God's Up to Kingdom Expansion
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-OOS
I. Welcome
A. P. Dustin
II. Opening Prayer
A. Aaron S.
III. WORSHIP
A. Prayer Song: “LORD WE PRAY”
B. Song B4 tithe/offering: “TAKE MY LIFE & LET IT BE”
C. Tithe/Offering
IV. Honoring Food Pantry Workers
A. Lori H.
V. Greeting Time
VI. Sermon
-SERMON
I. INTRO
A. Where We’ve Been
a. Last week we talked about what God’s up to in terms o partnering w/him 2 spread Kingdom seed (God’s word)
B. Where We’re Going
a. Illust.
1. Who here has ever mis-understood what God was up 2?
i. God called me in2 the NAVY
-I expected I was going off 2 b some kind o hero
-What I got was being relegated 2 obscurity & menial servanthood
*God was/is showing me how to b a better servant
-God was also up to leading me to the woman who would become my helper as we partner 2gether 2 fulfill God’s purpose
ii. How I met Rebekah
-She didn’t know I’d b a pastor
-I didn’t know it either!
*Now, She wasn’t created 2 help me fulfill my purpose…She was created so God could fulfill His purpose 4 us as 1.
2. C we can’t know what God’s purpose is 4 our life, until we know what God’s purpose is
i. Then we can seek God 4 how we fit in2 that purpose & it’s fulfillment.
b. This week We’re going to talk about what Kingdom seed becomes & what KOG means specifically & practically
C. Main Text
30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it?
31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth,
32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”
D. Pray
E. Context
a. this is the last o 4 parables which illust. what God’s up to
1. The 1st is about a farmer who sows seed everywhere regardless o the ground ( mk 4:14-20)
i. Jesus defines seed as God’s word
ii. the sower, is 1st Jesus; then, after commissioning his disciples, we become the sower
2. Next Parable (mk 4:21-25) explains the why: 2 illust. Jesus asks a simple question:
— “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, & not on a stand?” —
i. Jesus is suggesting that its ridiculous not to spread God’s word; it’s like putting a lamp under a basket...
-God gives us his word to spread…the 1st word God gives us is the redemptive msg o the Gospel
*That’s only the beginning
3. After that is the How (mk 4:26-29): Kingdom seed grows because God makes it grow
4. The last parable is what God’s word becomes & is truly what God is up 2:
i. So what’s God up to; what does Kingdom seed (God’s word) grow in2?
A. God is up to Kingdom expansion
30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it?
31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth,
32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”
— What’s kingdom seed expand in2?? —
a. God’s word grows into Kingdom expansion1. Kingdom seed, when planted in a man’s heart, becomes God’s Kingdom on earth
a. God’s word grows into God’s Kingdom
1. Kingdom seed, when planted in a man’s heart, becomes God’s Kingdom on earth
i. The more of God’s word that is planted the more of God’s kingdom sprouts up & the further the KOG expands on earth
20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed,
21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
NKJV20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
NKJV20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
b. the point: God’s Kingdom come
ESV10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
1. So often we r focused on getting people 2 heaven…Jesus teaches us 2 pray that God's Kingdom come 2 earth.
2. This line of thinking really brings us 2 ask…what's God’s Kingdom?
i. The Pharisees misunderstood this point too
20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed,
Luke 17:20
- The Pharisees were asking when God & his kingdom would invade in force, set up shop & rule over everything w/Isr. at the center o that Kingdom
ii. Jesus says, “nah, u missed it. ur not going 2 c it come in the way u mean”
-Then Jesus shows the nature o God’s Kingdom coming:
21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
iii. Jesus said, “the KOG is in ur midst”, meaning The KOG came in the person, ministry & leadership o Jesus!
- c, where Jesus is active & His people r submitting 2 his leadership, there is the KOG!
- The Apostles asked a similar question in...
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
-Jesus’ response?
7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
*Now we’re right back 2 Kingdom expansion through spreading Kingdom seed (God’s word)
~That’s what it is 2 b a witness 4 Jesus
* & where were they 2 spread kingdom seed?
~in their whole world…1st Jerusalem & further & further as God expands their world & reach!
~Therefore, let’s look @ the KOG this way:
B. God’s Kingdom is God’s Space
a. Literally think o the Kingdom o Heaven (KOH) as God space & everything else as man space
1. In Man’s Space there’s:
i. Sin
ii. Death
iii. Injustice
iv. Brokenness
2. In God’s space there’s:
i. Justice
ii. Holiness
iii. wholeness
iv. life
-This was the life experienced by Adam & Eve before their rebellion & sin, which changed all o humanity.
-After Adam & Eve’s rebellion & sin God Kicked ‘em out o His Space (sin cannot b in presence o God)
*After that humanity’s experience is sin, death, injustice & brokenness (man’s space)
3. As we:
i. Repent 2 God through Jesus 4 our sins
ii. Accept Jesus’ rule & reign in our life &
iii. Gather w/others in community who’ve done the same, we create little pockets o God’s Space on earth
4. What God is ultimately doing when Jesus returns is 4 God’s Space 2 overlap completely w/Man’s space
i. In the meantime we continue to expand these pockets o God Space by spreading God’s word (kingdom seed)
-as Kingdom seed takes root in people’s hearts, sprout & grow, the seed becomes God’s Kingdom
-2 help us better grasp this concept, check out this video from Bible Project:
*Video
5. We c the Apostle John describe this very seen in...
ESV1 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. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 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. 4 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.”
1 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.
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 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.
4 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.”
i. The focus o the Church & Bible has been Kingdom expansion because they were expecting Jesus 2 return any day
ii. It wasn’t until later that our focus became “what happens to us when we die”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
-The apostles didn’t negate going to heaven when we die:
*Apostle Paul says:
8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
*Jesus said to the thief on a cross next to him:
43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
iii. But What God’s really doing is bringing God’s space to overlap w/man’s space
III. RESPONSE
A. What if, when we pray:
:
10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
ESV10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
a. God responds: “waiting on u”!
1. God wants us to partner w/ Him in His Kingdom’s expansion by telling people the Good news
i. that even though the whole world is broken w/ & by our willful sin,
ii. He Loved the world so much God the Father sent Jesus to
-die on a cross as payment for our sin
-& was brought back 2 life so we 2 r reborn in2 a new creation w/out our nature as sinners!
* Thereby becoming part o God’s Kingdom here on earth
2. It’s what brought us in2 a forever relationship w/God starting 2day
i. But ur salvation isn’t just 4 u…its 2 give 2 others so they can be saved
b. we plant kingdom seed (God’s word) in2 the hearts o man & when it takes root in2 good soil it springs forth & in season produces fruit becoming God’s kingdom
B. Who hear feels comfortable sharing the Gospel?
a. Let me help u become equipped by coming 2 the class starting next week: “Tell Some1”
b. Play video
1. I’m not saying it’s perfect, I’m saying it has some wonderful insight in2 sharing our faith conversationally