Known - Sharing the Kingdom

Intro

You have heard us say before that God has us on a wave that we have been riding. I spoke with Cal Swenson who is over our “LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, PASTORAL CARE” in our district this last week and he said this about surfers, “After riding a wave they go back out to catch the next wave. Surfers only come in when they are done surfing. ”

We are not done surfing church. We are getting ready to catch the next wave of God that He is bringing to us. I don’t know about you but I am not ready to come in yet. And I know God is not done yet. There is more coming our way!

Now is not the time to be discouraged, but encouraged. Not is the time not to sit down, but stand up and be built up into what God is calling this body too.

Today we are finishing up a series called KNOWN.

I want to speak to you for a few moments about Sharing the Kingdom. Not only are we known by God and others, but we are to take this message of the Kingdom and share it with others.

We have been given the kingdom, adopted into the family of God, and what could be better than to invite others to join us as we go on this faith journey.

If I were to take poll of the church today and ask the question, “Is evangelism important?”, I am sure I would get a resounding YES!

If evangelism is important part of our journey with God, the question we need to ask ourselves next is:

Does my life reflect that? Do my priorities, my actions, my words show I think my life is not only about my own faith, but also about others?

My desire this morning is not to condemn or even guilt people into sharing their faith, but simply to share with you what the Bible says about it.

Main Teaching

Turn with me to the book of Ephesians.

Ephesians 2:19–22 (NASB95)

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,

20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,

21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,

22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

This passage sounds a lot like what Peter said in our text last week in 1 Peter 2:4-5. Both Peter and Paul understood that we are being built into a dwelling place for the Spirit of God. We are being built into a spiritual home.

Paul tells us that we are no longer strangers, but we are fellow citizens and a part of the family of God. We have been pulled together by Christ and now we are no longer unknown, but fully known and fully immersed into the family of faith.

In Christ you are fully known and fully immersed into the family of faith.

Family of God

There is just something about being a part of a family, about being known, wanted, and most importantly…loved.

There is a story about a couple named Rich and Patty White, who traveled to a 3rd world country to adopt a little girl named Olona. After 2 years of effort and paperwork, the Whites stood before a judge who read words from an official document:

“Inasmuch as Olona Morgan is orphaned and unwanted by any family in this country... Inasmuch as no citizen of this country wishes to have Olona Morgan...”

When this recitation concluded, which gave the Whites custody of Olona, the loving couple dropped to their knees, hugged their new daughter, and promised,

“You will never have to hear the word ‘unwanted’ spoken of you again.”

Maybe you can relate to Olona’s story. Many of you, myself included, have felt unwanted, alone, and unloved. These are terrible words for any human being to hear come out of the mouths of anyone.

This story gives to us an example of how Christ responds to those who come to Him. You see, when you come to Christ you become part of the family of God and the words “unwanted, alone, unloved” do not define who you are anymore.

I can’t promise no one will ever speak them over your life anymore. But I can tell you that you don’t have to receive them spoken over your life anymore.

In fact, God loves you so much that He sent His Son Jesus to die for you and we are promised in the Word of God:

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NASB95)

8 “The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Jesus himself tells us

Matthew 28:20 (NASB95)

20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

No matter who you are, where you are, what you have done...You are loved. You are wanted. And you will NEVER be alone!

Sharing the Kingdom

As followers of Christ, understanding that we are citizens of Heaven. we are loved, we are wanted, and part of this great faith family, why wouldn’t we want to invite others to the table?

Consider that for a moment. Consider what it would look like if we invited others to be a part of the family.

What would it look like to extend an invitation to other potential fellow family members?

Sharing the Kingdom is what we should do. It should be a part of our everyday lives. It should be who we are.

Why do I say this? Simple. Because of what the Word of God says.

I was with a friend the other day and in our conversation I said, “Everything we believe and do should be based on the Word of God.”

Sharing the Kingdom with others is no different.

I love the parable that Jesus gives about a wedding banquet. It is a picture of what sharing the Kingdom of God with others looks like.

Matthew 22:1–14 (NLT)

1 Jesus also told them other parables. He said,

2 “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son.

3 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!

4 “So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’

5 But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business.

6 Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.

7 “The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town.

8 And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor.

9 Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’

10 So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.

11 “But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding.

12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply.

13 Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

I love how Jesus compares the Kingdom of heaven to a banquet. Food is a staple in every culture and every nation. This tells me that the message of the Kingdom of God is for every human being on this planet no matter where you are from, what you have done, whether you are blue collar, white collar, dirty, or no collar.

EVERYONE is invited to the table of God.

Jesus made the statement that the “wedding feast is ready”.

In other words the table is set. There is no need to wait on anything or even bring a dish to share. The table is ready for any and all that are hungry.

We are living in a world where people are starving. They are starving for attention, starving for affection, starving to be heard, starving to be seen, some don’t even know what they are hungry for.

You ever been there? The other day I wanted something to eat and I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what I wanted. When you are in this mode you begin to take anything you can find. And it is usually not good for you nor will it sustain you.

Many in the world today are like that. They are looking for fulfillment in their lives and so they are trying everything they can…relationships, money, over working, drugs, traveling the world…they are just scrolling through life like scrolling through Netflix and nothing sustains them and they are tired and just ready to give up.

Maybe that is someone you know. Maybe that is you.

Either way, here is what you need to know: The TABLE IS READY!

What they are looking for is found only in Jesus! And the invitation to the table is open to all.

The table is a place where time is spent with one another. Our family tries to eat at the table any chance we get. It is a place where we can get to know one another and build a relationship.

Maybe the reason why inviting others to the table of God is as important too many Christians today is because we don’t even invite our own family to the table. We don’t view it as important anymore. And we wonder why we don’t know our own kids and who they are or who their friends are.

The table is ready.

The table of God is the best place anyone can be and who wouldn’t want to share that experience with others?

Here’s the thing. Just like trying to get our own families to the table it is just as hard to invite others to the table of God. It can be costly and it can take energy.

But here is the reality.

Eventually all the seats will be full and the King will close the doors and no one will be able to enter again. So it is vital church that we invite as many as we can. For as long as we can.

Stand with me this morning as the worship team comes up.

If we get nothing else out of this series, understand that we are fully known by God - good, bad, ugly - we are made for Kingdom connections, and just as important:

As long as Jesus is still building His church, there will always be room for more.

Closing/Don’t Give Up

I know it takes time and energy. Any relationship does. Even your own relationship with God. Maybe this is why so many have abandoned the pursuit of others all together. Too much time. Too much energy. No results.

So we live isolated lives devoid of connection with each other and trying to connect others to Christ.

As we learned in the first part of this series we were made for more than relational dissonance. We are created in the triune image of God and created for: community, fellowship, and kingdom relationships.

Let me leave you with a little bit of encouragement when you feel the need to give up on sharing the Kingdom with others.

Galatians 6:9–10 (NASB95)

9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

If anyone can speak on the subject of losing heart, it is Paul. He was beaten, shipwrecked, stoned, mocked, imprisoned, and more for the sake of simply sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others. And yet, he still encourages us today in 2022 too do good to ALL people, for as long as we can, at every opportunity.

Again, as long as Jesus is building His church, there is room for more.

And what can be better than inviting others to sit at the table of Jesus with you and me.

Salvation Call

To enter into a relationship with Jesus the Scripture is very clear:

Romans 10:8–10 NASB95

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

Admit - confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord Believe - believe He died for your sins and was raised again for you Commit - live your life for Jesus

Prayer for Salvation

“Heavenly Father, I admit that I am a sinner and need a Savior. Forgive me of all my sins. Make me brand new. I believe Jesus died for me and rose again so I could live for you. Fill me with your Spirit so I could know you, serve you, and follow you the rest of my life. My life is not my own—today I give it to you. Thank you for new life!

In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”