Sunday Sermonizing: Applications and Implications of Kingdom
This is soon to be a sermon preached.
These are at least some of the applications and implications from the Kingdom parables in Matthew 13.
Not everything we think is Kingdom is actually Kingdom.
And conversely: not everything we think to be weeds are actually weeds.
We live in an incredibly polarized society right now - and not just in America, but around the globe. So, in light of these Kingdom parables, let’s not be so quick to judge and put into a box - because it’s really easy to confuse the wheat and weeds.
There’s been a lot damage done over the centuries because of this confusion.
Learn to live with the thrill, heartache, and hope of the overlap.
There is a Kingdom coming
and that brings wild hope.
There is a Kingdom not here
which often results in crushing heartache (but with joy).
There is a Kingdom here
which is thrilling and exhilarating.
Learn to live in this tension.
Think Global. God is.
It’s impossible to think about the Kingdom of God without thinking about peoples and nations - because people’s and nations are the basis for the beauty of the Kingdom. This Kingdom is way bigger than any one political system or ideology, it’s bigger than countries and borders and walls.
And this Kingdom is happening now.
I wonder if we believe this?
If the president of the United States and the Prime Minister of France and Emir of Saudi Arabia and the High Leader of China and North Korea knew and believed what we sing every year at Christmas and Easter - there would be an immediate global ban of Christians and Christianity.
The Kingdoms of this world will become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ - and He shall reign forever.
Every seat of power, every abuse of power, and every injustice will come down and all bow to at the feet of Jesus. For people with power, that’s terrifying.
But they don’t know. And Jesus isn’t doing this with a show of force and power.
