Watchful Doorkeeper

Watchful Doorkeeper

Mark 13:34–37

Opening: The House, the Tasks, the Door
Jesus pictures a household. The master departs, assigns work to each servant, and charges the doorkeeper to stay alert. He may return in the evening, at midnight, at the rooster’s crow, or at dawn. The charge lands with weight: “What I say to you, I say to all: Watch.” Readiness is not guesswork. Readiness is steady duty and clear-eyed vigilance at the door.

Context and Aim
These words close the Lord’s teaching in Mark 13. Curiosity often reaches for dates and timetables. Jesus turns our attention to faithfulness. He assigns work, places a sentinel at the threshold, and withholds the hour. The unknown time is a reminder to keep to known tasks. The parable shapes a life that stays awake, guards the household, and serves until the key turns in the lock.

Each Servant’s Work and the Doorkeeper’s Post
“The master… left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch” (Mark 13:34). The Lord authorizes service and expects performance. Scripture speaks the same way: “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17). The congregation needs feeders, teachers, encouragers, and caretakers (Romans 12:4–8; 1 Peter 4:10–11). Homes need fathers and mothers who steward hearts. The doorkeeper’s post stands beside every assignment—eyes open, senses engaged, door guarded.

Four Watches and One Warning
“Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning” (Mark 13:35). The Roman night divided into four watches. Fatigue gathers in those hours. Distraction grows. Jesus names the watches to train endurance. Drowsiness invites loss. “Lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping” (Mark 13:36). The call is simple: stay awake.

What Watchfulness Looks Like
The Bible gives shape to wakefulness. Watch in prayer (Colossians 4:2). Watch your life and teaching (1 Timothy 4:16). Watch for temptation and resist the adversary (1 Peter 5:8–9). Watch your speech, your promises, and your conduct (Ephesians 4:25–32). Elders act as watchmen for souls (Acts 20:28–31; Hebrews 13:17). Members watch for opportunities to do good (Galatians 6:9–10). This posture keeps a congregation ready when storms break and when the Master arrives.

Readiness Measured by Obedience
Entrance belongs to those who do the Father’s will (Matthew 7:21). Salvation is appointed to those who obey (Hebrews 5:9). Wakefulness is more than awareness; it is action aligned with the Lord’s instructions. The doorkeeper who naps abandons his role. The servant who delays his task abandons his trust. A wakeful disciple hears and does.

Dangers that Steal Wakefulness
Carelessness whispers that the door can watch itself. Busyness fills hands with everything except the work assigned. Cynicism shrugs at the delay. Indulgence dulls the senses. Scripture answers with sober counsel: redeem the time (Ephesians 5:15–16), set your mind on things above (Colossians 3:2), keep your word even when it costs (Psalm 15:4), and persevere in doing good without growing weary (Galatians 6:9).

Simple Practices that Keep You at Your Post
Open the Scriptures daily and let the Lord set your steps (Psalm 119:105). Pray with watchfulness and gratitude (Colossians 4:2). Assemble faithfully and stir up love and good works (Hebrews 10:24–25). Test traditions and opinions by what is written (1 Corinthians 4:6). Make wrongs right quickly (Matthew 5:23–24). Keep short accounts with God and with people. Fill your week with the work you know pleases the Master—truthful speech, clean hands, reconciled relationships, and quiet service (Matthew 5–7).

Conclusion: Eyes on the Door, Hands on the Work
The hour is withheld. The command is plain. Keep your post. Feed the household. Guard the threshold. When the latch lifts and the Master steps in, He will find you at the door and at the task He assigned. “What I say to you, I say to all: Watch.”

Sermon Outline

• Text
  • Mark 13:34–37 read aloud
• Setting and Purpose
  • Discourse on watchfulness shifts from dates to duty
  • Unknown hour; known assignments
• Elements of the Parable
  • Master departs; gives authority; assigns work (Mark 13:34)
  • Doorkeeper commanded to watch
  • Four watches named; sudden return warned (Mark 13:35–36)
  • Universal charge: “Watch” (Mark 13:37)
• Doctrine of Readiness
  • Readiness equals obedience (Matthew 7:21; Hebrews 5:9)
  • Work under Christ’s authority (Colossians 3:17)
  • Members as stewards of varied abilities (Romans 12:4–8; 1 Peter 4:10–11)
• What Watchfulness Involves
  • Prayerful alertness (Colossians 4:2)
  • Guard life and teaching (1 Timothy 4:16)
  • Resist the adversary (1 Peter 5:8–9)
  • Elders as watchmen (Acts 20:28–31; Hebrews 13:17)
  • Congregational perseverance in good works (Galatians 6:9–10)
• Common Threats to Wakefulness
  • Carelessness, busyness, cynicism, indulgence
  • Biblical correctives: Ephesians 5:15–16; Colossians 3:2; Psalm 15:4; Galatians 6:9
• Practical Steps
  • Daily Scripture and prayer (Psalm 119:105; Colossians 4:2)
  • Faithful assembly (Hebrews 10:24–25)
  • Reconciliation and integrity (Matthew 5:23–24; Matthew 5–7)
  • Stay within what is written (1 Corinthians 4:6)
• Invitation
  • Begin readiness by obeying the gospel: believe, repent, confess, be baptized for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3–4; 1 Peter 3:21)
  • Continue at your post until He comes (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Call to Action
Take your post today. If you have never obeyed the gospel, respond now. If you have drifted into sleep, wake up, return to your assignment, and repair what neglect has harmed. Set your eyes on the door and your hands on the work until the Master appears.

Scripture Reference List (with notes)

• Mark 13:34–37 — Parable of the doorkeeper: assigned work; commanded watchfulness
• Colossians 3:17 — Serve under the Lord’s authority in word and deed
• Romans 12:4–8; 1 Peter 4:10–11 — Varied gifts used in faithful service
• Matthew 7:21 — Doing the Father’s will is the mark of readiness
• Hebrews 5:9 — Salvation appointed to those who obey
• Colossians 4:2 — Watchful, thankful prayer
• 1 Timothy 4:16 — Watch life and teaching; save self and hearers
• 1 Peter 5:8–9 — Be sober and vigilant; resist the adversary
• Acts 20:28–31; Hebrews 13:17 — Shepherds as vigilant overseers
• Galatians 6:9–10 — Persevere in doing good
• Ephesians 5:15–16 — Walk carefully; redeem the time
• Colossians 3:2 — Set mind on things above
• Psalm 15:4 — Keep oaths even when it hurts
• Hebrews 10:24–25 — Stir one another up; assemble faithfully
• Matthew 5:23–24 — Be reconciled quickly
• 1 Corinthians 4:6 — Remain within what is written
• Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3–4; 1 Peter 3:21 — Appointed response to the gospel
• 1 Corinthians 15:58 — Steadfast labor in the Lord

Prepared by David Hersey of the church of Christ at Granby, MO