Becoming a Kingdom Builder

Introduction: Defining the Pain

Special Thanks:

Good morning Church!! It's so good to be back with you. Kim and I are feeling very refreshed and energized after our sabbatical. I was so impressed with all the teams as we watched from a distance. It's nice when people take ownership of the vision and care as much as the Pastor. You all have done a fantastic job of setting up for this next season of Reliant. It looked like the "Back to School Bash" was a huge success. I want you to know your work for the kingdom doesn't go unnoticed.

Mission Statement Review

Through July, we have been working through the DNA of Reliant. The core values that make us who we are. I want to review these quickly before we dive into the last one today.

Mission statement: "Producing Jesus follower of faith that expand God's kingdom." (Repeat)

We played a video last week showing Alan driving around the streets of our community. As I was watching that video, it made me think of all the stories behind those doors. People with cabin fever from COVID, wondering how they will pay the bills, trying to figure out what school will look like for the kids. Some are escaping, if only for a moment, from reality through substance abuse.

Suicide rates are up.

Domestic violence is up.

Child abuse is up.

Unemployment is up.

Hope is all but lost. Many don't know where to turn to find new hope. What a great opportunity we have to share the hope of the gospel with them.

Core Values:

Bible Believers

Disciple Makers

God Pleasers

Community Engagers

Kingdom Builders

What is Kingdom Building?

"Building the Kingdom of God is reconciling people back to their creator through a loving relationship with Jesus Christ."

Kingdom building has been going on since the beginning of time. First through the Jews, then through the first coming of Christ, through the apostles, and now through the church. It is merely our time and responsibility to share the gospel with our community. So how do we do that? Where do we begin? The more you hang around, the more you will hear our motto: "Ministry runs on the rails of relationships."

A kingdom builder is ready to share the gospel with others in hopes they will respond to God's love and fellowship. For the past four years, God has been getting us ready to change our community through the power of the gospel message. As always we look to Jesus to get our pattern of ministry.

What did Jesus do to build the kingdom?

He went to the synagogue to share the truth with God's people.

He went out into the streets to meet people who were far from God, not allowed in the synagogues, to bring them close to God again.

He visited the publicans and sinners in their homes and ate with them to show his love and friendship.

He sacrificed his life and reputation so that others might find God.

What did Paul do to build the kingdom?

He went to the synagogue to share the truth with God's people.

He went out into the streets to meet people who were far from God.

He visited the outcast and desperate to share the love of God with them.

He sacrificed his life and reputation so that others might find God.

Seeing the Pattern.

The church should be in the streets sacrificially loving others far from God to draw them close to Him, which has always been the way of building the kingdom of God. Finding the marginalized and forgotten sharing the hope of the gospel with them.

“Being a kingdom builder is stepping out of your comfort zone so that others might be comforted.”

I want to start a message that we will finish next week as we clearly define the activities and objectives of a "Kingdom Builder." Let's look at the book of Romans and first get a clear definition of the gospel message.

Scripture/Message: Defining the Passage

Romans 1:14–15 ESV

14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

Romans 1:16–17 ESV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Kingdom Building through the Gospel.

“The gospel is the power of God to reconcile all things back to himself and for His glory.”

We can see this activity of reconciliation in all aspects of the Godhead.

The Son displayed this power by taking the form of sinful man and dying on a sinner's cross to reconcile humanity back to God.

The Holy Spirit demonstrates this power through faith and righteousness of believers as they proclaim reconciliation to others.

Finally, the Father displays this power as he reconciles all creation back to himself through the destruction of all sin and the restoration of complete righteousness in a new Heaven and new Earth.

Illustrations of the Gospel

We see the power of the gospel when a person receives the love and forgiveness of God through salvation.

We see the power of the gospel when relationships are restored and center on God.

We see the power of the gospel is a father makes a bold move to train up his family in the way of the Lord.

We see the power of the gospel when additions are broken.

We see the power of the gospel when a child in taken into the home of a loving family that will show them the ways of God.

We see the power of the gospel when a special needs person is respected and loved with the love of God.

Like Paul, we must present the gospel to the Greeks and barbarians, the wise and the foolish. Through the Holy Spirit within us and the truth of God's Word, we can bring generational change to our community. We have coined a phrase for this power as "relational reconciliation." As ambassadors of God's kingdom, we will take every God-given opportunity to promote King Jesus and invite others to enter.

1 Corinthians 9:16–17 ESV

16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.

Any church determines it's effectiveness by her willingness to share the gospel.

Social Media Quote:

"Passion for the gospel with no process of delivery is pointless for the kingdom." Bill Sizemore

Next Steps: Defining the Process

How do we take our passion for the gospel and continue the pattern of Jesus and the Apostles to deliver the gospel to our community?

Equip the church body with the truth of the gospel to share.

Create a discipleship learning path for the gospel.

The first step is 180° Personal Discipleship. (Sign up at reliant.church)

Create opportunities to hit the streets and meet the people that Jesus wants to save.

Open House week starting on the 10th will give you some opportunities. (Go over the handout)

Pick one of the activities that will get you out of your comfort zone and comfort others.

Intentionally find the marginalized and outcasts that are far from God.

Focus on ministries that bring those far from God close through the gospel.

Get involved in one of these ministries:

Faith Bridge Foster care,

special needs (Alternative Baseball),

Jobs for Life, CAYA Ministries, and

Allgood Elementary.

Sacrifice your life and reputation if necessary so that others might find God.

Share the power of God within you by loving others and building relationships as a bridge back to God.

Be bold in your witness of what God has done in your life.

The change in your life is the most significant proof of the power of the gospel.

Prayer Response

If you’re comfortable and able, please get into groups of three or four and pray that God would make you a kingdom builder.

Pray that God would use you to reconcile people and situations back to Him for His honor and glory.

Pray that God would expand His kingdom right here through Reliant as we reach out into our community.