Essentials: Kingdom Impact

Introduction

Parable of the talents- God has given us his gospel. What are we doing with it?

Connection: 1 John 2:6 “whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

Take Home: We are called to participate in God's work, which requires self-denial, determination, and commitment from us.

Message Focus: How we make an impact for the kingdom of God and what it take to do it.

Proclaiming the Gospel Luke 8:1-3

While the third-string quarterback is happy to be on the winning team, the victory is much sweeter for the captain who won the MVP trophy because he contributed to the win and persevered through the entire year to get there. By persisting through all the hardships and pains of playing, he actually enhanced his capacity to enjoy the victory. -Norman L. Geisler and Frank Turek

Some of the women (were with him)

Women would support rabbis, but it is unknown for them to travel with them. Therefore, this would not have been a detail someone would have invented since it would have casted distain on the actions of Jesus.

Mary, Joanna, Susanna

Mary, a formerly demon-possessed woman, was the first to witness the empty tomb. Not the person you would invent to be your number one witness if inventing the story.

Joanna, from Herod’s household, shows the diverse people ministering together.

Provided for them

Much essential work for the kingdom of God is unseen.

Luke 8:1 ESV

Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him,

Jesus, Luke 4:18–19 ““The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.””

Jesus to the woman, Luke 7:50 “And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.””

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Gabriel to Mary, Luke 1:32–33 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.””

Our task is to make the invisible kingdom visible. - John Calvin

People’s Spiritual Needs

To hear the Gospel

To encounter the Kingdom

Also consider the woman’s support role of a kingdom impact (e.g., making food for a distribution center).

Denying of Self & Following Jesus Matthew 16:24-28

A pastor being interrogated by officers and having his life threatened by them remarked, "“During an early interrogation I had told an officer who was threatening to kill me, “Sir, let me explain how I see this issue. Your supreme weapon is killing. My supreme weapon is dying. Here is how it works. You know that my sermons on tape have spread all over the country. If you kill me, those sermons will be sprinkled with my blood. Everyone will know I died for my preaching. And everyone who has a tape will pick it up and say, ‘I’d better listen again to what this man preached, because he really meant it; he sealed it with his life.’ So, sir, my sermons will speak ten times louder than before. I will actually rejoice in this supreme victory if you kill me.” After I said this, the interrogator sent me home.

Matthew 16:24 ESV

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

This is what its going to take to proclaim & bring the good news.

Directions for those who are disciples (not requirements for salvation).

Denial of self

Matthew 16:26 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”

Giving up our own self as lord in every moment of life.

The really important thing is not the great moments of sacrifice, but a life lived in the constant hourly awareness of the demands of God and the need of others. -William Barclay

Enablement

The Spirit will do His work producing the works of righteousness through you. Your part in not entertaining that which would oppose (e.g., hurried, upset, apathy, harsh)?

Bear one another

We want to cut them out of our lives so we don’t have to deal with them anymore.

To empathize with the fact that we are all fallible and need forgiveness.

Looking to others interest

Our instinct is to prioritize our own desires. To only see the world from my perspective.

Mature Christians make choices based on others benefit, and give up certain rights for the spiritual wellbeing of another.

Love

Having my needs of affection and security met. An affection towards another.

Looking out for the well-being of another without a thought of personal gain.

Taking up Our Cross

Luke adds, “daily”

Matthew 16:25 “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Having grit in the cost of discipleship (and the sufferings of life).

1 Peter 2:20–23 “For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.”

It may be that they will discover that the place where they can render the greatest service to Jesus Christ is somewhere where the reward will be small and the prestige non-existent. -William Barclay

Enduring suffering

Ridicule

Rejections

Persecution

Enduring the hardships of life

Death of a loved one

Poor health

Inadequate (Unsatisfying) marriage

Following Jesus

Matthew 16:27 “For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.”

Change of will

What he has done

His practice (the entirety of who they are). Are they covered by the atoning work of Jesus?

Live as someone who is owned and directed by Jesus. He influences what you say, think, and do.

Matthew 16:28 ESV

Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Could refer to the transfiguration, the resurrection, Pentecost, or the gospel spreading (along with Gentiles). Or it means all of it.

Summary

Essential For the Christian Walk

Kingdom Impact

Essential Task

Your are participating in God’s work

Essential Task

Denying yourself, taking up your cross, and following Jesus

A Possible Next Step

What are the areas that will take self-denial in your life?