“When Hope Sounds Like Bad News”

Text: Matthew 17:22–23

Matthew 17:22–23 KJV 1900

And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

INTRO: THE SHOCK THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING

Modern Metaphor: “The Crashing App”

Have you ever been using your phone, maybe sending a voice text or checking your calendar, and boom—the app crashes? Everything you were doing disappears. And now you’re trying to reboot, reopen, refresh… but it’s just frozen.

That’s how life can feel when God drops news on you that you didn’t expect.

This moment in Matthew 17? Jesus gives the disciples an “app crash” kind of message. He tells them something so shocking, it shuts them down emotionally: “I’m going to die.”

And they didn’t know what to do with that.

Big Idea:

Sometimes God allows what you didn’t want… to do what you never expected.

GOD OFTEN SPEAKS HOPE IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR FEAR

“The Son of Man is about to be delivered… and they will kill him…”

Modern Metaphor: “Emergency Alert Mode”

Ever had your phone blare that piercing emergency alert? No warning. No context. Just that heart-dropping sound and bold letters: SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. That’s what Jesus just did to the disciples. He hit them with a soul-shaking alert: “I’m going to be betrayed and killed.”

They weren’t ready.

They froze in fear.

They heard sirens, not salvation.

They heard a threat, not a promise.

They heard pain, not purpose.

They heard death, not deliverance.

Application:

Maybe you’re there right now.

The report came back. The job fell through. The relationship cracked.

And it feels like God just hit you with an emergency alert—but left you in the dark.

But listen—God never announces the storm without promising the sunrise.

Jesus didn’t stop at “they will kill him”.

He followed it with hope:

“…and on the third day he will be raised.”

Groeschel-Style Truth Bomb:

“Don’t let the shock of the warning drown out the power of the promise.”

“Friday looks like fear—but Sunday speaks resurrection.”

💥 Faithway Action Steps:

To move forward in faith—even when fear hits—here’s how to live this out:

1. Glorify God by Trusting in His Bigger Plan.

Even when the storm hits, choose worship over worry. Start each day with a 5-minute prayer of surrender:

“God, I trust You—even when I don’t understand You.”

2. Live Out the Gospel by Clinging to the Resurrection.

Fear says it’s over—faith says, “God’s just getting started.”

Text someone today and remind them: “Sunday’s coming.” Be a voice of Gospel hope in someone’s panic.

3. Help Someone on Their Faithway Journey.

Invite someone to church this week—especially someone going through a hard time.

Your invite might be their rescue line.

Transitioning Charge:

“When the fear alert sounds, don’t freeze—move in faith.

Glorify God. Live the Gospel. Walk with someone on the journey.

Because the promise still stands: He will rise again.”

He’s not just warning you… He’s preparing you.

Smooth Transition:

But sometimes, the fear doesn’t just shake us—it shuts us down.

Jesus spoke resurrection…

…but they couldn’t hear it through the fog of grief.

GRIEF CAN BLOCK YOU FROM SEEING GOD’S PLAN

“And they were greatly distressed.”

Modern Metaphor: “Dead Phone in a Crisis”

You’re in the middle of a chaotic moment—maybe your car breaks down, or you’re in a sketchy part of town—and your phone dies. No calls. No texts. No help. You might still be safe. You might even be near someone who could help. But the silence makes you feel stranded. You start to doubt your next step, even if you were heading the right way.

That’s what the disciples are going through. They’re following Jesus. They’ve seen miracles. But when Jesus says something that breaks their expectations—they emotionally shut down. They miss the resurrection part because the death part overwhelmed them.

Faithway Application:

Grief isn’t weakness. It’s real. But don’t let it block the voice of God in your life.

Here’s how to respond:

1. Glorify God by giving Him your grief—not just your gratitude.

Spend 5 honest minutes in prayer this week just naming what hurts.

2. Live out the Gospel by holding on to the resurrection part of the story.

Make space this week to journal a promise of God that speaks life over your loss.

3. Help someone on their Faithway journey by sitting with them in silence.

Presence is powerful. Ask: “How can I walk with you through this?”

Groeschel-Style Truth Bomb:

“Sometimes we’re asking God to remove what He’s planning to redeem.”

Smooth Transition:

They were distressed.

They were stuck.

But Jesus was already pointing them beyond the pain—

To the plan.

Because what looks like the end to us…

Is often the beginning of something far greater to God.

GOD’S GREATEST VICTORY BEGINS IN WHAT LOOKS LIKE DEFEAT

“…they will kill him, and he will be raised…”

Modern Metaphor: “The Movie Spoiler”

Imagine watching a Marvel movie, and someone spoils the ending: “He dies… but wait for the post-credit scene!”

You’d be like, “Noooo! Why would you tell me that?”

But Jesus does tell them—and not to ruin the story, but to prepare them for what’s coming.

Faithway Application:

Don’t just stop at the death part of your story.

Keep watching. There’s resurrection in the post-credit scene.

Here’s how to act:

1. Glorify God by praising Him before the victory shows up.

Sing like Sunday’s already here.

2. Live out the Gospel by choosing hope when the story seems broken.

Share your testimony—even if you’re in the middle of it.

3. Help someone on their Faithway journey by walking with them through their “Friday.”

Ask, “How can I support you while you’re waiting for your Sunday?”

Groeschel-Style Challenge:

“You’re not just in a setback—you’re in a setup for God to show off His resurrection power in your life.”

Smooth Transition:

From the moment Jesus spoke this truth, everything changed.

Not for Him—He already knew the outcome.

But for them. And for us.

Because when it feels like Friday…

You’ve got to remind your soul…

CONCLUSION: YOU MAY BE IN FRIDAY… BUT SUNDAY IS COMING

Modern Metaphor: “Flight Delay”

Ever been stuck at the airport on a long delay? You’re tired, frustrated, wondering if the plane will ever take off.

And then finally, the gate agent says, “We’re boarding now.”

The wait didn’t cancel your destination—it prepared you for arrival.

Jesus was warning His disciples: “The gate’s about to close. But it’s not the end of the story.”

Faithway Call to Action:

To the one who feels distressed:

Your pain may be loud—but God’s promise is louder.

To the one who only sees death:

Don’t stop on Friday. Wait for Sunday.

To the one who’s given up:

The resurrection is still real. And it’s coming for you, too.

CLOSING GROESCHEL-STYLE DECLARATION:

“The pain you didn’t plan for may be the path to the purpose you were made for. Because what looked like death—was the doorway to eternal life.”

🙏 

Closing Invitation: Believe on Jesus

(Following the sermon: “Don’t Stop at Friday” — Matthew 17:22–23)

“Some of you are sitting in a Friday moment right now…”

You feel the betrayal.

You feel the loss.

You feel like hope died and was buried—and nobody showed up to carry the body but you.

But what if I told you this:

God doesn’t stop at Friday.

Jesus was betrayed, crucified, buried…

And then on the third day, He got up.

Not just to prove death couldn’t hold Him,

But to rescue you—from your Friday. From your sin. From your shame. From the grave inside your soul.

So let me ask you from the gut today:

Have you believed on Jesus—really believed?

Not just know about Him.

Not just agree with religion.

But trusted Him—heart and soul—as the resurrected Son of God who died for your sin and rose again to give you eternal life?

Because if today is your Friday…

Your Sunday can start right now.

👉 

Here’s how:

The Bible says in Romans 10:9 (KJV):

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,

and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead,

thou shalt be saved.”

That means the cross wasn’t the end of the story—

And your pain doesn’t have to be either.

🗣️ 

Prayer of Faith (Invitation to Repeat):

“Jesus, I believe You died for me.

I believe You were buried.

And I believe You rose again.

Forgive me of my sins.

Give me new life.

Today, I don’t stop at Friday—

I trust You for Sunday.

In Your name, Jesus—Amen.”

🙌 If you prayed that, today is not just Sunday on the calendar—

It’s resurrection in your heart.

🙌 

Benediction

Go today with this truth:

The cross was not the end— it was the beginning.

Your sorrow is real, but it’s not final.

Your story may have a Friday,

but God already wrote Sunday into your future.

So walk by faith, live in hope, and remember:

Jesus is risen—and because He lives, your story isn’t finished.

May the grace of our Risen Savior, the love of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit be with you—this week and forever.

Amen.