Kingdom Value: Diversity Sermon

Genesis 11:1-9

Welcome

Pastoral Burdens: Event vs embodiment as a disciple of Jesus/Christlikeness

Prayer: Confession

Intro: [Brooks]: Mr. Van Der Linden.

[Van Der Linden]: Dr. King, how many white people are members of your church in Atlanta?

[King]: I don’t have any white members, Mr. Van Der Linden.

[Van Der Linden]: Well sir, you said integration is the law of the land, and it’s morally right, whereas segregation is morally wrong, and the president should do something about it. Do you mean the president should issue an order that the schools and the churches and the stores should all be integrated?

[King]: I think it is one of the tragedies of our nation, one of the shameful tragedies, that eleven o’clock on Sunday morning is one of the most segregated hours, if not the most segregated hours, in Christian America. I definitely think the Christian church should be integrated, and any church that stands against integration and that has a segregated body is standing against the spirit and the teachings of Jesus Christ, and it fails to be a true witness. But this is something that the Church will have to do itself. I don’t think church integration will come through legal processes. I might say that my church is not a segregating church. It’s segregated but not segregating. It would welcome white members.

[Brooks]: I think at this point I’ll have to interrupt. I see that our time is up. Thank you very much, Dr. King, for being with us. We’ll be back with “Meet the Press” in just a moment, but first, this message.

Interview took place: April 17, 1960 only 64yrs ago.

Big Idea: Diversity is inherent to the kingdom of God not to the Kingdom of man.

Core value - Diversity: doing life with people who are ethnically, economically, socially, and generationally different from you.

Movement 1: v2 Away from God’s presence.

A) v.2 “from the east/eastward”

Often symbolized away from God’s presence.

Land of Shinar = Babylon - Settling in a place with out God leads to pride, idolatry, and consist opposition to God.

B) v.3-4 Security & identity apart from God and misuse of God’s goods.

Temptation to seek security and Identity apart from God.

C) v.4 praise, power, and great for man’s kingdom not following God’s purpose.

Intentionally not following God’s purpose (Advancing God’s Kingdom)

v.4c “lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.”

See Gen.9:1. God’s says expand his Kingdom

not ethnic, financial, social, gender, generational should not claim better aka “make a name for ourselves”

**unity apart from God = Kingdom of Man = Counterfeit**

community, diversity, or unity w/o God is only a counterfeit community (diversity & unity) Why/How? Because its center around the kingdom of man = sinful motives.

Movement 2: The LORD purposed will be accomplished v.5-9

A) “The Lord dispersed”

You and I were never meant to live siloed (ethnic, economic, social, generational)

God will move you out your comfort and position you with opportunities to impart the gospel/kingdom of God to other not like you.

Movement 3: The kingdom of man produces disunity & hypocrisy

A) Galatians 2:11-14.

Fear

Lead astray

called out

B) James 2:1-13 (partiality)

Movement 4: The Gospel empowers you to cross boundaries

A) 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.

Paul dealt with many different cultural standards/norms. Paul had rights to pursue his own cultural preference/norms .

Paul gave up his own preferences to serve other ppl.

giving sacrificing preference DOES NOT mean sacrificing godly standards for the world.

** I have seen churches/believers want diversity. But they want it (kingdom diversity) on their terms. Which means there is an unwillingness to sacrifice their preference and comfort for the sake of the kingdom of God.**

B) 1 Corinthians 12:12-13.

We are one

Movement 5: Be like Jesus

A) Our King engaged with different pp.

Poor, rich, common ppl, high rank ppl, sick, officials, women

B) Ephesians 4:14-16.

C) Revelation 7:9-10. (all tribe, nations, tongues)