Aligning Our Kingdoms with God's Will

 

Summary

In our journey through life, we often find ourselves entangled in the complexities of human kingdoms, which are deeply rooted in social structures. These kingdoms, whether they manifest in education, technology, or economics, often spiral out of control, leading to chaos and sin. The human solution to these problems is frequently education, but the question remains: education in what? Jesus, as the world's primary educator, offers a transformative education that is intertwined with grace, aiming to change lives fundamentally. His teachings invite us to understand the kingdom of God as the range of God's effective will, contrasting sharply with the self-centered kingdoms we often build.

Children, in their innocence, provide a clear illustration of kingdom dynamics. From a young age, they engage in kingdom struggles, learning to navigate relationships and conflicts. This mirrors the broader human experience, where personal kingdoms clash, whether in families, marriages, or economic systems. The story of Wall Street and figures like Mr. Madoff exemplify how these clashes can lead to destruction and the extension of one's kingdom at the expense of others. Money, in this context, becomes a tool to expand one's reach and influence, often leading to moral and ethical dilemmas.

The challenge for us is to recognize the kingdom within us and how it conflicts with God's kingdom. Our personal ambitions and desires often threaten the divine will, leading to a life of constant struggle and conflict. The call is to align our kingdoms with God's, allowing His will to guide our actions and decisions. This alignment requires a deep understanding of what it means to live in God's kingdom, where love, grace, and humility prevail over selfishness and greed.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Social Nature of Human Kingdoms: Our lives are deeply intertwined with social structures, and nearly everything we do is influenced by them. Education, technology, and economics are all part of this social fabric, but they often spiral out of control, leading to chaos. The challenge is to recognize these dynamics and seek solutions that align with God's kingdom. [00:23]

2. Jesus as the Primary Educator: Jesus offers a transformative education that goes beyond mere knowledge. His teachings, infused with grace, aim to change lives fundamentally. Understanding Jesus as an educator helps us grasp the essence of the kingdom of God and its impact on our lives. [01:51]

3. Children and Kingdom Dynamics: Children naturally engage in kingdom struggles, learning to navigate relationships and conflicts. This mirrors the broader human experience, where personal kingdoms clash, whether in families or economic systems. Observing children can teach us valuable lessons about living in harmony with others. [02:32]

4. The Clash of Personal Kingdoms: Our personal ambitions often conflict with God's kingdom, leading to struggles and conflicts. Recognizing this clash is crucial for aligning our lives with God's will, where love and humility prevail over selfishness. [03:11]

5. Money as a Tool for Kingdom Expansion: Money extends our reach and influence, often leading to moral dilemmas. It can become a tool for expanding our personal kingdoms at the expense of others, highlighting the need for ethical considerations in our financial decisions. [04:22]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:23] - The Social Nature of Human Kingdoms
[00:45] - Technology and Chaos
[01:08] - Education as a Solution
[01:51] - Jesus, the World's Educator
[02:17] - Understanding God's Kingdom
[02:32] - Children and Kingdom Dynamics
[02:52] - Teaching Harmony
[03:11] - The Clash of Personal Kingdoms
[03:31] - Economic Kingdom Clashes
[03:59] - The Story of Mr. Madoff
[04:22] - Money and Kingdom Expansion
[04:41] - Conclusion

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 18:1-4 - Jesus uses children as an example of humility and greatness in the kingdom of heaven.
2. Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
3. Luke 12:15 - "Then he said to them, 'Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.'"

#### Observation Questions
1. How does the sermon describe the nature of human kingdoms and their impact on our lives? [00:23]
2. What role does Jesus play as an educator in the context of the kingdom of God? [01:51]
3. How do children illustrate the dynamics of kingdom struggles according to the sermon? [02:32]
4. What example from the sermon highlights the clash of personal kingdoms in economic systems? [03:31]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our personal ambitions conflict with God's kingdom? [03:11]
2. How does the concept of money as a tool for kingdom expansion challenge our ethical and moral decisions? [04:22]
3. What lessons can be learned from observing children about living in harmony with others, as mentioned in the sermon? [02:52]
4. How does the sermon define the kingdom of God, and what implications does this have for our daily lives? [02:17]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your personal ambitions. How might they be clashing with God's kingdom in your life? What steps can you take to align them more closely with God's will? [03:11]
2. Consider your financial decisions. Are there areas where you might be using money to expand your personal kingdom at the expense of others? How can you make more ethical choices? [04:22]
3. Think about a recent conflict in your family or workplace. How can the lessons from children about kingdom dynamics help you navigate these relationships more harmoniously? [02:32]
4. In what ways can you seek first the kingdom of God in your daily routine? Identify one specific change you can make this week to prioritize God's kingdom. [01:08]
5. How can you incorporate Jesus' teachings as the world's primary educator into your personal growth and education? What is one area of your life where you can apply his transformative education? [01:51]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt your personal kingdom was threatened. How did you respond, and how might you respond differently in light of the sermon? [03:11]
7. Identify a situation where you can practice humility and grace, as exemplified by children, in your interactions with others this week. [02:52]

Devotional

Day 1: The Influence of Social Structures
In our lives, we are deeply embedded within social structures that shape our actions and decisions. These structures, encompassing education, technology, and economics, often spiral into chaos, leading us away from God's intended path. Recognizing these dynamics is crucial for seeking solutions that align with the kingdom of God. By understanding the social nature of human kingdoms, we can begin to discern how they influence our lives and how we might redirect our focus toward God's kingdom. [00:23]

"For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere." (James 3:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a social structure in your life that often leads to chaos. How can you seek God's wisdom to navigate it differently today?


Day 2: Jesus' Transformative Education
Jesus, as the world's primary educator, offers a transformative education that transcends mere knowledge. His teachings, infused with grace, aim to fundamentally change lives by inviting us to understand the kingdom of God as the range of God's effective will. This education challenges us to move beyond self-centered pursuits and align our lives with divine principles. By embracing Jesus' teachings, we can grasp the essence of God's kingdom and its profound impact on our lives. [01:51]

"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.'" (Mark 16:15-16, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you need Jesus' transformative education. How can you actively seek His teachings to bring about change in that area today?


Day 3: Learning from Children
Children, in their innocence, naturally engage in kingdom struggles, learning to navigate relationships and conflicts. This mirrors the broader human experience, where personal kingdoms clash in families, marriages, and economic systems. Observing children can teach us valuable lessons about living in harmony with others and understanding the dynamics of God's kingdom. By embracing the simplicity and purity of a child's perspective, we can learn to navigate our own kingdom struggles with grace and humility. [02:32]

"Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." (Mark 10:15, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent conflict or struggle in your life. How can adopting a childlike perspective help you approach it with grace and humility today?


Day 4: Aligning Personal Ambitions with God's Kingdom
Our personal ambitions and desires often conflict with God's kingdom, leading to struggles and conflicts. Recognizing this clash is crucial for aligning our lives with God's will, where love, grace, and humility prevail over selfishness and greed. By examining our ambitions and desires, we can identify areas where they threaten the divine will and seek to align them with God's kingdom. This alignment requires a deep understanding of what it means to live in God's kingdom and a commitment to letting His will guide our actions and decisions. [03:11]

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a personal ambition that conflicts with God's kingdom. What steps can you take today to align it with His will?


Day 5: Ethical Considerations in Financial Decisions
Money, as a tool for expanding personal kingdoms, often leads to moral and ethical dilemmas. It can become a means of extending one's reach and influence at the expense of others, highlighting the need for ethical considerations in our financial decisions. By examining how we use money, we can ensure that our financial choices align with God's kingdom and reflect His values of love, grace, and humility. This requires a commitment to ethical decision-making and a willingness to prioritize God's will over personal gain. [04:22]

"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent financial decision. How can you ensure that your future financial choices align with God's kingdom and reflect His values?

Quotes

"See that's what the kingdom of man does it gets out of control and of course more deeply at the level of sin which becomes socially organized and has to be dealt with in terms of what what's the answer to sin well the only answer you will hear from the human point of view is education what is the answer to all of the problems of education education education that would be true if you were getting the right education but education in what when Jesus comes to announce the availability of the kingdom of God he is the world's primary educator." [00:58:44]

"Jesus comes to announce the availability of the kingdom of God he is the world's primary educator and if you have trouble thinking of him in that connection please stretch your concepts a bit because the force of Jesus in the world has been mainly through education that went with grace to transform life well don't get off of that now but if you honor us understand what the kingdom of God is the range of God's effective will you have to start with what a kingdom is in your best way of understanding that is to know your kingdom." [01:38:11]

"The easiest people to teach us our kids because believe me they know about it all they need is a word for it but they're in the kingdom struggles from the start if you have more than one child in your home you know how the king of the kingdoms clash and a main part of what you have to teach them is how to live with one another how to live with other people if you read the little Calvin book you'll remember that in one passage he talks says every man carries a kingdom in his breast." [02:26:56]

"The main threat to God's kingdom in my life is me and my kingdom and that's the human story and that's you watch marriages and families and economic situations and so on his kingdoms clashing what happened on Wall Street a bunch of kingdoms ran amok and destroyed some other ones Mr. Madoff who must have been named by God I mean that can't be an accident he made off with it but now you see what was that's kingdom stuff now he learned how to work with powers in order to ruin the lives of thousands of 1000s of people." [03:11:12]

"Money is a way of extending your kingdom if you have a little money you can go to a funny-looking building on the street and get someone to give you a hamburger otherwise you'll have to take a gun with you if you want a hamburger." [04:14:38]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?