Spring 2007 | Volume 65, No. 3

End Times sermon series

Twelve spring semester chapel services are featuring installments of a sermon series on “The Last Days” preached by President Paige Patterson. The first sermon in the series began Jan. 18. The final installment will be April 26.

Patterson is drawing his sermons from several biblical books which contain apocalyptic or End Times passages, including Daniel, Isaiah, Romans, and Revelation.

While the subject of End Times, or eschatology, is of popular interest among Christians, it is one of the most challenging biblical themes to understand, study and preach.

“Unfortunately, God’s plan for the End Times is also usually the least understood doctrine even for seminary graduates,” Patterson said. “Even professors too frequently must conclude the semester before they get to eschatology in their classes.”

These factors and Patterson’s own interest in the subject are what prompted him to prepare the sermon series. He said he enjoys working through challenging passages in the Bible and setting an example to students of how to combine careful scholarship with preaching that even the youngest listeners can understand.

“These are sermons, but any effort to address prophecy necessarily focuses on complicated issues,” he said. “How to deal with the technicalities without losing sight of the greater purpose is always the challenge.”

Patterson said his goal in any sermon, regardless of the audience, is “to inspire and challenge the listener to a new commitment to Christ.”

Regardless of one’s eschatological views, Patterson said his prayer is that those hearing the messages will be encouraged to “a greater devotion to Christ by the consideration of our ‘Blessed Hope,’ the appearance of the Lord Jesus.”