SERMON
NOTES

The gospel – the ‘good news,’ – Jesus proclaimed was about the Kingdom of God. Jesus’ coming as God’s Messiah (=anointed/sent One) was God stepping into history as King. Everything that he said and did between his humble birth in Bethlehem and his cruel, unjust death in Jerusalem was a picture of the new reality of God becoming King among us. Jesus’ teaching, his miracles, his conflict and victory over evil/demonic spirits, and finally his death (with him generously forgiving his killers) and resurrection – all point to this new kind of Kingdom, and its King that is among us (Luke 17:21).

Week 1 Focus: The world God created is where he wants his idea of “kingship” to be experienced. That is a running theme throughout Old Testament chronology. Until finally, that kingship breaks through into history through the coming of the servant-king Jesus, who announces the Kingdom.

• The Call of the Kingdom – Repent and believe the Gospel (Mark 1:15) - Follow ME
• The Presence of the Kingdom – It is here, among us (Mark 1:15; Luke 17:20-21)

But a Kingship that is very, very different

• A king born in a manger, not a palace
• A king riding on a donkey, not a horse (Palm Sunday)
• A king who comes to show what true authority is – strength in meekness that washes his disciples’ feet (John 13)
• A king who gave his life for his subjects, and did not demand his subjects’ lives (John 10)

But the Kingdom is definitely IN the world. Where? Within DUMC –
Out in a foreign – and often hostile – land, as an Embassy, that represents and reflects its kingdom and its government/king, but is not the kingdom

Out in a landless – and often raging – sea, as an Ark, as a sanctuary that holds the vulnerable and their guardians.
Neither is meant to be permanent, though they point to / represent the permanent through what, or who is contained in them.
How does God grow his Kingdom in the world?

• God grows his Kingdom in ways that are perceived (Mark 4:26-29)
• Jesus uses the parable of the growing seed to illustrate how God grows his Kingdom
• Sowing/scattering of seed: The initiative God takes in working his Gospel through people and circumstances into our generation
• Sprouting & growing: The not-so-obvious deep working of his Spirit in willing disciples that begin to show in changed lives
• Grain produced – stalk, head, full kernel: The fruit of the Spirit showing obviously as the tangible fruit of the Kingdom-servants who are part of the church
• All the while, the farmer (not God in the parable) does little to make things happen (except provide water, etc.). All he sees is the growth, and he celebrates at the harvest.
• That is what seems obvious and perceivable to the world.
• That is God building/growing his Kingdom.

But what is happening in what cannot be seen?
 
God working in his Kingdom according to his promise (Ezekiel 36:22-30,36)

• The details of God’s “inner working” was promised about 600 years before Jesus came – how Servant-King Jesus would do that work of building his Kingdom
• “I will take you out…and gather you” (v.24): King Jesus came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:1)
• “I will sprinkle clean water…I will cleanse you” (v.25): Servant Jesus to Peter, “Unless I wash you, you can have no part of me” (John 13:8)
• “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (v.26): 

Zacchaeus to Jesus: “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”  Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house” (Luke 19:8-9)
“I will put my Spirit in you…and I will be your God” (vs.27-28): Jesus to the disciples: “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate, the Spirit of truth, to help you and be with you forever… My Father will love you, and we will come to you and make our home with you” (John 14:16,23)

Ezekiel says the nations (or Gentiles) will see that YHWH has rebuilt what was destroyed and replanted what was desolate. In other words, God’s Kingdom, King Jesus’ reign, is all about grand reversals.

These reversals are shown in his Kingdom representations – his “Ark,” the Kingdom “Embassy” – King Jesus’ followers that make up his Church.

It is God who does it – from first to last.

Of course, we as Kingdom-servants have a part to play…stay tuned in for it next week!!