Speaker: John Elliot
Date: March 7, 2026
Sermon Summary
In this sermon, John Elliott contrasts the changes society is pursuing with the lasting change God calls His people to make. While the world recognizes serious problems—environmental degradation, population pressures, conflict, and moral decline—it often attempts to solve them without turning to God. As described in 2 Timothy 3, the last days are marked by selfishness, pride, and a rejection of God’s ways. Humanity seeks to change outcomes while continuing the same sinful behaviors that produced the problems.
The Bible shows that mankind’s self-centered mindset—focused on getting rather than giving—leads to destructive consequences. Prophecies in Revelation describe a world system driven by greed and luxury that ultimately collapses. Environmental damage, resource depletion, war, and moral corruption are all symptoms of a society that has rejected God’s direction. Despite increasing crises, many will still refuse to repent.
In contrast, God calls His people to make a different kind of change: repentance and transformation of character. Rather than adopting the values of the world, Christians are called to develop the mindset of Jesus Christ—one rooted in love, obedience, and concern for others. God’s annual Holy Days remind believers of this ongoing process of spiritual change, especially as they prepare for Passover and reflect on Christ’s sacrifice.
Scripture warns that humanity’s path will ultimately lead to catastrophic events unless God intervenes. Even so, God is patient and desires that all people come to repentance. His purpose is not destruction but transformation—preparing a people who will overcome sin and inherit the future He promises. Those who follow God must remain watchful, avoid the corrupt influences of society, and grow in the knowledge of His truth.
The world places its hope in temporary solutions such as political systems, economic power, or global authority. Yet these efforts will culminate in opposition to Christ at His return. Ultimately, Jesus Christ will establish His righteous government, bringing justice and peace to the earth.
The message concludes with hope. God’s people cannot control the future events of the world, but they can change for the future by repenting, obeying God, and receiving His Holy Spirit. Through faithful perseverance and righteous living, believers prepare for eternal life in God’s Kingdom—a lasting change that leads to peace, assurance, and glory forever.
Group Sermon Discussion
Summary
This sermon examines the contrast between society's misguided attempts at change and God's plan for true transformation. United Church of God President John Elliott discusses how humanity is trying to fix the consequences of rejecting God's ways through various societal changes, but these efforts are leading to dangerous outcomes including overpopulation, environmental destruction, and moral decay. Society is rushing toward self-annihilation, as evidenced by the atomic clock being set at 85 seconds to midnight. However, God offers a different path through repentance and transformation. The sermon emphasizes that Christians are called to "come out" of worldly systems and change for good through God's Holy Spirit. While society faces judgment and destruction, those who overcome through Christ will inherit eternal life and glory. The upcoming Spring holy days represent this process of positive change and transformation that leads to the Kingdom of God.
Key Verses
- 2 Timothy 3:1
- Revelation 18:4
- Revelation 21:7
- Romans 2:6-8
- 1 Corinthians 15:33-34
Key Takeaways
- Society's attempts to change without God's direction lead to increasingly dangerous consequences and ultimate self-destruction
- Christians are called to 'come out' of worldly systems and not be deceived by changes that seem good but oppose God's ways
- True change for good comes through repentance, God's Holy Spirit, and following Christ's example of love and service, and keeping God’s commandments
- While society faces judgment, those who overcome now through the help of the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ living in them will inherit eternal life and glory in God's soon coming kingdom
- The holy days picture God's plan for positive transformation and our calling to change for the better
Intro Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, as we gather together today to study Your Word, we ask that You open our hearts and minds to receive what You want us to learn. Help us to be receptive to Your Spirit's leading and to see clearly the difference between the world's way of change and Your perfect plan for transformation. Guide our discussion and help us to encourage one another as we seek to change for good according to Your will. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
Ice Breaker
If you could instantly change one skill or talent you have to make it better, what would it be and why?
Questions
What are some examples of changes society is making that seem good on the surface but may have negative consequences?
How can we distinguish between changes that align with God's will versus changes that follow human wisdom?
What does it mean practically to 'come out of her my people' as mentioned in Revelation 18:4?
How do the four things mentioned in Revelation 9:21 (murders, sorceries, sexual immorality, thefts) manifest in today's entertainment and culture?
What role do God's holy days play in helping us understand the process of positive change?
How can we maintain hope and focus on God's plan when we see society heading toward destruction?
What does it mean to 'overcome' or 'conquer' as mentioned in Revelation 21:7, and how do we do this practically?
How can we be advocates for God's way of change in our daily interactions with others?
Life Application
This week, identify one area in your life where you may be influenced by worldly thinking or values. Make a conscious effort to align that area with God's Word instead. This could involve changing what you watch, read, or how you spend your time. Pray for God's help in making this positive change and ask Him to show you other areas that need transformation.
Ending Prayer
Lord God, our loving heavenly Father, thank You for showing us the difference between the world's way of change and Your perfect plan for transformation. Help us to be strong advocates for Your way of life and to resist being deceived by the seemingly good changes that society promotes. Give us the courage to come out of worldly systems and the wisdom to change for good through Your Holy Spirit. As we prepare for the upcoming holy days, help us to focus on the positive changes You want to make in our lives. May we walk worthy of our calling and look forward with hope to Your coming kingdom and glory. In Christ's name, Amen.
5 Day Devotional
Day 1: The Cycle of Human Solutions
Devotional
Have you ever noticed how one problem seems to lead to another? We fix our leaky roof, only to discover water damage in the walls. We solve a traffic issue with a new road, which creates congestion elsewhere. This pattern isn't limited to everyday life—it's happening on a global scale.
Humanity has an impressive track record of creating solutions that generate new problems. We develop technology to make life easier, yet find ourselves more stressed and disconnected. We create systems to promote equality, yet division seems to deepen. Each attempt to fix things without divine guidance often complicates matters further.
The root issue isn't our intelligence or good intentions—it's our tendency to exclude God from our decision-making. When we rely solely on human wisdom, we're like someone trying to navigate in the dark without a compass. We might move forward, but we're not sure we're heading in the right direction.
God's wisdom offers something different: solutions that address root causes rather than just symptoms. His principles don't create new problems—they bring lasting peace and genuine resolution. The question isn't whether we're smart enough to figure things out on our own, but whether we're humble enough to seek His guidance first.
Bible Verse
'But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.' - 2 Timothy 3:1
Reflection Question
What area of your life have you been trying to fix with your own solutions, and how might seeking God's wisdom change your approach?
Quote
Man by himself does not know how to direct his steps. He doesn't know which way to go without God. And so as man makes mistakes, he then tries to cover his mistakes with other solutions to change things.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me recognize when I'm relying on my own understanding instead of seeking Your wisdom. Guide me to solutions that bring lasting peace rather than temporary fixes.
Day 2: When Society Says 'Too Much'
Devotional
Imagine a world so overwhelmed by its own existence that it concludes there are simply too many people. This isn't science fiction—it's a growing sentiment in our current reality. From 250 million people throughout most of history to over 8 billion today, humanity has experienced unprecedented growth that many view as unsustainable.
But here's what's fascinating: the problem isn't the number of people—it's what people are doing. A world aligned with God's principles of love, stewardship, and wisdom could easily support far more people than we have today. The issue is that we're drowning in the consequences of choices made without divine guidance.
When society rejects God's blueprint for living, every increase in population multiplies the problems. More people making bad choices equals exponentially more complications. It's like adding more cars to a highway system designed poorly—the infrastructure can't handle what it was never properly planned for.
God's design for humanity was never about limitation but about living in harmony with His creation, His laws, and each other. The solution isn't fewer people—it's people living according to His perfect plan. When we align with His purposes and keep His commandments, abundance replaces scarcity, and blessing multiplies rather than problems.
Bible Verse
‘There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.’ Proverbs 14:12 NKJV
Reflection Question
How does viewing people as a blessing rather than a burden change your perspective on the challenges facing our world today?
Quote
One of the biggest challenges that society sees as something it needs to fix is that there's too much of itself. Imagine that society has come to the place where it says there's too much of us and we are complicating things too much.
Prayer
Father, help me see others through Your eyes—as precious souls created for Your purposes. Show me how to be part of Your solution rather than contributing to the world's problems.
Day 3: The Pollution of Bad Choices
Devotional
Our world is drowning—not just in physical pollution, but in the accumulated consequences of generations of choices made apart from God. Like a river contaminated upstream affecting everything downstream, the spiritual pollution of rejecting divine wisdom has created a cascade of problems affecting every aspect of human existence.
We see it everywhere: mental health crises, broken relationships, environmental destruction, and social unrest. These aren't separate, unrelated issues—they're all symptoms of the same spiritual disease. When humanity chooses to live without God's guidance, the pollution spreads through every system, every institution, every relationship.
The tragedy is that society keeps trying to clean up the pollution while ignoring the source. It's like trying to purify a river while the factory upstream continues dumping waste. No amount of downstream cleanup will solve the problem until we address what's happening at the source.
But here's the hope: God specializes in cleanup operations. He can take the most polluted life, the most contaminated situation, and make it clean. His forgiveness doesn't just cover our mistakes—it transforms us from sources of pollution into sources of blessing. When we align with His ways, we become part of the solution rather than contributors to the problem.
Bible Verse
'The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.' - 2 Peter 3:9
Reflection Question
What 'pollution' in your own life needs God's cleansing power, and how can you become a source of blessing rather than contamination in your relationships?
Quote
So here we are in a world awash in the pollution of bad choices, mentally, spiritually, physically. And it's just mounting up more and more.
Prayer
Lord, cleanse me from the pollution of wrong choices and transform me into someone who brings Your life and healing to others. Help me be part of Your solution in this world.
Day 4: The Refusal to Change
Devotional
Perhaps the most heartbreaking aspect of our world's condition isn't the problems themselves, but humanity's stubborn refusal to address the real issues. Even when faced with mounting evidence that our current path leads to destruction, people continue down the same road, hoping for different results.
This isn't new. Throughout history, God has allowed consequences to serve as wake-up calls, hoping people would recognize their need for Him. Yet time and again, humanity doubles down on the very behaviors that created the problems in the first place. We see this pattern in our personal lives too—repeating the same mistakes while expecting different outcomes.
The root issue isn't ignorance—it's pride. Deep down, we know what needs to change, but admitting we need God's help feels like defeat. So we keep trying to fix spiritual problems with physical solutions, treating symptoms while ignoring the disease.
But God's patience isn't endless, and His warnings aren't empty threats. The same love that offers forgiveness also demands justice. The choice is ours: humble ourselves and seek His way, or continue on a path that leads nowhere good. The beautiful truth is that God is still calling, still offering a better way, still ready to transform anyone willing to truly change.
Bible Verse
'But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk.' - Revelation 9:20
Reflection Question
What area of your life have you been stubbornly refusing to surrender to God, and what would genuine repentance look like in that situation?
Quote
But the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues did not repent. They did not change the works of their hand.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, soften my heart to recognize where I need to change. Give me the humility to repent genuinely and strengthen me with Your Holy Spirit to walk in Your ways.
Day 5: Inheriting Everything
Devotional
While society spirals toward destruction, God offers His people something incredible: the inheritance of everything that truly matters. Not just survival, but abundance. Not just escape, but victory. Not just temporary relief, but eternal riches that never fade or disappoint.
This promise isn't about material wealth—it's about inheriting a completely renewed creation where God's principles finally govern everything. Imagine a world where love truly rules, where justice flows like a river, where peace isn't just a temporary ceasefire but the natural state of existence.
The path to this inheritance requires a fundamental shift in our thinking. Instead of trying to fix this broken system, we prepare for God's perfect one. Instead of conforming to society's values, we align ourselves with eternal principles. Instead of seeking temporary solutions, we invest in permanent transformation.
This doesn't mean we become passive or uncaring about current problems. Rather, we become agents of God's kingdom, demonstrating His better way through our lives. We show the world what it looks like when people live according to divine wisdom rather than human reasoning.
The choice is clear: align with a society headed for collapse, or prepare for an inheritance that includes everything God has planned for those who love Him. The temporary sacrifices pale in comparison to the eternal rewards waiting for those who choose His way.
Bible Verse
'He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.' - Revelation 21:7
Reflection Question
How does knowing you're destined to inherit God's eternal kingdom change the way you view current challenges and make daily decisions?
Quote
He who conquers shall inherit all things. Wow. This is following verse one. Whereas new heavens and new earth, we're going to inherit everything that's permanent.
Prayer
Father, help me live with eternal perspective, making choices that align with Your coming kingdom rather than this temporary world. Prepare my heart for the inheritance You have planned.
