Living the Kingdom: This Is How We Do it

Making Room for Interuption

Title: Living the Kingdom: This Is How We Do It Theme: Leaving Room for Kingdom Interruptions Scripture: Luke 12:22–34; 1 Timothy 6:6–19

Thesis: Jesus calls us to live with open hands, open schedules, and open hearts—ready to be interrupted by the Kingdom and to give ourselves generously to its work.

One of the small things in this world that gives me great satisfaction is the packing of the van for a family vacation. Now, for most of you, you are thinking, yes! I love the thought of getting ready to go away for some time! Others of you get excited on the road there. I am neither of these— I define success with the geometry and art of packing the van. What does that mean? That means I can get everything in the van that my family has deemed to go. Now you can’t just tear into it.

First, I get everthing out to the drive way. I step back and take stock. Suit cases, duffle bags, electronic bags, the dogs items, toys, so on etc.

It begins with a series of questions:

What must go in?

What should go in?

What can go in?

By the time I am done it is a masterful work and there is no room left unutilized. Now, that is something to be proud of. But the largest frustration comes from when we arrive and vacation because you know what has to happen. There is souveniers, extra items that don’t go in bags and all of a sudden you realize you don’t have the room. It is then you have to sit back and decide how you are gonna get it home.

If we don’t anticipate needing room for the unexpected what are we willing to leave behind?

Question: What is your life packed with?

I have friends who have their lives planned two to three years out. Calendars packed. Finances charted. Goals set. There is no room for surprises. For some, that feels safe and secure. For others, it sounds suffocating.

Quote: “The Bagginses had lived in the neighbourhood of The Hill for time out of mind, and people considered them very respectable, not only because most of them were rich, but also because they never had any adventures or did anything unexpected: you could tell what a Baggins would say on any question without the bother of asking him.”—J.R.R. Tolkien

How does living for the expected track with how Jesus calls us to live? Is there room in your life for Jesus to call you, work in you, and bless through you? Jesus asks the Christian to live for the unexpected.

This obsession with busyness and financial gain was placed into our culture most prominently in the late 1800s, now a mind for wealth has always been present in the world but for western culture this time frame went from some to the majority. We are conditioned in our world, and we have been for generations to think about the scarcity of things and our need to not be scared.

We have also been conditioned by pop-culture that the new definition of a “good life” is a busy life. But this pedal to the metal life style has a high cost.

How is there room for God in your life? I am talking about way more than a thought or a morning of worship.

Kingdom living requires Kingdom margin—margin for grace, for generosity, and for God’s interruptions.

Sermon Theme:

Let’s unpack. In chapter 11 Jesus has taught His followers how to pray. He has taught them not to worry about the needs of the world but to praise and bless God for His provision. That to persist in prayer and the Father will grant the needs of his children. Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it. This light is to permeate the darkness and give witness to the presence of God in the world. In chapter 12 Jesus goes on to not just mention but focus on not trusting in worldly gains to save for as more and more is gathered in what good has it done? “

What good is it to gain the world and lose your soul? Therefore do not worry about what you can gain or lose from this world but set your eyes to heaven. Gain by giving, lead by serving, stand tall by kneeling down, and live by sacrificing.

The values of the Kingdom of God flip the world’s priorities upside down. Jesus calls us not to worry or hoard, but to trust, release, and live radically generous and faithful lives in response to His rule. So that we may respond to His call, be transformed by His grace, and live as a blessing to those in most need of what the Kingdom of God can give.

I. Leave Room to Be Interrupted

(Luke 12:22–31)

When I go on vacation, I love what has become known as “Island Time” meaning there was no need to get excited about what the day could bring but rather I was free to experience it as it came.

It the Emmaus world we call this “participate don’t anticipate” it can be the most stressful experience because we have become addicted to movement.

Life is not supposed to be the Daytona 500. Speeding around the corners slowing up just to make it through and the shooting down the straight aways only stopping when the fuel is low or the tires need replaced.

Jesus’s kingdom comes in small, unplanned moments, not just in the mountain top experiences. (Parable of The Good Samaritan, Luke 10)

We are to live with space so that god can interrupt. Can your life be interrupted?

Before the 1930s, the Church was society’s heartbeat of compassion—building hospitals, caring for orphans, lifting the poor. But as governments assumed these roles, the Church often withdrew. Now, our schedules are packed not with service, but with success.

For our contemporary world we may breathe a sigh of relief because now we can focus on meeting goals and enjoying “the good life” We won’t miss out.

Jesus points to the birds and the lilies — reminders that life flourishes under God’s provision, not in frantic striving. That we are called as Christians to participate in Kingdom activity that makes a difference in the world.

But we have lost our focus in the world today. Today our priorities look much like the rest of the world.

“Seek first the Kingdom” is not about fitting God in but reordering everything around Him. Making room for God in the everyday. It begins with slowing down to redeem the time.

Ephesians 5:15–16 “Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil.”

Psalm 90:12 “So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.”

Colossians 4:5 “Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.”

Application: Make space in your heart and schedule to be interruptible by God — to listen, notice, and obey when the Spirit nudges you to act.

II. Leave Room for Costly Grace

(Luke 12:32–34)

The first question I asked you was “What are you busy with?”

My second question is “What are you working toward?”

God has blessed us with so much but yet we his children look much like the world throwing ourselves into work.

Don’t get me wrong, God calls us to work. We were created to work. but In our working do we lose sight of the purpose of work? The purpose of work is glorify God and bless Him with giving— both to God and to our neighbors.

Colossians 3:23–24 “Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters, since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ.”

Quote: “Earn all you can, save all you can, so that you may give all you can.” – John Wesley

“Fear not, little flock.” The assurance of God’s love and generosity liberates us from the fear that drives self-protection.

Jesus invites us to sell, give, and trust — because our treasure in heaven cannot be lost.

What are you working toward? Work toward blessing others. But this means making room in our finances to give when others have need.

Grace cannot flow freely from a heart that is overfilled with busyness, bitterness, or self-interest.

2 Corinthians 9:7–8 “Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.”

Application: Make room in your relationships, routines, and expectations to extend grace. Real grace costs something — time, energy, attention — and we must leave space for it to be lived.

III. Use Resources to Rescue, Not Just Retain

My third question: Would Jesus bless you for how you use your resources?

“It is not enough to do no harm, to avoid evil. A man must do good...and be zealous of good works.” -J.W., Almost Christian

(1 Timothy 6:6–19)

Paul reminds us that godliness with contentment is the real wealth. The love of money, not money itself, is the root of many evils — because it narrows our focus and hardens our hearts.

Instead of chasing more, we are called to pursue righteousness, godliness, and love.

Ecclesiastes 4:6 “Better is a handful with quiet than two handfuls with toil, and a chasing after wind.”

The rich (and that includes most of us by global standards) are commanded not to hoard, but to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share — storing up treasure in heaven.

Hoarding is a spiritual danger but giving is discipleship.

Application: Use what you’ve been given — time, money, talent — not just for comfort or accumulation, but as tools of rescue for others. Live in such a way that when the Spirit says, “Give,” you don’t have to hesitate.

Pastor Matt’s Testimony

(Invite Pastor Matt Sichel to share testimony, 3-5 minutes)

Conclusion: Make Room for the Kingdom to Move

Leave room in your schedule to be interrupted by compassion.

Leave room in your heart to extend undeserved grace.

Leave room in your finances to give sacrificially and joyfully.

“Earn all you can, save all you can, so that you may give all you can.” – John Wesley

Final Challenge: What space needs to be cleared this week so you can live a Kingdom life that is interruptible, gracious, and generous?

“The altogether Christian gives all, his heart, his soul, his substance, his time, his strength, his love...unto God.”-J.W.

“Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” — Luke 12:33–34

Prayer of surrender