Climbing for Greater Kingdom Vison

Introduction:

We have accomplished so much in March, beginning with the fifth anniversary that we celebrated on our new land and the "Climb Initiative" that will make it all come to pass.

There are three significant elements of the "Climb Initiative" that we will be focusing on over the coming years.

Greater Personal Vision

Greater Community Vision

Greater Kingdom Vision

To reach a greater personal vision, we learned that we are not just a pawn in God's game of life but an active participant in the journey. God wants to reveal himself to you in new ways as you draw close to him. It also requires some personal growth and faith to take the next step in the climb. I want to personally invest in each one of you to see you reach your full potential.

To gain a greater community vision, Mark shared a very personal story about his neighbor that needed the power of the gospel. I was struck with the simple question he wanted to ask his neighbor, "Can I tell you how Jesus Christ changed my life." You see, our personal climb must, at some point, become a community conversation. If the pandemic taught us anything, the church is not a building and must reach outside the church house walls.

The third initiative that we will focus on this morning is "Climbing to new heights for greater Kingdom Vision." Kingdom Vision is much more than just helping people. There is no doubt that our Climb Initiative will help people with our area's social ills, but that can't be all it accomplishes. Success in the "Climb Initiative" expands God's kingdom influence through the restoration power of the gospel. Through our ministry, people will be reconciled in their relationship to God and healed from the sinful impact of this world spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

How does our vision need to change, or what mind shifts do we need to make to bring about this level of influence on our community and worldwide?

I believe there are three adjustments we can make right now that will set our course for the climb ahead.

A Kingdom Vision of People

A Kingdom Vision of Promotion

A Kingdom Vision of Passion

A Kingdom Vision of People

Broaden your view.

As Jesus began his kingdom ministry he immediately began to broaden the scope of the kingdom for the disciples by sharing his grace with a Samaritan woman.

John 4:35 ESV

35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.

Their focus was too narrow for the work that needed to be done.

We have a tendency to be self-consumed.

We must take the focus off of ourselves and on to those that need the gospel of restoration.

View through a spiritual lens.

Jesus had a unique way of looking at people. He saw a condemned people in need of a savior, a broken people in need of healing and restoration, and fruit just waiting to be harvested.

Matthew 9:35–38 ESV

35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Most people view others through some type of physical lens.

Pretty or ugly

Rich or poor

Race or nationality

Sexual orientation or sexual desire

We must see people through the eyes of the Lord:

Loved by God

Every person was and is created to be loved by God.

“God is love and love must be shared.” (Chip Judd)

You were created to be loved by God.

Deserving of forgiveness and grace

Redemption paid in full by Jesus on the cross

The potential to bring God glory

A Kingdom Vision of Promotion

One of the greatest mind-shifts in kingdom vision is what you promote. There are so many closet Christians in the world today. No one would know they are followers of Jesus unless asked. We have become great self-promoters. Just look at social media as we have learned to present our best-self or even a fake-self for others.

Promote King Jesus!

The disciples had to learn to promote the kingdom and let God promote them.

Mark 10:35–45 ESV

35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Christianity is a paradox for promotion.

To find your life you must lose it.

To be great you must become a servant.

To rule and reign you must suffer.

Decrease so the Lord can increase in your life.

John the baptist, full of the Holy Ghost from birth, understood his place in life: to prepare the way of the Lord and make his path straight. He summed up his life in one simple verse.

John 3:30 ESV

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

“Until we decrease, our kingdom influence will never increase.”

In the book “Good to Great” in describes consistent attributes of good companies that somehow became great companies. One of those attributes was a leader that cared more about the success of the company more than his personal success. His promotion of the company in turn caused his promotion.

So it is in the kingdom of God. You want to be great in the kingdom? Serve the kingdom.

A Kingdom Vision of Passion

To expand the kingdom of God, Jesus would need to suffer for the sins of others. Sacrifice would be necessary for the redemption of mankind. This is the meaning of the word passion or passionate: believing so much in a cause that you are willing to suffer to bring it to pass.

Matthew 16:21–23 ESV

21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Peter didn’t understand the passion that would required to expand the kingdom, but he would later. Just as Jesus gave his life for the salvation of humanity, so would everyone of the disciples of Christ.

Kingdom expansion still requires passion and sacrifice. How passionate are you that our community would be reconciled to God.

Luke 14:25–27 ESV

25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

Next Steps

Here are three things you can do to cultivate a greater Kingdom vision for your life.

Train your eyes to see people through a spiritual lens.

See their brokenness, hurt, and pain with eyes of compassion, knowing that Jesus sacrificed his life to save and redeem theirs.

Be ready to share the hope of the gospel.

Promote King Jesus more than you promote yourself.

Learn the obedience of suffering and sacrifice for kingdom progress.

Philippians 2:5–8 ESV

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Communion