Being A Part of Something Bigger than Myself
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9:30am on the Patio
Women’s Book Club
Women’s Book Club
First meeting September 29 Registration is free — Receive weekly email — Reading “In His Image” Jen Wilkins — Purchase Book on Amazon
September Sermon Series DNA
September Sermon Series DNA
Beginning September 9
DisciplesPath beginning in September
DisciplesPath beginning in September
Beginning September 9 or sooner in your Gospel Fellowship
Introduction:
Introduction:
We’re right between sermon series
The short sermon series on DNA is really an invitation. It’s an invitation for everyone to join in on what we (the elders) believe is the course correction necessary for Redemption Church in order for us to become a “Great Commission Church.”
The short sermon series on DNA is really an invitation. It’s an invitation for everyone to join in on what we (the elders) believe is the course correction necessary for Redemption Church in order for us to become a “Great Commission Church.”
The Gospel isn’t just the good news that Jesus Saves, but it’s the good news that Jesus is shaping us.What will the world or your world look like when all is as it should be AND who or what will be the focus of this world?
Every human being has been hardwired with this craving to be part of something bigger than ourselves.
Made to WorshipStewardship - Made to Reign
What I’d like to do this morning is provide an introduction to the next chapter of Redemption Church
Treasuring Earth-Bound ThingsWorrying Over Earth-Bound ThingsSo we examine and repent
The sermon series will cover things like, “Why do we exist?” And what do we believe God wants to do through us?” And “What are we going to do as a result of that answer?” And “How are we going to do that?” And “What even is a disciple?”
What is the “greater?”How do I become a part?
But all of that can become overwhelming if we don’t ground ourselves in the WHY behind the WHAT.
In other words, is there anything behind becoming a GCC?
Becoming a community that makes disciples who make disciples is about something even greater. Jesus commands that we make disciples and He tells us WHY. It’s not like a DO WHAT I SAY AND I’LL TELL YOU WHY LATER.
What does it mean it’s about something “greater?”
The greater we’ve been talking about IS The BIG Kingdom of God.What is the Kingdom of God? Is that heaven?God’s Kingdom, Jesus said in Luke’s Gospel, “Is in your midst.”God’s Kingdom is the Sovereign reign of Jesus Christ as King.When thinking about Kingdom, we don’t think of a location, but rather we should be thinking about an order. The perfect Kingly order of Jesus.What we so often see as the “greater” is an adaptation of the system of the world—it’s a spiritualized version of worldliness.When the world thinks of happiness it is categorically when things are all going well. Smooth sailing.To use a sporting analogy, we are on top of our game.That doesn’t sound half-bad. But there is a system for getting to that point.Remove all negative people from your lifeYou’ve got to do, what you’ve got to doIf you’re being wrongfully accused, get them backIt’s not personal, it’s just businessEven when the end result is a good thing, the motives that are suggested are still just a smokescreen for the personal advancement of our little kingdoms.So much of what even Christians pursue is just a philosophical version of temporal happiness.The sermon on the mount is Christ’s response to the little kingdom of self-glory it’s not happiness in definition, it’s blessedness.We read Matthew 6:33 but didn’t take much time to understand what Jesus meant when he said, “Seek first the Kingdom of God. Seek first the Righteousness of God.”To do that, I want to go backwards in the same sermon.
The Sermon on the Mount (especially the beatitudes) has all kinds of interpretations. I’ll only share with you how I’ve come to understand it.Through the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught that, God’s future is arriving (in Christ) in the present. That’s why Jesus said, “The Kingdom is at hand.”SO as an immediate application - You who are in Christ are becoming who you already are in Christ.The end goal of the beatitudes stand in contrast to the little kingdom or the man-centered view of happiness.Conversations sometimes go, “You want to be happy, don’t you? Well, you have to go and get what you want.”Not so in the Sermon on the MountThe Beatitudes are not the new law. Jesus is not saying, “If you do these things, you’ll be happy.”Jesus is saying, “This is what it looks like when the Kingdom of God comes to earth.” “This is what ‘on earth as in heaven’ looks like.”Blessedness is when the Triune God is at work both in and through someone’s life. There is joy and blessing in knowing that you are knownThere is joy and blessing in knowing that you are lovedThere is joy and blessing in knowing that you are cared forAnd out of that great joy and blessing we can practice now, what will be true for eternity.Therefore, humility, mercy, meekness, purity, peacemaking are all practical habits of the heart that while they seem small and insignificant are truly the “seeking the Kingdom and righteousness of God” that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 6.We know that this is not a total reality right now. Humility and meekness, mercy and peacemaking—no one is striving for these virtues.And you’re certainly not being rewarded for being persecuted, sometimes it feels like you’re being forsaken.So, the “greater” that we’ve been talking about all along is an understanding that:The new goal that Christians all are tied to is the Kingdom of God - a time of comfort, heaven coming to earth, all of creation being renewed, abundance, mercy, seeing Jesus!That goal has arrived here and now, in Jesus Christ. Those who follow Jesus can begin to practice the habits of heart and life which directly correspond to the Kingdom of God—the way they will be eventually and the way they are now because of the Advent of Jesus.
So, in Christ, God’s Kingdom is already here?Yes and no. This is the tension that we live with in many lines of theology. We are perfect, but we’re not perfect.We are free from sin, but we’re not free from sin.We are seated in the heavenly places, but we’re seated in Roseville.The Kingdom of God came in Christ, it was the seed that was planted in his arrival and will burst forth in full bloom in the return of Christ.So in this in between time we are being transformed to understand the culture and the language of the Kingdom.Mourners, persecuted, and justice-hungry saints will not be comforted or satisfied with justice being served here until the final Kingdom arrives.This helps us to understand that Jesus is not providing a legal solution:“If you follow these rules, you will be rewarded.”Nor is Jesus saying:“Since you believed in me, this is how you must behave.”What He seems to be saying is:“The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, and once you grasp what that means, you’ll see that these are the practical habits of the heart which anticipate the Kingdom of God then and now.”He’s saying: “This is what beauty looks like, this is what life and flourishing and worship and stewardship look like.”So, because of what he is teaching, Christians can seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness through the Spirit-filled practice of faith, hope, and love.And what does that look like?
It looks like humbling ourselves to open our homes and welcome strangers.It looks like mercy that would feed the hungry and give water to the thirsty and clothing to the naked.It looks like being a peacemaker, helping the prisoner.It is caring for the orphan and widow.It is not stopping with their physical need, but pressing on to the awkwardness of challenging their view of God.
Our view of BIG Kingdom living must be motivated by the grace of Jesus.This never has been, is not, will not be automatic. I know we dream about waking up and not being tempted to run to work without eating spiritual food…And then having not only the frame of mind, but the compassion to love everyone we run across…But, BIG Kingdom living is not automatic YET.And we have a hard time understanding this, because we’re afraid of being legalistic, BUT…Jesus did not teach, “Understand and then you will believe and then you will act.”No, Jesus taught, “Believe, act, and then you will understand.”Commenting on John 7:17, “For understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore do not seek to understand in order to believe, but believe that thou mayest understand; since, ‘except ye believe, ye shall not understand.’” -St. Augustine In addition to seeking the BIG Kingdom of God not being automatic, it is in total opposition to natural (but broken) human way of thinking.We’re told to love our enemies.We don’t use violence to solve our conflicts.We aren’t paranoid leading us to over-securing our lives.We don’t treasure earth-bound thingsWe don’t worry over earth-bound thingsNo instead:We trust our Sovereign CreatorWe live under a totally different paradigm, where faith, hope, and love are second-nature.And when we practice those with a single eye on Christ, we show the world that God is on the move, He is restoring and making all things new.
This was a snapshot of the picture of BIG Kingdom living.A community of praying people obedient to the call of Christ to go and tell others the good news of Jesus and seeking to meet their needs.Trusting that He would provide for them.Rejoicing over what God was doing through them.
Sacrifice over comfort Servant-heartedness over preferencesRisk-taking over securityFlexible over traditional
I believe a church should seek numeric growth.I believe a church should seek the ministry of reconciliation.We have not adopted some growth methods intentionally.We are not going to attract people by our buildingsWe are not going to attract people by the preachingWe are not going to attract people by the musicWe are not going to attract people by the kids’ areaWe will reach people by committing to a missional community model. People covenanting together to love each otherPeople covenanting together to push each otherPeople covenanting together to live on mission
What are you struggling to believe?What are you afraid of?What are you really relying on?What were you hoping that Big Kingdom living was all about?BIG Kingdom living is all about showing God’s extravagant grace and mercy so others will worship Him.BIG Kingdom living is all about showing God’s extravagant generosity and care so others will join in the stewardship of His creation.
We have not only been invited to a reconciled relationship with our Father, but we have been given a life-time reservation at his table.His table is set and the meal is prepared for us every single day.This bread and wine is but a small reminder that Jesus has not only lived and died so He could rescue us and the world, but He also provides our daily provision of grace and mercy so we can join with Him in BIG Kingdom living.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Rev 21:
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
Sermon Text:
If you believe that He could return at any moment, and when He comes He will establish His Kingdom on earth
You were made to WORSHIP and to REIGN in God’s Eternal Kingdom
If someone were to ask you,
We are not talking about a revolt where Christians literally sit in high places of political leadership.
This only makes sense within the storyline of the Bible.
God created human beings to live in constant communion with him and he gave them the responsibility to steward his good creation.
Thousands of years of failure later, Jesus was born and he brought the Sovereign Rule of God combined with the human assignment to worship and HE perfectly rescued the human race while simultaneously putting the project God assigned to human beings back on track.
Western Christianity pretty much gets that part, what we so often fail to understand is that the project God gave is not somehow waiting for Jesus to come back and finish up.
Jesus said, “as the Father sent me, so send I you.”
That passage is for every disciple of Jesus Christ to follow their God-ordained assignment to go in the power of the Spirit everywhere and spread the good news of the Big Kingdom of God.
That passage is for every disciple of Jesus Christ to follow their God-ordained assignment to go in the power of the Spirit everywhere and spread the good news of the Big Kingdom of God.
Isn’t that what sanctification is about? The Holy Spirit leading us all together to forsake our little kingdoms and live courageously for the Glory of the King?
What is the “Greater” that We’re Talking About?
The greater we’ve been talking about IS The BIG Kingdom of God.
What is the Kingdom of God? Is that heaven?
God’s Kingdom, Jesus said in Luke’s Gospel, “Is in your midst.”
God’s Kingdom is the Sovereign reign of Jesus Christ as King.
When thinking about Kingdom, we don’t think of a location, but rather we should be thinking about an order. The perfect Kingly order of Jesus.
When the world thinks of happiness it is categorically when things are all going well. Smooth sailing.
To use a sporting analogy, we are on top of our game.
That doesn’t sound half-bad. But there is a system for getting to that point.
Remove all negative people from your life
You’ve got to do, what you’ve got to do
If you’re being wrongfully accused, get them back
It’s not personal, it’s just business
Even when the end result is a good thing, the motives that are suggested are still just a smokescreen for the personal advancement of our little kingdoms.
So much of what Christians pursue is just a philosophical version of temporal happiness.
The sermon on the mount is Christ’s response to the little kingdom of self-glory it’s not happiness in definition, it’s blessedness.
We read but didn’t take much time to understand what Jesus meant when he said, “Seek first the Kingdom of God. Seek first the Righteousness of God.”
To do that, I want to go backwards in the same sermon.
Sermon Text:
The Sermon on the Mount (especially the beatitudes) has all kinds of interpretations. I’ll only share with you how I’ve come to understand it.
Through the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught that, God’s future is arriving (in Christ) in the present. That’s why Jesus said, “The Kingdom is at hand.”
SO as an immediate application - You who are in Christ are becoming who you already are in Christ.
The end goal of the beatitudes stand in contrast to the little kingdom or the man-centered view of happiness.
Conversations sometimes go, “You want to be happy, don’t you? Well, you have to go and get what you want.”
Not so in the Sermon on the Mount
The Beatitudes are not the new law. Jesus is not saying, “If you do these things, you’ll be happy.”
Jesus is saying, “This is what it looks like when the Kingdom of God comes to earth.” “This is what ‘on earth as in heaven’ looks like.”
Blessedness and Flourishing is when the Triune God is at work both in and through someone’s life.
There is joy and blessing in knowing that you are known
There is joy and blessing in knowing that you are loved
There is joy and blessing in knowing that you are cared for
And out of that great joy and blessing we can practice now, what will be true for eternity.
Therefore, humility, mercy, meekness, purity, peacemaking are all practical habits of the heart that while they seem small and insignificant are truly the “seeking the Kingdom and righteousness of God” that Jesus spoke of in .
We know that this is not a total reality right now. Humility and meekness, mercy and peacemaking—no one is striving for these virtues.
And you’re certainly not being rewarded for being persecuted, sometimes it feels like you’re being forsaken.
So, the “greater” that we’ve been talking about all along is an understanding that:
The new goal that Christians all are tied to is the Kingdom of God - a time of comfort, heaven coming to earth, all of creation being renewed, abundance, mercy, seeing Jesus!
NEWS FLASH: That goal has arrived here and now, in Jesus Christ. Those who follow Jesus can begin to practice the habits of heart and life which directly correspond to the Kingdom of God—the way they will be eventually and the way they are now because of the Advent of Jesus.
The Kingdom Already, But Not Yet
So, in Christ, God’s Kingdom is already here?
Yes and no. This is the tension that we live with in many lines of theology.
We are perfect, but we’re not perfect.
We are free from sin, but we’re not free from sin.
We are seated in the heavenly places, but we’re seated in Roseville.
The Kingdom of God came in Christ, it was the seed that was planted in his arrival and will burst forth in full bloom in the return of Christ.
So in this in between time we are being transformed to understand the culture and the language of the Kingdom.
Mourners, persecuted, and justice-hungry saints will not be comforted or satisfied with justice being served here until the final Kingdom arrives.
This helps us to understand that Jesus is not providing a legal solution:“If you follow these rules, you will be rewarded.”
Nor is Jesus saying:“Since you believed in me, this is how you must behave.”
What He seems to be saying is:“The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, and once you grasp what that means, you’ll see that these are the practical habits of the heart which anticipate the Kingdom of God then and now.”
He’s saying: “This is what beauty looks like, this is what life and flourishing and worship and stewardship look like.”
So, because of what he is teaching, Christians can seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness through the Spirit-filled practice of faith, hope, and love.
And what does that look like?
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
It looks like humbling ourselves to open our homes and welcome strangers.
It looks like mercy that would feed the hungry and give water to the thirsty and clothing to the naked.
It looks like being a peacemaker, helping the prisoner.
It is caring for the orphan and widow.
It is not stopping with their physical need, but pressing on to the awkwardness of challenging their view of God.
So, How Do I Become A Part of This?
Our view of BIG Kingdom living must be motivated by the grace of Jesus.
This never has been, is not, will not be automatic. I know we dream about waking up and not being tempted to run to work without eating spiritual food…
And then having not only the frame of mind, but the compassion to love everyone we run across…
But, BIG Kingdom living is not automatic YET.
And we have a hard time understanding this, because we’re afraid of being legalistic,
BUT…Jesus did not teach, “Understand and then you will believe and then you will act.”
No, Jesus taught, “Believe, act, and then you will understand.”Commenting on
If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.
, “For understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore do not seek to understand in order to believe, but believe that thou mayest understand; since, ‘except ye believe, ye shall not understand.’” -St. Augustine In addition to seeking the BIG Kingdom of God not being automatic, it is in total opposition to natural (but broken) human way of thinking.We’re told to love our enemies.We don’t use violence to solve our conflicts.We aren’t paranoid leading us to over-securing our lives.We don’t treasure earth-bound thingsWe don’t worry over earth-bound thingsNo instead:We trust our Sovereign CreatorWe live under a totally different paradigm, where faith, hope, and love are second-nature.And when we practice those with a single eye on Christ, we show the world that God is on the move, He is restoring and making all things new.
“For understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore do not seek to understand in order to believe, but believe that thou mayest understand; since, ‘except ye believe, ye shall not understand.’” -St. Augustine
In addition to seeking the BIG Kingdom of God not being automatic, it is in total opposition to natural (but broken) human way of thinking.
We’re told to love our enemies.
We don’t use violence to solve our conflicts.
We aren’t paranoid leading us to over-securing our lives.
We don’t treasure earth-bound things
We don’t worry over earth-bound things
No instead:
We trust our Sovereign Creator
We live under a totally different paradigm, where faith, hope, and love are second-nature.
And when we practice those with a single eye on Christ, we show the world that God is on the move, He is restoring and making all things new.
;
This was a snapshot of the picture of BIG Kingdom living.
A community of praying people obedient to the call of Christ to go and tell others the good news of Jesus and seeking to meet their needs.
Trusting that He would provide for them.
Rejoicing over what God was doing through them.
How Can I Be A Part, Practically? By committing to choose:
Sacrifice over comfort
Servant-heartedness over preferences
Risk-taking over security
Flexible over traditional
A Word About Church Growth
I believe a church should seek numeric growth.
I believe a church should seek the ministry of reconciliation.
We have not adopted some growth methods intentionally.
We are not going to attract people by our buildings
We are not going to attract people by the preaching
We are not going to attract people by the music
We are not going to attract people by the kids’ area
We will reach people by committing to a missional community model.
People covenanting together to love each other
People covenanting together to push each other
People covenanting together to live on mission
Conclusion:
What are you struggling to believe?What are you afraid of?What are you really relying on?What were you hoping that Big Kingdom living was all about?BIG Kingdom living is all about showing God’s extravagant grace and mercy so others will worship Him.BIG Kingdom living is all about showing God’s extravagant generosity and care so others will join in the stewardship of His creation.
Communion:
We have not only been invited to a reconciled relationship with our Father, but we have been given a life-time reservation at his table.His table is set and the meal is prepared for us every single day.This bread and wine is but a small reminder that Jesus has not only lived and died so He could rescue us and the world, but He also provides our daily provision of grace and mercy so we can join with Him in BIG Kingdom living.