Kingdom Builders (Contemporary Worship 9/13/26)

Paul’s words in Ephesians 5 call God’s people to be “very careful” how they live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. Time stands out as one of God’s greatest gifts because every person receives the same twenty-four hours, the same 1,440 minutes, the same 86,400 seconds. The hourglass reminds every person that this gift will run out on this side of heaven, and the real question becomes: How is God’s gift of time being spent, and is it being squandered?

Distractions bid for attention all day long. Streaming shows, football, social media, work, sporting events, and a hundred other good or not-so-good things can quietly consume hours before anybody notices. Paul’s call to “make the most of every opportunity” can also be heard as “redeem the time.” Wise living takes an honest inventory of what fills the day and refuses to use busyness as an excuse for neglecting prayer, Scripture, and the walk with God.

Susannah Wesley offers a picture of redeemed time. Her life held ten children, poverty, cooking, cleaning, teaching, gardening, and chaos, yet she found an hour each evening to pray and read Scripture. Her apron over her head became the family’s signal that Mom was meeting with the Lord. That hidden, faithful time helped ground John and Charles Wesley and the revival that followed. God’s kingdom is often built through time that looks small but is given fully to Him.

Paul’s language also points to two kinds of time. Kronos is measurable calendar time, the time on a watch and the dates that mark births, weddings, and events. Kairos is a divine appointment, an opportunity where a person’s journey intersects with God’s kingdom work. Christ’s coming was both: a real historical birth and the fullness of time, the fulfillment of God’s redeeming purpose.

God’s will calls believers to discern those kairos moments: inviting a neighbor, bringing someone to church or Alpha, serving the broken, sharing the love of Jesus, and stepping into the opportunities God puts right in front of them. Romans 12 reminds the church that conformity to the world is foolish living, while Scripture and prayer renew the mind to test and approve God’s will. Kingdom builders redeem the time, discern the moment, and seek God’s will day by day.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Time is God’s equal gift
  Time does not arrive according to talent, income, position, or personality. Every day places the same gift into every pair of hands, even though each life carries different burdens and responsibilities. The question is not whether enough time exists for everything desired, but whether time is being offered back to God for what matters eternally. [45:33]
• 2. Redeem the time, don’t drift
  Distraction rarely announces itself as rebellion. It usually looks like one more episode, one more game, one more scroll, or one more excuse to postpone prayer and Scripture. Redeeming time means refusing to let the loudest thing in the room determine the shape of a life. [52:28]
• 3. Hidden prayer builds lasting kingdom work
  Susannah Wesley’s hour beneath the apron did not look impressive in the moment. Yet that quiet faithfulness helped form lives that would help spark a movement and write hymns still sung today. God often does His deepest kingdom work through ordinary people who guard time to meet with Him. [55:48]
• 4. Kairos moments require spiritual attention
  God places moments before His people that cannot be measured merely by a clock. A conversation, an invitation, a need, or a neighbor may become an opening into somebody’s salvation and healing. Discernment keeps believers awake to where God is already moving and ready to step in. [59:11]
• 5. Scripture renews minds for God’s will
  God’s will is not discovered by simply following the pattern of the world. Prayer and Scripture place every decision under God’s truth and expose what is wise, foolish, faithful, or distracting. Kingdom builders seek more than a busy life; they seek a life shaped by God’s purposes. [1:06:16]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [33:18] - Global Methodist Church Conference Update
• [34:30] - The Beauty of Holiness
• [35:35] - Articles of Faith and Social Witness
• [37:25] - New Bishops and Global Growth
• [39:08] - Kingdom Builders Series Begins
• [42:41] - Time as God’s Great Gift
• [44:48] - The Question of Squandering Time
• [51:34] - Redeem the Time
• [53:33] - Susannah Wesley’s Faithful Example
• [57:47] - Kronos and Kairos
• [1:02:20] - Divine Opportunities for Kingdom Building
• [1:05:13] - Understanding God’s Will
• [1:09:18] - Prayer Invitation

Bible Reading

Ephesians 5:15-17
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” [42:54]

Romans 12:2
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” [01:06:05]

Galatians 4:4-5
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” [01:02:38]

Observation questions

1. In Ephesians 5:15-17, what contrasts does Paul make between wise and unwise living, and what does he connect with understanding the Lord’s will? [51:50]
2. What kinds of distractions were named as things that can quietly take up large amounts of time?
3. What did Susannah Wesley’s daily life include, and what specific practice did she protect in the middle of her responsibilities? [55:10]
4. How were kronos and kairos described, and what are some examples of a kairos opportunity? [59:02]

Interpretation questions

1. Paul says that believers should “make the best use of the time” because the days are evil. How can ordinary distractions become spiritually harmful even when the activity itself is not always wrong? [52:54]
2. Susannah Wesley’s hidden hour of prayer and Scripture shaped her family over time. What does her example suggest about the value of small, consistent time with God? [56:07]
3. A kairos moment is an opportunity where a person’s life intersects with God’s kingdom work. How might a believer recognize that a conversation, invitation, or need is more than an interruption? [59:11]
4. Romans 12:2 connects knowing God’s will with a renewed mind. Why are prayer and Scripture necessary for a believer who is trying to decide how to use time wisely? [01:06:22]

Application questions

1. Looking honestly at the past week, what activity most easily consumed more time than intended—streaming, sports, social media, work, worry, or something else? What effect did it have on time with God or with people who matter? [50:24]
2. What would it look like to take a simple inventory of a typical day or week? Is there one regular habit that could be limited or reshaped to make room for prayer, Scripture, rest, or serving someone else? [53:33]
3. Susannah Wesley guarded an hour with the Lord in a busy and difficult life. What realistic time and place could become a protected meeting place with God in this season? [55:49]
4. Is there a person nearby—at home, work, school, or in the neighborhood—who may be hurting, lonely, or spiritually searching? What might be one gracious next step: listening, praying, offering help, or inviting that person to church or Alpha? [01:00:06]
5. Think of a recent interruption, conversation, or need that was easy to dismiss because life was busy. Could it have been a kairos moment? How might greater attentiveness to God change the response next time? [01:02:09]
6. When facing decisions about commitments, entertainment, spending time, or serving others, what Scripture or prayer practice could help test whether the choice fits God’s will rather than simply the pattern of the world? [01:06:30]
7. What is one specific change to make this week in order to redeem the time, discern an opportunity from God, and grow closer to Jesus? [01:09:03]