Tough Texts

This Month's Tough Text Sermon

Ready For Doomsday

In this sermon, SBC President Clint Pressley walks through Mark 13:14-24, a passage that presents significant challenges for preachers. Mark introduces the “abomination of desolation” and the reality of a great and terrible tribulation—topics that have sparked theological debate for centuries. These issues raise important questions: Who or what is the abomination of desolation? What is the tribulation, and how long does it last? What is the role of the church, and when does Jesus return? Pastors inevitably face these questions when addressing this passage.

Pastor Clint provides clarity on the identity of the abomination of desolation while offering a pastoral perspective on the great tribulation and the timing of Jesus’ return. While these topics invite debate, one truth remains unshaken—Christ will return in glory, and that is the hope of every believer. In this sermon, Pastor Clint keeps the victorious Christ at the center, encouraging his church and modeling a faithful approach to a challenging text.

– Caleb Fleming (MBTS PhD Student, Pastor of Fairview Baptist, Sherman, TX)