My 9-year-old was told at school that all of the wars, famines and earthquakes were signs that Jesus was about to come back. So, our study began: “Get your Bible and let’s look at it. Read Matthew 24, verse 1. What did Jesus show them?” “The temple.” “Read verse 2. What did Jesus say would be destroyed?” “The temple.” “Read verse 3. What two questions did they ask?” “When will ‘these things’ happen to the temple? When will you come?” “Read verses 6-7. What did Jesus say would be signs when ‘these things’ would happen?” “Wars, famines and earthquakes.” “Read verse 34. When did Jesus say ‘all these things,’ including the wars and earthquakes, would happen as a sign of coming events?” “In that generation, which can’t be today.” “Read the first word of verse 36. What does ‘but’ mean?” “He’s going to talk about something different.” “Read verse 36. Who did Jesus say knows the time when He will return?” “Only the Father. No man or angel.” “Read verse 42-44. Are you sure we can’t know?” “Yes! Jesus said, ‘you do not know!’” Did the thief leave signs before he broke into our house? “No!” Did Jesus leave any signs to know when to expect Him to come back for us? “No!”
Simple Bible study method: read the verse and then ask, “What did Jesus say?”