Active Participation in God's Kingdom Mission
Summary
Today, we gathered to celebrate the incredible work God is doing through our community at Gateway Church. As we continue our series, "Thy Kingdom Come," we reflect on the profound invitation Jesus extends to us in Matthew 6:9-10. When Jesus taught us to pray, "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven," He wasn't just giving us words to recite. He was inviting us into a mission—a mission that requires our active participation. This prayer is a call to action, urging us to be vessels through which God's kingdom manifests in our homes, workplaces, and communities.
We explored the story of the feeding of the 5,000, where Jesus took a small offering and multiplied it to meet the needs of many. This miracle illustrates the exponential returns that come when we sow into God's kingdom. It challenges us to let go of our plans and trust God with what we have, knowing that He can do immeasurably more than we can imagine. As Christ's ambassadors, we are called to plant seeds in our fields, using our gifts and resources to further His kingdom.
Celebration Sunday is a testament to the power of saying "yes" to God's call. We've seen 86 new visitors, 14 new partners, and 13 commitments to follow Jesus. We've baptized 14 individuals, including my daughter and nephew, and dedicated nine babies to the Lord. Our community has rallied together, with 323 volunteers serving in various capacities. We've sent mission teams to Honduras and are preparing for trips to Mexico and Africa. These efforts demonstrate our commitment to being a church that doesn't just talk about God's kingdom but actively participates in its expansion.
Our work extends beyond our walls, as we partner with local and international organizations to meet tangible needs. From providing hotel accommodations for a family in crisis to supporting rehabilitation programs, we are living out James 2:15-17, ensuring our faith is accompanied by action. We are committed to being a church that not only prays but also acts, showing God's love in practical ways.
As we celebrate these achievements, we are reminded that the ultimate goal is life transformation. Baptism is a powerful symbol of this change, an outward declaration of an inward transformation. Each person baptized today stands on the foundation laid by others who have served, given, and loved. This is God's kingdom coming to earth, and we are privileged to be a part of it.
Key Takeaways:
1. Active Participation in God's Kingdom: Jesus' invitation to pray "Your kingdom come" is a call to action, urging us to be active participants in bringing God's will to earth. This requires us to ask, "What is my role in this mission?" and to be willing to let God work through us in our daily lives. [39:15]
2. Exponential Returns from Kingdom Investments: The story of the feeding of the 5,000 teaches us that when we offer what we have to God, He can multiply it beyond our expectations. This principle encourages us to trust God with our resources, knowing that our small contributions can lead to significant kingdom impact. [43:06]
3. Planting Seeds in Our Fields: As Christ's ambassadors, we are called to plant seeds in our fields, using our unique gifts and resources to further God's kingdom. This involves being intentional with what we have and where we are, trusting that God will bring growth and transformation. [48:16]
4. Faith Accompanied by Action: James 2:15-17 reminds us that faith without action is dead. Our commitment to God's kingdom involves meeting tangible needs and demonstrating God's love in practical ways, ensuring that our faith is lived out in service to others. [01:04:16]
5. Life Transformation through Baptism: Baptism is a powerful symbol of the life transformation that occurs when we say "yes" to Jesus. It represents an outward declaration of an inward change, and each baptism is a testament to the seeds planted by others who have served and loved faithfully. [01:11:01]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction to Celebration Sunday
- [01:45] - Thy Kingdom Come Series Overview
- [03:20] - The Invitation of the Lord's Prayer
- [05:10] - Active Participation in God's Mission
- [07:00] - The Story of the Feeding of the 5,000
- [09:30] - Exponential Returns in God's Kingdom
- [11:45] - Planting Seeds in Our Fields
- [14:00] - Faith and Action: James 2:15-17
- [16:30] - Celebrating Gateway's Achievements
- [19:00] - Local and International Mission Efforts
- [21:15] - Life Transformation through Baptism
- [23:00] - Closing Prayer and Reflection
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 6:9-10 - "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.'"
2. John 6:12-13 - "When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, 'Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.' So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten."
3. James 2:15-17 - "Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
Observation Questions:
1. What does Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:9-10 suggest about the nature of prayer and our role in God's kingdom? [39:15]
2. In the story of the feeding of the 5,000, what actions did Jesus instruct the disciples to take, and what was the outcome? [43:06]
3. How does James 2:15-17 challenge the way we live out our faith in practical terms? [01:04:16]
4. What were some of the specific achievements and activities celebrated during Gateway Church's Celebration Sunday? [50:27]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the invitation to pray "Your kingdom come" in Matthew 6:9-10 serve as a call to action for believers? [39:15]
2. What does the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 teach us about trusting God with our resources and the potential for exponential returns? [43:06]
3. How does the concept of being Christ's ambassadors, as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 5:20, relate to our responsibility in expanding God's kingdom? [48:16]
4. In what ways does James 2:15-17 emphasize the importance of faith being accompanied by action, and how can this be applied in a church community? [01:04:16]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your daily life. How can you actively participate in bringing God's kingdom to your home, workplace, or community? [39:15]
2. Consider a resource or talent you have. How can you offer it to God, trusting Him to multiply it for His kingdom's work? [43:06]
3. Identify a specific need in your community. How can you take action to meet that need, demonstrating your faith through works? [01:04:16]
4. Think about a time when you felt called to let go of your plans and trust God. How did that experience impact your faith journey? [43:06]
5. How can you be more intentional in planting seeds for God's kingdom in your current environment, using the gifts and resources you have? [48:16]
6. Reflect on the recent achievements at Gateway Church. How can you contribute to similar efforts in your church or community? [50:27]
7. Baptism is an outward declaration of an inward transformation. How can you support others in their journey of faith and transformation? [01:11:01]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Our Role in God's Mission
Jesus' invitation to pray "Your kingdom come" is not merely a call to recite words but a profound call to action. It urges believers to actively participate in bringing God's will to earth. This requires each person to ask, "What is my role in this mission?" and to be willing to let God work through them in their daily lives. The prayer is a reminder that God's kingdom is not a distant reality but something that can manifest here and now through our actions and choices. By embracing this call, we become vessels through which God's love and justice can flow into the world. [39:15]
Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV): "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Reflection: What specific action can you take today to actively participate in God's mission in your community or workplace?
Day 2: Trusting God with Our Offerings
The story of the feeding of the 5,000 illustrates the exponential returns that come when we offer what we have to God. Jesus took a small offering and multiplied it to meet the needs of many, showing that God can do immeasurably more than we can imagine. This principle encourages believers to trust God with their resources, knowing that even small contributions can lead to significant kingdom impact. By letting go of our plans and trusting God, we open ourselves to the possibility of witnessing His miraculous provision and abundance. [43:06]
2 Corinthians 9:10-11 (ESV): "He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God."
Reflection: What is one resource or talent you have been hesitant to offer to God? How can you trust Him with it today?
Day 3: Planting Seeds with Purpose
As Christ's ambassadors, believers are called to plant seeds in their fields, using their unique gifts and resources to further God's kingdom. This involves being intentional with what they have and where they are, trusting that God will bring growth and transformation. By recognizing the potential in their everyday actions and interactions, believers can contribute to the expansion of God's kingdom in meaningful ways. This intentionality requires a willingness to invest time, energy, and resources into the lives of others, knowing that God will use these efforts to bring about His purposes. [48:16]
Galatians 6:9-10 (ESV): "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."
Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally plant seeds of faith or kindness in your community this week?
Day 4: Living Faith Through Action
James 2:15-17 reminds believers that faith without action is dead. The commitment to God's kingdom involves meeting tangible needs and demonstrating God's love in practical ways. This means ensuring that faith is lived out in service to others, not just in words but in deeds. By partnering with local and international organizations, believers can address real-world issues and make a difference in the lives of those in need. This active faith is a testament to the transformative power of God's love and a reflection of His kingdom on earth. [01:04:16]
1 John 3:17-18 (ESV): "But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."
Reflection: Identify a tangible need in your community. How can you take a step to meet that need this week, demonstrating your faith through action?
Day 5: The Transformative Power of Baptism
Baptism is a powerful symbol of the life transformation that occurs when individuals say "yes" to Jesus. It represents an outward declaration of an inward change, and each baptism is a testament to the seeds planted by others who have served and loved faithfully. This transformation is not just a personal journey but a communal celebration of God's kingdom coming to earth. By witnessing and participating in baptisms, believers are reminded of the ongoing work of God in their lives and the lives of others, encouraging them to continue planting seeds of faith and love. [01:11:01]
Colossians 2:12 (ESV): "Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead."
Reflection: Reflect on your own spiritual journey. How has your life been transformed by saying "yes" to Jesus, and how can you share this transformation with others?
Quotes
"When we're praying for God's kingdom to come and God's will to be done, what we're really saying, and so we have to be careful, we have to know this, is we're praying for God to move through me. What is my role in this mission? This is where it gets real. And this is where the kingdom starts showing up." [00:38:50] (19 seconds)
"So kingdom, the kingdom, isn't just about power and position, but it's also about service. We are seated with Christ. We have this authority and responsibility. And we know that it's about service as well because, remember, in 2 Corinthians 5, 20, it says this. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us." [00:40:32] (24 seconds)
"When we set our plans aside, and we sow into the kingdom, we do what God is asking us to do, there will always be exponential return. Now, we may not always see it, but based on Scripture, we know that it's there. It may be something that other people get to experience." [00:45:12] (22 seconds)
"As Christ's ambassadors, our job is to plant in our fields. As Christ's ambassadors, our job is to work for the kingdom where we are with what we have. Don't miss this. Because we can sit back and we can wait for God to work. Or we can do what it's saying right here. Use what we have where we are." [00:47:49] (24 seconds)
"Gateway doesn't have so many missionaries. What Gateway thinks, the mindset that we have in this place is we are all missionaries. We are all ministers of the gospel. We're using what God has gifted us with, and we're going to use that to build the kingdom." [00:53:48] (15 seconds)
"James 2, 15-17. Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. And if one of you says to them, go in peace, keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? We will not be at the church that says, oh, that stinks for you. We're going to pray for you." [01:04:30] (18 seconds)
"Everything we celebrated today, every story, every number, every mission trip, every need met, it all points to one thing. God's kingdom coming to the earth through ordinary people who said yes. God's kingdom coming to the earth through ordinary people who said yes." [01:07:11] (22 seconds)
"Baptism is more than just a religious ritual. It's an outward declaration of an inward transformation. And it's somebody saying, I belong to Jesus and I am part of his kingdom now. And I'm letting everybody know. This is who I am." [01:10:04] (20 seconds)
"And here's the beautiful thing. And I said this a minute ago. But every person getting baptized today, every person that's baptized at Gateway, is standing on ground that someone else helped prepare. Like when that parable about the mustard seed. This thing grows into something huge so that birds can come and perch and rest." [01:10:51] (21 seconds)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?