Living in the Kingdom
Kingdom Mission
Matthew 28:18-20
We’ve been using Matthews account of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount – Seek the KOG above all else
Luke records it this way:
Seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:31-32 (NIV)
The Kingdom of God – was one of the main themes of Jesus’ teachings
3 xs Jesus mentions the church
120 xs Jesus mentions the Kingdom
Full 20% of Jesus teachings were about the Kingdom
K o God
K o Heaven
My Father͛s Kingdom
My Kingdom
The Kingdom
Jesus referred to the KOG
• Within you
• Among you
• At your door
• Not far from you
• Not of this world
The KoG is the RULE and the REIGN of Jesus the King of Kings in the hearts of people
He’s the Monarch – He’s the King
When a person gives Jesus RULE and REIGN – When they become HIS subjects – They are in the KoG
In 1979 when I devoted myself to serve the King of Kings – I become part of the KoGo – A subject of the king
Collectively – the subjects of the King make up the KoG
A subject of the K - you permit Him to direct your actions, to form your habits, and to have ownership
of your time.
This is what we’ve talked about so far:
The Kingdom of God is a monarchy not a democracy
Kingdom Values
Kingdom Motto - “All for one and one for all.”
Kingdom Mission
Mission:
An operation that is assigned by a higher headquarters. – Wordbook
A body of persons sent to perform a service or carry on an activity - Merriam-Webster
A group sent to a foreign country to conduct diplomatic or political negotiations - Merriam-Webster
Businesses have a Mission
Churches have a Mission
Schools have a Mission
Hospitals, government agencies all have a mission
They often have a mission ‘statement’ hanging on a wall in their complex
Someone said - It's not good enough to have the ‘mission’ hanging on the wall. It must be happening down the hall.
Mission of:
The 'Charter of 1606', also known as the First Charter of Virginia, is a document from King James I of England to the Virginia Company assigning land rights to colonists for the stated purpose of propagating the Christian religion.
The United Kingdom to the UN - We shall make the UK more secure and prosperous by making the UN more effective and efficient at delivering peace, sustainable development, human rights, justice and humanitarian assistance.
The Enchanted Kingdom in the Philippines - We provide magical experiences
The Magic Kingdom - Deliver unforgettable experiences that keep every member of the family of friends longing to return.
Space: The final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.
Jesus came to earth to live, die, be buried and rise again so that the KoG could come
Then he gave his followers their mission.
Jesus came and told His disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20 NLT
Many followers misunderstand Jesus’ command
Supporting missions – here a missionary --- encourage them, pray for them, take their prayer card and give
As if the Great Commission or the Mission is for a few specially chosen or willing people.
Jesus Commissioned every person who yields to his kingship – representatives/emissaries/missionaries
The ‘mission’ – extend the KoG – invite people to join the Kingdom
GO
What Jesus actually says:
As you go on your way …
As you go about living life …
As you go to work, care for children, look after your pets, sit in class or eat lunch at a restaurant
MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS
Invite people/call people/encourage people – to surrender to the King
Listen to Wayne Barrett’s description of how this gets walked out:
What does this advance look like? Well, it looks like farmers and ranchers and business people and teachers and civil servants and truckers and grocers and manufacturers and laborers and executives and scientists and musicians and physicians and attorneys and sailors and ministers, just for starters.
It looks like all sorts of people from all sorts of cultures with all sorts of personalities and gifts and interests and pursuits. But there is a common thread in all of these people as God’s Kingdom is advanced and that common thread is the very goodness of God Himself, given to us in Christ. Wayne Barrett
Inviting people into God’s goodness ...
Telling people of God’s goodness …
Praying God’s goodness into people’s lives ...
The Apostle Paul described the mission this way:
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has
committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 5:19-20 (NIV)
Then teach them to obey all of Jesus’ teachings
Teaching people in our lives what to obey … Necessitates that we live as students of the Kings writings
We have the King’s writings so we know what to obey
We’ve been commissioned to teach others the writings of the King
Hindrances to fulfilling the mission
Tension between IMPORTANT and URGENT
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
You don't really know what you are saying …
Following me will require way more than you imagine…
It will not be easy …
To follow me the way I demand will take GRIT...
He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Jesus’ comment seems so harsh
How could Jesus say this kind of thing?
He wasn't being unkind … Rude …
Emphasizing the IMPORTANCE of the KoG
Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:57-62 (NIV)
Sounds rather harsh … Demanding … Uncaring
Lacking compassion or empathy
Once someone is commissioned to make disciples
Once someone begins following Jesus and teaching others to obey -- don't look back
The last two interactions describe the tension between the IMPORTANT and the URGENT
What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important. Dwight D. Eisenhower
Followers of Jesus who have all kinds of credibility but don't say much about Jesus.
All kinds of credibility – They are living a life of love, integrity, warm, life
Seeking to live life like Jesus
They have credibility but are hesitant to talk …
Their motto might be heard in the words of Saint Francis
Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words. Francis of Assisi
They are preaching the Gospel with their lives BUT the mission includes the MESSAGE
Idea of conversation starters:
When I was going through that … Compassion
I was reading a book recently … Builds relationships
I appreciate our friendship …
Then when Jesus gives opportunity … You can share your story
I have a family member --- a few years spent time together --- gave him a book that we read at the same time --- thoroughly enjoy spending time with him --- recently he asked me a question about Jesus --- I had the opportunity to tell the story of how I came to faith
Followers of Jesus who talk about Jesus but have lost most of their credibility.
The more someone is transformed - the more and more God-likeness will flow through them
More goodness, kindness, justice, mercy, forgiveness, generosity, patience, joy, and more love in character and in living.
I don't know if you are familiar with these words from the Spirit spoken through the OT Prophet Micah
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 (NIV)
A person can talk about Jesus but if their life lacks credibility their talk is not believable
The hear thinks: He doesn't really believe all this stuff. He can't. If he did he wouldn't do that and that. His attitude wouldn't stink like that.
Walking the talk
Years ago I had a family member that was – talking the talk BUT NOT walking the walk.
Some other family members said to me … ‘He talks it but you live it.’
They were referring to credibility.
Last year at the fair … Interacted with over the last few years
Gave him John Ortberg’s – Who is this Man?
“You know I don't agree with you on a lot of things but I admire your church because you guys are living what Jesus taught.”
He was referring to credibility.
Here’s how credibility worked in the Apostle Paul’s heart:
Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.
To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NIV)
Wrap up
Each of us need to allow Jesus to help us sort out IMPORTANT and URGENT
Getting the ice cream at the store might be URGENT but if you bump into someone that interruption might be IMPORTANT
What if Jesus is arranging an opportunity to serve someone – building credibility or a chance to say something?
As followers of Jesus we can't let the URGENT displace the IMPORTANT
Some of us have piles of credibility but need to look for opportunities to speak.
Some of us need to speak less and spend sometime building credibility.
Let me close with these words of the Apostle Paul
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:9-15 (NIV)