Living For the Kingdom

Intro

What should we live for? Everyday our lives are leading us somewhere. Leading to an end. You are on a trajectory headed for something. Often times, when that plan gets derailed, we find ourselves at a loss. It can expose idolatry in our lives.

Ill. I distinctly remember in college, my teammates coming to the end of their time playing ball. They lived in the delusion that baseball would live on forever. Until it didn’t. Then, they didn’t know what to do. They had no self worth apart from the sport. That’s what they lived for.

What do you live for? Yourself? Sports? Academics? Relationships? We are going to see in Christ’s teaching that we are called for something much higher.

Main Idea: Followers of Christ live for the Kingdom of God

Last week’s passage reminds us that our earthly treasures mean nothing to eternity. You might think because you have stored things, you are good. He will continue this idea of how to live this side of heaven.

Luke 12:22-48

Truth #1: Living for the Kingdom means we pursue heavenly things. (22-34)

Exp. Therefore, do not be anxious. The man who asked was coming from a place of anxiety. Speaking to his disciples, but others were listening. Why shouldn’t we be anxious? 3 reasons:

Verse 23. Life is more than food. Body more than clothing. Life is worth much more than stuff.

Verse 24. Ravens = detestable and unclean. God feeds them. You’re more valuable.

Verse 25. You can’t add to your life. Verse 26. Jesus calls adding to your life a small thing!

Ill. Avengers: Age of Ultron. Everyone trying to lift Thor’s hammer. He picks it up like it’s lightweight. Adding an hour of span to our lives is light work for God. He doesn’t break a sweat.

Arg. He gives another argument about clothing the grass and how much more God loves and clothes you. Then we find out what we should do. Verse 29-30. “All nations” means pagan. That’s what they seek. God knows you need them. Here’s the alternate: Verse 31. Seek his kingdom. Don’t add to your kingdom. Seek his. Good news: Verse 32. He wants to give you the kingdom.

Christ - God wants to give you the kingdom, and he does so through his son. Jesus is the one to usher in the kingdom. He brings it to you and reveals it. Expands the kingdom by dying on the cross and purchasing us with his blood. God desires us to have what we need, and he provided everything we needed through Christ.

Exp. Goes the opposite direction: Verse 33. Give it away. This is the most Christ-like thing you can do! Why? Not just because being anxious about things is wrong, but Christ gave up everything to purchase you back! Setting you free from the things that hold down your anxiety. Verse 34. Sit on this a while.

App. Avoid anxiety by pursuing the kingdom of God.

What do you treasure? Take time and think about that.

Seek God’s kingdom first. The Lord’s Prayer, your kingdom come, your will be done. Before our needs.

Give your things away. Spiritually = cleansing. Emotionally = relieving.

Truth #2: Living for the Kingdom means we do what is entrusted to us. (35-48)

Exp. Another long section. Jesus will give us a view of how we should wait for his return. Verse 35-37. Stay ready = you ain’t gotta get ready. We are servants waiting for the master. When he gets home, if we are waiting, he will serve us. Those servants are blessed. This is an expected event. What would be unexpected is the house being robbed. Verse 39. Both situations reveal why we should be ready. He lands on his point. Verse 40. He’s there now, and many do not believe. He is talking about the end. Peter asks who he is talking to.

Jesus responds with the two roads for the servant. Verse 42-44. The servant gives food at the proper time, he will be blessed if he’s doing it, and that servant will be set over all his possessions. The second road is that of a poor servant. Verse 45-46. Cut him into pieces was the punishment in Jeremiah 34 for those who mistreated slaves.

Ill. Cleaning my room. My dad would come home and my room had better been clean. If not, I would be punished. If I did, I just wouldn’t be beaten. Here there is a reward for doing what is expected: we will receive more.If we are faithful with little, God will entrust more. If we fail with little, we will be punished for it.

Exp. Verse 47-48. Jesus ends with a warning of God’s judgment. For those who knew, but neglected, they will be beaten. For those who didn’t know the mandate, but still acted in this way, will also receive one. Levels of punishment in Jewish life was normal. The point is that either way, there is a punishment. Parallelism: Verse 48.

Christ - What did God give us? His son. Salvation. Secondly, Jesus is going to give his authority to the church by sending the HS. All of his authority was given by God and then he gives it to us.

App. The disciples were given much responsibility, and so have we. Live each day like God has entrusted you with his authority and Spirit.

Stand ready for the coming of Jesus. Life in the kingdom includes awaiting the coming of Jesus. We aren’t to be distracted from this life. Instead, we must live as Jesus called us to live: to make disciples.

Make disciples as we were commanded. We have been entrusted with God’s word and the gospel to take to the far reaches of the earth. Here’s the cure for anxiety: Living out God’s plan for our lives.

Conclusion

Where is your heart? Is it on material things? Is it on treasures in heaven? Weigh these things.