another. The crucial question is: **What is steering the progression of your thoughts?** Are your thoughts being directed by Scripture and the will of God, or are they being driven by your desires? In this message, we examine the difference between flesh-driven thinking and Scripture-driven thinking, and we consider how our desires can influence the conclusions we are willing to accept. Peter warns that false teachers and scoffers follow their own evil desires, eventually using their desires to reject the truth of Christ's return, final judgment, and the authority of God's Word. ## In This Sermon - What Peter means by "pure thinking" in 2 Peter 3:1. - The meaning and importance of the Greek word *dianoia*, referring to the mind, understanding, or way of thinking.

Why does Jesus tell His followers to run when the "abomination of desolation" appears? Can you outrun God's judgment—and if God's wrath is not directed at His people, why does Jesus tell them to flee and pray? Jesus moves from the "beginning of pains" to the terrifying period of tribulation associated with the abomination of desolation. In the Olivet Discourse, we examine what the abomination of desolation means, its connection to Daniel, its partial fulfillment in the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, and its apparent future fulfillment at the end of the age. We also explore the Great Tribulation, the Antichrist, God's purpose in judgment, and the surprising biblical connection between tribulation and God's mercy. If you enjoy the episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving a 5-star rating. This helps others find the podcast. My sermons are the fruit of nearly 30 years of pastoral ministry, biblical counseling, formal seminary training, and a lifelong passion for God's Word. Since childhood, I've been drawn to the beauty and power of expository preaching—opening Scripture verse by verse and applying it to real life. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute, I spent the next 27 years serving as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and host of the Food For Your Soul radio broadcast. Along the way, I also earned a Master of Sacred Literature and a Doctor of Religious Studies. For more content from D. Richard Ferguson, visit TreasuringGod.com. Follow on social: • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrell.r.ferguson/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.DRichardFerguson

What if the persecution you experience for following Christ is not merely something to survive—but an opportunity God can use to advance the gospel? In Mark 13:9–13, Jesus prepares His disciples for persecution, arrest, trials, betrayal, hatred, and opposition because of His name. Yet His warning comes with an extraordinary purpose: persecution can become a platform for preaching the gospel, even before governors, kings, and the powers of this world. In this in-depth study of Mark 13:9–13, we examine Jesus' teaching on the Beginning of Pains, persecution, gospel proclamation, perseverance, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the relationship between the events surrounding AD 70 and the Second Coming of Christ. If you enjoy the episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving a 5-stars rating. This helps others find the podcast. My sermons are the fruit of nearly 30 years of pastoral ministry, biblical counseling, formal seminary training, and a lifelong passion for God's Word. Since childhood, I've been drawn to the beauty and power of expository preaching—opening Scripture verse by verse and applying it to real life. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute, I spent the next 27 years serving as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and host of the Food For Your Soul radio broadcast. Along the way, I also earned a Master of Sacred Literature and a Doctor of Religious Studies. For more content from D. Richard Ferguson, visit TreasuringGod.com. Follow on social: • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrell.r.ferguson/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.DRichardFerguson

What does Jesus want Christians to think when wars, earthquakes, famines, persecution, and false teachers dominate the headlines? In Mark 13:5-8, Jesus gives His disciples a crucial warning: "Watch out that no one deceives you," and "do not be alarmed." He describes a period called the "beginning of pains"—a time when His followers will face deception, disasters, and persecution while continuing the mission of preaching the gospel to the nations. In this study of Mark 13:5-8, we examine what Jesus meant by the beginning of pains and whether these events point to the destruction of Jerusalem, the Second Coming, or an unfolding prophetic process that began in the first century and continues until Christ returns. If you enjoy the episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving a 5-stars rating. This helps others find the podcast. My sermons are the fruit of nearly 30 years of pastoral ministry, biblical counseling, formal seminary training, and a lifelong passion for God's Word. Since childhood, I've been drawn to the beauty and power of expository preaching—opening Scripture verse by verse and applying it to real life. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute, I spent the next 27 years serving as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and host of the Food For Your Soul radio broadcast. Along the way, I also earned a Master of Sacred Literature and a Doctor of Religious Studies. For more content from D. Richard Ferguson, visit TreasuringGod.com. Follow on social: • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrell.r.ferguson/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.DRichardFerguson

*The false teachers of 2 Peter 2 were monsters. But what were they like before they became false teachers? The answer to that question is crucial for maintaining your walk with the Lord and for understanding why we so often return to sin that we have forsaken in the past.* 2 Peter 2 ends with one of the Bible's most disturbing descriptions of apostasy: a dog returning to its vomit and a washed pig returning to wallow in the mud. But Peter doesn't just show us where these false teachers ended up. He shows us their spiritual journey. They had once **escaped the corruption of the world** through the knowledge of Jesus Christ. They knew the way of righteousness. Yet somehow they became entangled again, enslaved again, and ultimately returned to the very defilement they had escaped. How does that happen? Why do we sometimes return to sins we once hated? Why do old temptations regain their appeal? How can a person escape the world's corruption, only to become entangled in it again? And what can you do to recognize the danger before the strands of this world wrap themselves around your heart? In this sermon on **2 Peter 2:20–22**, we explore: * Why the false teachers' past was so different from their present * What it means to escape the corruption of the world * Why their final condition was worse than their beginning * How spiritual entanglement happens gradually * Why returning to sin is different from merely falling into sin * How sin slowly gains mastery over a person's life * Why Peter compares returning to sin with a dog returning to vomit * Why we are tempted to remember sin's pleasures and forget its ugliness

What do James Talarico, Joel Osteen, and Karl Marx have in common? Like the false teachers in 2 Peter 2, they all lead people astray by promising a form of freedom. This message will help you recognize deceptive promises in our day and pursue the kind of freedom that leads to joy and fullness of life instead of bondage to sin.

Did you know there are 19 commands in Jesus' teaching about the end times in the Olivet Discourse in Mark 13? Are you keeping them? The disciples asked Jesus for signs of the end of the age. Jesus responded by giving some non-signs—events that false teachers will tell you are signs, but are not. The first thing Jesus did when they asked for signs and times was to look them in the eye and say, "Watch out that no one deceives you." This message will help you keep from being deceived by popular but misguided claims about the signs of the end, and it may revolutionize your way of reading the Olivet Discourse. In this expository study of Mark 13:5-6, we examine the structure and purpose of the Olivet Discourse. If you enjoy the episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving a 5-stars rating. This helps others find the podcast. My sermons are the fruit of nearly 30 years of pastoral ministry, biblical counseling, formal seminary training, and a lifelong passion for God's Word. Since childhood, I've been drawn to the beauty and power of expository preaching—opening Scripture verse by verse and applying it to real life. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute, I spent the next 27 years serving as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and host of the Food For Your Soul radio broadcast. Along the way, I also earned a Master of Sacred Literature and a Doctor of Religious Studies. For more content from D. Richard Ferguson, visit TreasuringGod.com. Follow on social: • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrell.r.ferguson/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.DRichardFerguson

What did Jesus really mean in the Olivet Discourse? Was He predicting the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. or describing His Second Coming? … Or both? In this study of Mark 13:1–4, we examine one of the most debated passages in Scripture. You'll learn why faithful Bible-believing Christians have disagreed over this chapter for centuries, compare preterism, futurism, and the dual-fulfillment view, and discover how the rest of the New Testament helps interpret Jesus' words. Rather than defending a theological system, this message follows the biblical text wherever it leads, showing how prophecy is meant not to divide believers, but to encourage one another as we await Christ's return (1 Thessalonians 4:18). If you enjoy the episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving a 5-stars rating. This helps others find the podcast. My sermons are the fruit of nearly 30 years of pastoral ministry, biblical counseling, formal seminary training, and a lifelong passion for God's Word. Since childhood, I've been drawn to the beauty and power of expository preaching—opening Scripture verse by verse and applying it to real life. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute, I spent the next 27 years serving as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and host of the Food For Your Soul radio broadcast. Along the way, I also earned a Master of Sacred Literature and a Doctor of Religious Studies. For more content from D. Richard Ferguson, visit TreasuringGod.com. Follow on social: • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrell.r.ferguson/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.DRichardFerguson

# Ever catch yourself irritable or restless for no clear reason—like something deep inside just… isn't quite right? The Bible calls that the hunger and thirst of the soul, and learning to discern it is one of the most important wisdom principles you can learn. It's the key to… * Finding satisfaction in life * Loving God with your soul * Gaining long-term victory over temptation * Understanding why bad moods come out of nowhere Why does Proverbs 9 describe wisdom as a meal instead of the familiar image of two paths? In this message, you'll discover that God intentionally chose the metaphor of food and drink because your deepest spiritual struggles are not merely decision-making problems—they're hunger problems. Every human soul thirsts for satisfaction, and when we fail to recognize that thirst, we instinctively reach for counterfeit "bread" that can never truly satisfy. In this expository sermon through **Proverbs 9**, you'll learn: * Why your soul experiences spiritual hunger and thirst * How to recognize soul-thirst before it drives destructive choices * Why irritability, discouragement, anxiety, and restlessness are often symptoms of spiritual dehydration * What the Bible means when it calls God the Bread of Life and Living Water * Why worldly pleasures can never permanently satisfy the human soul * The biblical secret to overcoming temptation through stronger desires instead of stronger willpower * What it really means to love God with all your soul * How to experience God's presence as true food and drink by trusting his promises

Did Jesus intend the widow's offering to be an example of sacrificial giving—or have we misunderstood one of the Bible's most famous stories? We examine the account commonly known as The Widow's Mite in its full biblical context. Rather than isolating these four verses, we'll trace Mark's argument through Jesus' final days in Jerusalem and ask whether Jesus was praising the widow's generosity—or exposing a corrupt religious system that "devoured widows' houses." This verse-by-verse sermon explores: Why the traditional interpretation raises difficult questions The immediate context of Mark 12 and Jesus' condemnation of the Temple leaders Whether the widow is presented as an example to imitate If you enjoy the episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving a 5-stars rating. This helps others find the podcast. My sermons are the fruit of nearly 30 years of pastoral ministry, biblical counseling, formal seminary training, and a lifelong passion for God's Word. Since childhood, I've been drawn to the beauty and power of expository preaching—opening Scripture verse by verse and applying it to real life. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute, I spent the next 27 years serving as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and host of the Food For Your Soul radio broadcast. Along the way, I also earned a Master of Sacred Literature and a Doctor of Religious Studies. For more content from D. Richard Ferguson, visit TreasuringGod.com. Follow on social: • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrell.r.ferguson/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.DRichardFerguson

The story is as old as mankind—chasing something that sounds like pure freedom… only to end up more stuck than before. In 2 Peter 2:19, false teachers dangle the word "freedom" like bait—promising the liberty to do what you want. But what lies on the other side of that freedom is a whole new bondage, worse than ever before. What is "real" freedom? Our culture says freedom means throwing off every restraint. The Bible says something radically different. In this message from **2 Peter 2:19**, we'll see why every kind of freedom comes with a master, why the promise of "doing whatever you want" leads to slavery, and why the only path to genuine freedom is becoming a willing servant of God. False teachers haven't stopped making empty promises. They still redefine biblical words, appeal to our desires, and offer a counterfeit freedom that sounds attractive but ultimately enslaves. Peter exposes their strategy and shows us how to recognize the difference between God's promise of freedom and the world's imitation. In this sermon, you'll discover: Why there is no such thing as absolute freedom The difference between freedom *from* sin and freedom *to* sin How false teachers use biblical language to deceive What Jesus meant when he said, "Everyone who sins is a slave to sin" Why every freedom comes with a new master How God's restrictions actually liberate us What true freedom looks like according to Scripture How to pursue the kind of freedom that leads to becoming more like Christ Whether you're struggling with temptation, wondering what Christian liberty really means, or trying to discern false teaching, this passage provides timeless wisdom for following Christ

In Mark 12:35–40, Jesus does two remarkable things. First, He affirms that David wrote Psalm 110 and that David spoke by the Holy Spirit, revealing Jesus' view of the inspiration and authority of Scripture—including the superscriptions. Second, He exposes five subtle forms of pride that can infect even the best of us. In this sermon, you'll discover why Jesus' teaching on Psalm 110 matters for the reliability of the Bible, the doctrine of inspiration, and the identity of the Messiah. You'll also examine Jesus' sobering warning against seeking earthly greatness through appearance, status, privilege, and religious performance. Jesus' warning is just as relevant today as it was in the temple courts. If you enjoy the episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving a 5-stars rating. This helps others find the podcast. My sermons are the fruit of nearly 30 years of pastoral ministry, biblical counseling, formal seminary training, and a lifelong passion for God's Word. Since childhood, I've been drawn to the beauty and power of expository preaching—opening Scripture verse by verse and applying it to real life. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute, I spent the next 27 years serving as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and host of the Food For Your Soul radio broadcast. Along the way, I also earned a Master of Sacred Literature and a Doctor of Religious Studies. For more content from D. Richard Ferguson, visit TreasuringGod.com. Follow on social: • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrell.r.ferguson/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.DRichardFerguson

What did Jesus mean when He told the scribe, "You are not far from the kingdom of God" (Mark 12:34)? Was that a compliment—or a warning? In this verse-by-verse exposition of Mark 12:32–34, we explore one of the most intriguing encounters in Jesus' final week before the cross. A Jewish scribe agrees with Jesus about the greatest commandment, and Jesus responds with words He never speaks to anyone else: "You are not far from the kingdom of God." But what does it mean to be close to God's kingdom without actually entering it? If you enjoy the episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving a 5-stars rating. This helps others find the podcast. My sermons are the fruit of nearly 30 years of pastoral ministry, biblical counseling, formal seminary training, and a lifelong passion for God's Word. Since childhood, I've been drawn to the beauty and power of expository preaching—opening Scripture verse by verse and applying it to real life. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute, I spent the next 27 years serving as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and host of the Food For Your Soul radio broadcast. Along the way, I also earned a Master of Sacred Literature and a Doctor of Religious Studies. For more content from D. Richard Ferguson, visit TreasuringGod.com. Follow on social: • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrell.r.ferguson/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.DRichardFerguson