Main Passage:

Matthew 25:1-13  “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

“‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

“But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Core Message:

We spend so much time getting ready during the Christmas season—buying presents, putting up lights, etc. We prepare for Christmas, but do we prepare for Christ? This message centers on preparing for Christ's return. The parable of the 10 virgins told by Jesus in Matthew 25 about the wise and foolish virgins, represents those who are prepared for Christ’s return and those who are not. It calls the Church to live out the faith we profess through a preparation of the heart, focusing less on the cultural preparations of Christmas and more on cultivating a deep, expectant readiness for the return of our Savior, Jesus Christ, the King of Kings. This preparedness is demonstrated by a transformed life, not merely external religious observance.

Living in Expectation and Preparation

The key difference between the wise and foolish virgins in the Matthew 25 parable of the 10 virgins lies in the inner motive of their hearts; the wise virgins fully prepared ahead of time in expectation of the bridegroom’s arrival. The foolish virgins were not prepared and missed out on the wedding banquet. As Christians, we are called to examine our priorities and ensure we are prepared as we wait in expectation of Christ’s return.

• The Contrast: The actions of the wise virgins are like those who demonstrate genuine reverence for God because they made sure they brought enough oil to keep their lamps lit until the arrival of the bridegroom. However, the actions of the foolish virgins are like those who go about their lives trying to ‘get by’ on doing what they are ‘supposed to do’ based on how they ‘should look’ to others, but their inner motives are self-centered. They lack the necessary inner transformation that springs from a heart submitted to God.
• The Closed Door: As the parable of the 10 virgins states, the foolish virgins ran out of oil and rushed out to buy it as the bridegroom approached, but they missed his arrival. When they came late to the wedding banquet, the door was shut. Similarly, many will rush to make amends with God at the last moment, only to find the door to the Kingdom of Heaven closed.
• Priority Check: Everything truly worthwhile in life requires preparation, yet Christianity—the most important and eternal endeavor—is often put off until the last minute. True expectation of Christ’s return changes your priorities, putting God before everything else.

Preparing the Way: The Role of the Church

Matthew 3:1-3 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”

The Church is called to embody the mission of John the Baptist, preaching repentance and actively preparing others for the Lord's coming, even when it causes offense.

• A Call to Repentance: John the Baptist's message, "Prepare the way of the Lord” was a deeper calling, even for those who consider themselves religious, to repent. This means to turn from our own ways and to prepare the way for the Lord in our hearts. Just as John believed the Son of God was coming, we too believe that Jesus is coming again. We live out this belief every day through a life of repentance and preparation of the heart.
• Creating a Holy Place: When Christ first came, there was no place for him to be born. Today as Christians, we are called to prepare a holy place in our hearts and daily lives where the Holy Spirit can reside, continually asking ourselves – have we brought the Holy Spirit with us into each aspect of our lives?
• The Unity of the Church: Standing in God's truth unites His Church; the prepared heart is not surprised by opposition and knows that God is always victorious. The Church gathers as one to worship in readiness for the King of kings to be revealed just like the five wise virgins who were ready and prepared for the bridegroom’s coming in the parable of the 10 virgins.

Ready for Christ’s Return

The Bible speaks in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 of how the day of the Lord will come “like a thief in the night,” warning us that Jesus’ return will be sudden and unexpected for many. However, true believers are not caught off guard. As the passage states, “But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.”

• Vigilance is Key: The consistent biblical message is to keep watch, stay awake spiritually, and remain right with God, so you are not unprepared for the Lord's arrival.
• Staying Sober-minded: 1 Thessalonians 5:6 says we must be “awake and sober.” Indulging in worldly things that are contrary to the word of God can cause a spiritual stupor or drunkenness. The more you indulge, the worse the effects become, leading to blurred vision, confusion, and unpreparedness spiritually. God calls for self-discipline in holy living in order to keep our vision clear.
• The Importance of Readiness: As we go about getting ready for Christmas this season, let us come into preparing for what truly matters most in our lives: Christ’s return. We are meant to be like the five wise virgins that carried extra oil for their lamps in expectation of the bridegroom. We as Christians prepare by examining our hearts, confessing our sins, and cultivating the Holy Spirit in our lives and the lives of those around us daily. In this way, we ensure that our "lamps are lit" for the moment the Groom calls.

Next Step: Ask yourself - Are you ready for Christ’s return? Have you joined the true Church in diligently preparing your heart for the coming of the King?