Here's a great article to set up a sermon on fear, the end of the world, or how to embrace mission rather than escapism. A website called Wall Street 24/7 ran an article on the industries that are making the most money off "doomsday preppers"—people who are getting ready for the end of the world as we know it. Don't laugh—it's a multibillion dollar business.

Experts estimate that as many as 3.7 million Americans are classified as preppers, and when the apocalypse comes all of them want the basic necessities: food, clothing and shelter, plus power systems, water filtration systems, communications systems, and bunkers. Here's one example of how preppers are preparing to face disaster: "[TheReadyStore.com store] sells its READYprep-2000 Food Storage Supply Kit, a 12-month supply of balanced nutrition from freeze-dried foods that are reconstituted with water. The average shelf life: 27 years. The cost: $3,683.25. Even Costco Wholesale Inc. sells the Chef's Banquet All-Purpose Readiness Kits for $149.99, with more than 600 servings of premium 'just add water' meal options. Its shelf life is 20 years."

Possible Preaching Angle:

That's probably not what Jesus had in mind when he said, "Therefore you must also be ready …" (Matthew 24:43).