# Sunday Setup – Matthew 24:32-35 Sermon transcript from Cross Church Surprise. Series: Sunday Setup Date: July 23, 2026 Watch: https://crosschurchcares.com/surprise/episodes/sunday-setup-matthew-2432-35 ## Summary What does the parable of the fig tree reveal about recognizing God's presence in our chaotic world? Are we truly listening to His voice amidst the noise of life? Join us as we explore how to discern God's work in our lives and prepare our hearts for His message. Let's dive in together! ## Transcript I'll start with >> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Hey, what's up Cross Church? Welcome to the Sunday setup where we read scripture and we pray through it before it is preached and it is worshipped here at Cross Church Surprise. We are super excited to just go through the parable of the fig tree [music] and that is where we're going to be at this Sunday. And so as we prepare to read this scripture and pray through this scripture, I'm going to read first the passage [music] of what we're going to go through for this Sunday. And we're going to be in Matthew 24:32 through 35. >> [clears throat] >> And it reads like this. Learn this lesson lesson from the fig tree. As soon as its branch [music] becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, recognize [music] that he is near at the door. Truly, I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until [music] all things all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never [music] pass away. I think the first thing that just rings in my ears is learn the lesson of the fig tree. What are we supposed to learn from this [music] parable? And Jesus is quite clear about what we need to learn. We need to look first. [music] We need to look at what's going on in our world. Our world's in chaos. There's absolute chaos going on right now, and people are searching for things, searching for answers in their homes, [music] in their own lives, in their families' lives, in their kids' lives. And [music] I think what is super cool about this parable is that we can recognize that God is on the move. God is near. God [music] wants to help us out. And so the first prayer prompt that I would like to do in these first two verses is just recognize that. Recognize that, you know, God is near. God is with you. God is trying to help you and uh help you with your family, help you in your home, help you with your own life. So, I just want to take that time and I want [music] to pray, and I just want to ask God to help us recognize what you are doing in blank. So, uh God, help me recognize what you are doing in my home. Help me recognize what you are doing [music] in my kids' life. Help me to recognize the great works that you're doing at work when I go to work. Um help me recognize just all these things that you might be [music] struggling with or you might be just and it's might be in the front of your mind or in the front of your heart, but I just want to recognize that God is working. >> [music] >> And how can we do that? So, God, help me recognize you are doing something in your life. So, let's take that time and let's just pray through that. >> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Second prayer prompt that I would like to do is I would like to just acknowledge how we need to listen, listen to God's word, listen to his voice in [music] our life, listen to what is written in scripture because he will remain in our life. He's the only one that will remain when everything is in chaos and everything is coming down and our storms are raging. Jesus is going to be the loudest person in our life. And I just want to take that time and just [music] really focus on that. In this generation, I think we're so clouded by our phones, we're [music] clouded by our TV screens, we're clouded by like activities that we do throughout the week [music] and we just need to take time to really just listen, listen to God and what he wants from [music] us, how he wants to speak to us in our heart. So, the next prayer prompt I would just like to say is just how can you pray through God, help me listen to your words in God, help me to listen to your words in in times of struggle. God, help me to listen to your words in times of joy. God, help me to listen to your words when my kids are being crazy at home. God, help me to listen to your words when I'm I'm fighting with my wife or just out with my wife. God, help me to listen to your words as being a husband, whatever that is. I just want you to practice >> [music] >> to learn how to listen to his words. So, let's practice that right now. Let's say, "God help me listen to your words [music] in blank." Let's do that now. >> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Heavenly Father, um help us to listen. Help us to recognize all the things that you are doing in our life. Heavenly Father, just help us to recognize that you are at work within us. You hear every question, you hear every thought that we have that goes up to you. And God, I just pray that we listen to your words. Everything in this earth is going to pass away. The heavens are going to pass away. [music] The earth is going to pass away, but your words will constantly remain with us, remain in our hearts. And when we have those times of struggle, we have those times of hurt, when we have those times [music] of just not knowing all the answers, your words are the ones that are going to come to our our minds, they're going to come to our heart, >> [music] >> and they're going to pierce us, to spur us on, to keep us going in [music] our life and in our families' lives, and just in our faith with you. God, I just pray that our church becomes a church that we recognize that you are at work. We recognize you are near, and that we are listening to where you are calling us to go. [music] That we constantly are listening to where you want us to [music] teach the gospel in homes here in Surprise, here on the corner of 175th and Bell, and how we're going to just bring the gospel to the lost. [music] God, I pray that we just constantly live that out. We practice that in our homes. We practice that on our sports [music] teams. We practice that even in our individual lives when we go to work or in our friend relationships [music] or just in our relationships that we encounter every single day at the grocery store. >> [music] >> And God, I just I pray over these things. I pray over the things that you're going to teach us on Sunday, and how we are just going to tackle um this fig tree parable that you left us [music] to just learn. Help us learn your ways. And God, I just pray for all these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Can't wait to see you guys on Sunday. It's going to be a good one. Peace. >> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Mhm.