Sunday Recap - Navigating The Signs of The Times

October 26th, 2025
by Jonny Kettle

Navigating The Signs of The Times - Ps Jonny Kettle

Message Overview:

In this message, Jonny focussed on Jesus’ teachings regarding persecution. From the very outset of announcing His Kingdom hear on Earth, Jesus promised that His followers we would be persecuted and that this is very much a sign of the times until His return. True to Jesus’ words, since its inception, The Church has been Persecuted and this is still happening around The Would today. Persecution of Christians is the visible outworking of Satan’s Kingdom of Darkness trying to discourage and prevent The Kingdom of God advancing in The World. Satan persecutes Christians through people and governments. As a follower of Jesus here in Geelong, Australia we are far removed from the reality of persecution. In our context of following Jesus, we are not yet being persecuted but rather opposed and challenged. This is happening as we live under a government who have established laws which oppose the truth of scripture. How do we navigate this? We follow the example of The Early Church who despite persecution continued to grow, multiply and advance The Kingdom of God. They did this by following the teachings of Jesus:

Rejoice and be glad
Matthew 5:12
Rejoice and be glad,because great is your reward in heaven

Love and Prayer
Matthew 5:44
love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

Stand firm
Matthew 24:13
but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved

Living with joy, a love for people, praying for our enemies and not revoking our faith in Jesus in spite of persecution displays the genuineness of faith to those around us, which coupled with the truth of The Gospel message is the formula to see The Kingdom of God advance.

Key Scriptures:

Matthew 24:1-14

Matthew 5:10-12
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad,because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:44
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Mark 8:34-38
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

John 15:20
Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’[a] If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also

John 16:33
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

1 Peter 1:3-9
2 Timothy 3:10-12
Matthew 24:10
Matthew 24:13

Key Points:
Rejoice and be glad
Matthew 5:12
Rejoice and be glad,because great is your reward in heaven

Love and Prayer
Matthew 5:44
love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

Stand firm
Matthew 24:13
but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved

2 Timothy 4:6-8
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

YouTube Link for Service:

Sunday Service

Group Reflection Questions:

What do you feel God saying to you?
What can you do about it?
What is an actionable plan you can put in place to help yourself respond to God?
Who can keep you accountable?