Welcome to Gateway Church's podcast. Wherever you're tuning in from, we hope you're encouraged by today's message.

All right, let's do this thing. If you got a Bible, I want you to turn to Matthew chapter 25 and put a marker in Psalm 45.

And while you're turning there, let me welcome everybody at all of our campuses, everybody joining online,

everybody in a gateway gathering, and of course, let me say welcome and I love you to Gateway Scottsdale and Gateway 10P.

Love you. We're going to be kicking off a series and I get the incredible privilege and honor of getting to be with you this whole month.

And the series we're going to tackle is entitled Saturated. Saturated. You're going to see why, as we read, Matthew chapter 25, starting in verse 1.

This is the parable of 10 virgins. That's what it's called, all right? So we're going to read 13 verses, not 7,000, like Tim, two weeks ago.

I don't have that gift, all right? Matthew chapter 25, starting in verse 1. This is Jesus speaking, and he says, then, now, to get some context, then means in those last days.

Jesus is talking about what it's going to be like in the last days. This is not an eschatological series. I'm just giving you context for this parable.

Jesus says, then, the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to 10 virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

Now, five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them.

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, watch this.

They all slumbered and slept. And at midnight, a cry was heard, behold, the bridegroom is coming.

If that phrase doesn't get you riled up just a little bit, as Pastor Robert said many years ago, your wood is wet.

Behold, the bridegroom is coming. Go out to meet him, then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

And the foolish said to the wise, give us some of your oil for our lamps are going out.

But the wise answered saying, no, unless there should not be enough for us and you. But go rather to those who sell and buy for yourselves.

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came. And those who were ready went in with him to the wedding.

And the door was then shut. Afterward, the other virgins came back, also saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

But he answered and said assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.

Watch therefore, Jesus says, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the son of man is coming.

Now, I know that the parable 10 virgins brings with it a lot of complexity and some complication.

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