by Fleming Island United Methodist Church on Aug 25, 2024
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound journey from the Old Testament to the New Testament, focusing on the covenants God made with key figures like Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David. Each covenant represented a step in God's long redemption plan, which began in Eden and culminated in the New Testament with Jesus Christ. Adam's covenant was about living in perfect harmony with God, which was broken, leading to a world in need of redemption. Noah's covenant brought peace and a fresh start, while Abraham's covenant promised a vast lineage and a holy land. Moses' covenant introduced the law and the power of God, and David's covenant promised an everlasting kingdom, which found its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus.
We discussed how the kingdom of God has evolved from a physical nation to a spiritual reality that transcends geographical boundaries. Jesus' teachings, particularly the parable of the wheat and the weeds, illustrate this shift. The kingdom of God is now wherever God's people are, and it includes everyone, not just the Israelites. This new covenant through Jesus brings a new creation, where we are all part of God's kingdom, living in the "already but not yet" reality of God's promises.
The sermon also emphasized the importance of community and connection within our church. We are part of a connectional denomination, which means we support and are supported by other United Methodist churches. This connection allows us to grow and receive resources that enrich our spiritual lives. We were reminded of the importance of supporting church ministries through offerings and prayer requests, and we were encouraged to participate in upcoming events like the Pork Butt fundraiser and the new sermon series.
### Key Takeaways
1. **The Long Redemption Plan**: God's plan for redemption started in Eden and has been unfolding through various covenants with key figures like Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David. Each covenant built upon the previous one, leading to the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. This plan shows God's unwavering commitment to restoring humanity to a perfect relationship with Him. [30:43]
2. **The Kingdom of God**: The kingdom of God has shifted from a physical nation to a spiritual reality that includes all believers. Jesus' parable of the wheat and the weeds illustrates that the kingdom is now wherever God's people are, and it includes everyone, not just the Israelites. This shift challenges us to see God's kingdom as a global, inclusive community. [43:52]
3. **Living in the New Covenant**: Through Jesus, we are part of a new creation and a new covenant that fulfills all previous covenants. We are children of Abraham, David, Moses, and Noah, living in the "already but not yet" reality of God's promises. This new covenant calls us to live as ambassadors of God's kingdom, spreading His love and grace to all. [47:44]
4. **Community and Connection**: Being part of a connectional denomination means we support and are supported by other United Methodist churches. This connection enriches our spiritual lives and allows us to grow together. Supporting church ministries through offerings and prayer requests is crucial for maintaining this connection and fostering a strong, united community. [24:52]
5. **The Importance of Participation**: Engaging in church activities, such as the Pork Butt fundraiser and the new sermon series, helps us stay connected and grow in our faith. These events provide opportunities for fellowship, learning, and spiritual growth. Active participation in church life strengthens our community and deepens our relationship with God. [01:08:13]
### YouTube Chapters
1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [22:47] - Pork Butt Fundraiser Announcement
3. [23:29] - Importance of Buying Tickets
4. [24:08] - Connectional Denomination
5. [24:52] - Supporting Church Ministries
6. [25:40] - Prayer Requests
7. [26:56] - Transition to New Testament
8. [30:01] - Review of Old Testament Covenants
9. [30:43] - Adam's Covenant
10. [31:32] - Noah's Covenant
11. [32:29] - Abraham's Covenant
12. [33:25] - Moses' Covenant
13. [34:22] - David's Covenant
14. [35:04] - Division of the Kingdom
15. [37:01] - Exile and Return
16. [38:40] - Setting of the New Covenant
17. [40:30] - Jesus and the Kingdom of God
18. [42:08] - The Kingdom of God Explained
19. [43:52] - The New Covenant for All
20. [45:48] - God's Protection and the New Creation
21. [47:44] - Living in the New Covenant
22. [49:20] - The Promise of the New Covenant
23. [51:24] - Responding to God
24. [53:00] - Communion
25. [54:55] - Communion Instructions
26. [01:07:14] - Pork Butt Fundraiser Reminder
27. [01:08:13] - Upcoming Sermon Series
28. [01:09:15] - Wednesday Night Activities
29. [01:10:41] - Closing Prayer
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. **Matthew 13:24-30** - The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the key elements of the parable of the wheat and the weeds that Jesus tells in Matthew 13:24-30?
2. According to the sermon, what was the original plan for Adam's covenant, and how was it broken? ([30:43])
3. How did the covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David each contribute to God's long redemption plan? ([31:32])
4. What does the sermon say about the shift in the kingdom of God from the Old Testament to the New Testament? ([43:52])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the parable of the wheat and the weeds illustrate the shift in the kingdom of God from a physical nation to a spiritual reality? ([42:08])
2. In what ways does the new covenant through Jesus fulfill the previous covenants with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David? ([47:44])
3. What does it mean to live in the "already but not yet" reality of God's promises, as mentioned in the sermon? ([47:44])
4. How does being part of a connectional denomination enrich our spiritual lives and support our church community? ([24:52])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the parable of the wheat and the weeds. How can you apply the lesson of patience and trust in God's timing in your own life when dealing with difficult situations or people? ([42:08])
2. The sermon emphasized the importance of community and connection within our church. How can you actively support and engage with church ministries, such as through offerings or prayer requests? ([24:52])
3. Considering the shift from a physical kingdom to a spiritual reality, how can you contribute to building God's kingdom in your daily interactions and relationships? ([43:52])
4. The sermon mentioned the importance of participating in church activities like the Pork Butt fundraiser and the new sermon series. What steps can you take to be more involved in these events and strengthen your connection with the church community? ([01:08:13])
5. How can you live as an ambassador of God's kingdom, spreading His love and grace to all, especially in the "already but not yet" reality of God's promises? ([47:44])
6. Reflect on the idea of being part of a new creation through Jesus. What changes can you make in your life to better align with this new identity and live out the new covenant? ([47:44])
7. The sermon highlighted the importance of supporting other United Methodist churches. How can you contribute to this connectional support system, and what benefits do you see in being part of a larger denominational family? ([24:52])
### Day 1: God's Unwavering Redemption Plan
God's plan for redemption started in Eden and has been unfolding through various covenants with key figures like Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David. Each covenant built upon the previous one, leading to the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. This plan shows God's unwavering commitment to restoring humanity to a perfect relationship with Him. Adam's covenant was about living in perfect harmony with God, which was broken, leading to a world in need of redemption. Noah's covenant brought peace and a fresh start, while Abraham's covenant promised a vast lineage and a holy land. Moses' covenant introduced the law and the power of God, and David's covenant promised an everlasting kingdom, which found its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus.
Understanding this long redemption plan helps us see the continuity and faithfulness of God throughout history. It reminds us that God's promises are steadfast and that His ultimate goal is to bring us back into a perfect relationship with Him. Reflecting on these covenants can deepen our appreciation for the sacrifice of Jesus and the fulfillment of God's promises through Him. [30:43]
**Bible Passage:**
"For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith." (Romans 4:13, ESV)
**Reflection:**
Think about a promise God has made in the Bible that you find particularly meaningful. How does understanding God's long redemption plan through various covenants strengthen your faith in that promise today?
### Day 2: The Inclusive Kingdom of God
The kingdom of God has shifted from a physical nation to a spiritual reality that includes all believers. Jesus' parable of the wheat and the weeds illustrates that the kingdom is now wherever God's people are, and it includes everyone, not just the Israelites. This shift challenges us to see God's kingdom as a global, inclusive community. The kingdom of God is now a spiritual reality that transcends geographical boundaries and includes all who believe in Jesus Christ. This new understanding of the kingdom calls us to embrace a broader perspective of God's work in the world and to recognize the unity we have with believers everywhere.
This inclusive nature of God's kingdom means that we are all part of a larger family, regardless of our background or nationality. It challenges us to break down barriers and to see each person as a valuable member of God's kingdom. Reflecting on this can help us to live out the values of the kingdom in our daily interactions and to be more inclusive and loving towards others. [43:52]
**Bible Passage:**
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28, ESV)
**Reflection:**
Consider someone in your life who is different from you in background or beliefs. How can you show them the love and inclusivity of God's kingdom today?
### Day 3: Living in the New Covenant
Through Jesus, we are part of a new creation and a new covenant that fulfills all previous covenants. We are children of Abraham, David, Moses, and Noah, living in the "already but not yet" reality of God's promises. This new covenant calls us to live as ambassadors of God's kingdom, spreading His love and grace to all. The new covenant through Jesus brings a new creation, where we are all part of God's kingdom, living in the "already but not yet" reality of God's promises. This means that while we experience the blessings of God's kingdom now, we also look forward to its complete fulfillment in the future.
Living in this new covenant involves embracing our identity as God's children and living out the values of His kingdom. It calls us to be ambassadors of God's love and grace, sharing the good news of Jesus with others and living in a way that reflects His character. Reflecting on this can help us to align our lives with God's purposes and to be more intentional in our daily walk with Him. [47:44]
**Bible Passage:**
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)
**Reflection:**
What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
### Day 4: The Power of Community and Connection
Being part of a connectional denomination means we support and are supported by other United Methodist churches. This connection enriches our spiritual lives and allows us to grow together. Supporting church ministries through offerings and prayer requests is crucial for maintaining this connection and fostering a strong, united community. The importance of community and connection within the church cannot be overstated. Being part of a connectional denomination means that we are not isolated in our faith journey but are part of a larger network of believers who support and encourage one another.
This connection allows us to share resources, grow together, and be enriched by the diverse gifts and perspectives within the body of Christ. It also reminds us of our responsibility to support church ministries through offerings and prayer requests, as these are vital for maintaining the health and vitality of our community. Reflecting on this can help us to be more intentional in our involvement and support of the church. [24:52]
**Bible Passage:**
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)
**Reflection:**
Think of a way you can support your church community this week, whether through prayer, giving, or volunteering. How can you take a step to strengthen the bonds within your church family?
### Day 5: The Importance of Active Participation
Engaging in church activities, such as the Pork Butt fundraiser and the new sermon series, helps us stay connected and grow in our faith. These events provide opportunities for fellowship, learning, and spiritual growth. Active participation in church life strengthens our community and deepens our relationship with God. Participating in church activities is not just about being busy; it's about being connected and growing in our faith. Events like the Pork Butt fundraiser and the new sermon series provide opportunities for fellowship, learning, and spiritual growth. They help us to build relationships with other believers and to be encouraged in our walk with God.
Active participation in church life also strengthens our community and helps us to be more united in our mission. It reminds us that we are part of something bigger than ourselves and that our involvement makes a difference. Reflecting on this can help us to be more intentional in our participation and to see it as an essential part of our spiritual growth. [01:08:13]
**Bible Passage:**
"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." (Acts 2:42, ESV)
**Reflection:**
What is one church activity or event you can commit to participating in this week? How can your involvement help you grow in your faith and strengthen your church community?
Friends, you can have a seat.
I'd like to invite my friends that are going to be a part of Kids Club today. If you're going to join Miss Katie, you can go ahead and head on back.
Right, so who is aware of our Pork Butt fundraiser right now? Who has not yet purchased their Pork Butt? Go ahead, raise your hand. I know, I know. I'm putting you on the spot. It's okay, because I haven't done mine yet. I'm admitting it to you.
I'm telling you this because I've got a couple ways you can be a part of this, friends. You have two more weeks to purchase your Pork Butt. All right? The timer is ticking, and you don't want to miss it, because you know football season is coming, right? Amen.
Bob told me that we had a game this past weekend. And someone, I'm not going to name the team, kicked off early. All right? And you know nothing's better than watching a football game and eating some pulled pork.
All right. Now, if you want to be a super champ for the church and help us sell even more Pork Butts, you can pick up one of these little handy-dandy envelopes in the back, take it to your business or where you work, to the school, take it to the nail salon, you know, anywhere. And you can help take those orders everywhere you go. Because what is better than helping other people not have to cook for a week? Right? And help the church. Help the church at the same time.
Now, also, if you're going to eat the barbecue dinner, you have to buy a ticket. I'm telling you all this because historically, as a church, we don't RSVP for anything. We just show up. And if you show up for the dinner and you haven't bought a ticket, I won't have any food for you. It's a fundraiser, friends. I'm not buying more food than I have sold tickets for. Okay? It's not like a potluck. I need you to buy a ticket.
Okay? The deadline for all of that is two weeks. It's the Monday in two weeks. Okay? The 9th, which is a Monday. So in two Sundays, it will be the last Sunday. Are we following? Say yes.
Okay. Great. I don't want anyone mad at me because you showed up and I don't have food for you. That's like the worst Methodist thing in the world to do.
All right. I want to just take a moment and thank you all, because at the end of service, I'm going to tell you about our next sermon series. But things like our next sermon series are possible because we as a church are what's called a connectional denomination. That means that we help support all the other churches in the United Methodist denomination. We're connectional.
And because you support us, we get to give. We give just this tiny little portion of what we have as a church on to the United Methodist Church. And they give us all sorts of resources. And part of those resources is this next sermon series. Because they have invested money to give us discipleship resources, kids resources, media resources, and all sorts of stuff that we as a church are going to get to grow from. Is that not amazing? They're investing back in us, friends. Amen.
And that's because you have contributed to us as a church. I want to thank you for supporting us and other ministries like our children and so forth.
If you would like to support ministries within our congregation, you can do so by coming and giving at the offering, which is at the time of communion. We don't pass the plate. We receive it at the time of offering, or you can give online.
Also, if there's a prayer request that we can join with you, we love to pray. Love to pray for you. My one request is you write it down and put it in the basket. I'd love for you to tell me. Just don't tell me only. Write it down as well so I won't be the only one in joining you in prayer.
Would you join me now as we pray together?
Almighty God, thank you. Thank you for the day. Thank you for the opportunity to lift our voices. Thank you for our families, our children that are in children's church right now, but also our children that are grown and on in the world and the multi-generations in this congregation. Thank you for the legacy that is this church. Thank you for all that you do as we reflect this morning on your goodness and your mercy and your love.
Please show us in our lives where we can be better connected to you so we can go forth today living as you want us to live. I ask, Father, as we study your word, that you speak to each and every one of us. Give us the word we need. I ask, Lord, you bless the tithes and offerings given in this space and online and in the mail. And I ask, Lord, that you bless our children as they study your word as well.
We pray these things in your holy and powerful name. Amen.
Friends, all summer we have been unpacking the Old Testament. And this week, we have left the Old Testament and got into the new. So who's excited? Some of you are like, finally.
If you'd like to see the full images of these pictures that I've just shown, you can find them inside the sermon notes, along with the scriptures that I'm using. And you can take those notes by either going to the website, you can find them by going to the e-mag, or you can open the church app. If you need help ever finding this, I'll be happy after worship to help anyone find that.
So I just want to take a moment by kind of catching us all back up, because I know we've all been in and out throughout the summer. And we're going to tie a bow on where we've been.
So we've been talking about how everything in scripture happens in real time. And we've been using a chart to review those things. And we looked at five main people. We looked at Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses. Oh, go back. I'm not there yet. Go back to my chart. There we go.
So Adam, Moses, Noah, David, and Abraham. I went out of order. All right? So I'm going to review all five of these covenants, because each of these main people, you can structure the whole Old Testament around them, and they all five have a covenant.
The first covenant was Adam's covenant. So Adam placed in the garden creation. Everything was perfect. Perfect harmony. Perfect environment. Perfect world. And yet, once his covenant was broken, things were no longer perfect.
So what was Adam's covenant? Well, his covenant was to be the people of God, living in the place of God, dwelling in the presence of God. That was the original plan. But once that covenant was broken, because he broke God's law, God started what we are calling the long redemption plan. It started at Eden and has gone through the Old and the New Testament. That's what we've been unpacking all summer.
Then we get to Noah. So in Noah's story, we have a covenant of peace. Because when Noah gets there, we now have a very chaotic world. And there in Noah is the recreation where the world has been washed clean. And once again, God makes a covenant with the family. But in this covenant of peace, God tells Noah, you are now my people of God. And Noah's family will be all the descendants of the chosen people, the descendants of Shem.
So then we get on to Abraham. And Abraham is promised to be the father of many people. More stars in the sky and sands in this desert are going to be the descendants of Abraham. That's his promise, his covenant. And so we see the people of God getting bigger.
There's a second promise that he will receive the place of God or the Holy Land. Now Abraham doesn't get it, but he gets told that it will come. He gets a burial plot where him and his family are laid to rest, but he doesn't own the promised land yet.
Then we get to Moses. And in Moses, the power of God shows forward. The power of God over Egypt, over all the gods of the land. And God defends his people. The people promised to Moses. The people promised to Abraham and to Noah. So the people of God are rallied forward as God shows his might. And then he gives the law.
And we talked about how the law is what covers all of the Old Testament. What Jesus often refers to as the law is the Moses Covenant. And Moses carries them into the promised land. So now we have the people of God in the place of God. And we start to see the presence of God because the tabernacle is created.
And then we get to David, the king. And now Israel is a nation. And the presence of God is given a permanent home in his son Solomon. And David's covenant is the promise that the kingdom of David shall reign forever.
Now in reality, David's kingship didn't reign forever. It reigned for 400 years, which is a really long dynasty. It's right up there with the dynasties of China. It is like historically one of the longest dynasties. But 400 years is not forever.
So where does that bring us today? Now let's just take for a moment and look at real space and catch up to where we've been. All of our stories took place in what we call the Fertile Crescent. It's the land in the Middle East where there are multiple rivers to make this desert very green land.
And when the king came, when David came, they united the Fertile Crescent to not make it 12 tribes anymore, but one nation. This was big news for Israel because before having a king, they were just little sections of land. And now they are one.
But after David's son Solomon died, friends, trouble came. Israel wasn't as united as they needed to be. Because you see, there was a civil war, a split between the sons of Solomon. What we call the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom.
Why does everything in war have to be the North and the South? I mean, it seems that way, right? America, North and South. Korea, North and South. The kingdoms, North and South. I mean, why didn't anybody ever split East and West? If you find somebody, let me know. Because I've only seen in history so far, North and South.
Germany, thank you. Thank you. That makes me feel a little bit better.
So, the North became what is often in the Book of Kings called Israel. And they followed the son, Jeroboam. Ten tribes went to the North. And the South is most often called Judah or Jerusalem because that was their capital. And only two tribes went to the South. And they followed the son, Rehoboam.
It's very confusing if you read the Book of Kings because they jump between the two kingdoms back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. But the unfortunate thing is that the Northern Kingdom was soon destroyed.
See, when the Northern Kingdom split and they went on their way, they didn't follow God's path very long. They set up their own worship site because the Ten Tribes were on their way. The temple, Solomon's temple, was in Jerusalem, which was in the southern kingdom. So they had to set up their own worship site to be able to worship God because the tabernacle and the temple was in the other kingdom.
They set up two worship sites, one in the northern and one in the southern border of their kingdom. And not long after, the Assyrians came in and destroyed the northern kingdom. We don't know really what happened to them. Their capital is Samaria.
Does anyone remember any stories in the New Testament talking about the Samaritans? The good Samaritan or the woman at the well talking about Samaria and where is the right place to worship maybe? This is a history of those stories.
Now in the southern kingdom where they followed Rehoboam, they continued quite a longer time. They went another 200 years until they were conquered by the Babylonians and put into exile. But they were allowed to come back. An edict was put forward and they could return to Jerusalem. They rebuilt the temple. And in 520, the temple was returned.
And the Jews that returned, which was a very small percentage of the Jewish people, they returned with a messianic hope. Because remember, the line of David was to reign forever. Basically, the whole end of the Old Testament are the prophets rising up, prophesying to talk about the Messiah that would come from the line of David in a season when they were exiled and oppressed.
And when they were waiting for the temple and the temple would return and they wanted a king to come again and set the temple on fire. They were waiting for the king to come again and set them free.
This, friends, this was the environment of the New Testament. Because you see, the two kingdoms with their two capitals, if you remember the first map I showed you, look at this one. The two kingdoms and two capitals that were separated.
Now their nation, the south kingdom, was very small. And by the time Jesus came, this wasn't even their land anymore. So the people of God had been scattered and they no longer were in possession of the place of God. They had the temple, but the land was no longer theirs.
So the setting of the New Covenant, or as we talked in the beginning, the word testament and covenant mean the same thing. So the New Testament or the New Covenant is that the small percentage of Jews have returned to the land they came from, but it was not their land. They rebuilt the temple and waited for the Davidic king to come back.
And they were waiting for the king to come again and set the temple on fire. They were waiting for the king to return, to release them from oppression, to give them back all that they were promised by God, and to put them back in the place of ownership, to fulfill the covenant of their ancestors, of David. And they waited.
And so then what happens? Jesus comes on the scene. They haven't had prophets in a long time. And here comes Jesus. And they're thinking, is he the one? Is he the one we've been waiting for? Is he the one we've been waiting for? Is he the one we've been waiting for?
If you ever wonder why the first chapter of Matthew is so boring, when all it says is the lineage of Jesus, it's to show that he's born in the line of David, friends. It's important. It's not interesting when we read it, but it's important to who he is, that he was part of David's family.
And here he comes. He's born in the Magi prophesy that he's going to do something great. He gets to the temple. He's going to do something great. He's going to do something great. He's going to do something great.
When he's baptized, he's anointed that he's the prophet of God. But then there's a lot of confusion as he starts to become a prophet, a teacher, a rabbi.
Let's read one of these confusing examples, shall we? Chapter 13 of the book of Matthew, verse 24. Jesus starts teaching about the kingdom of God. I'm going to give you the context after we read the passage, all right?
All right. Here's another story Jesus told. The kingdom of heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the worker slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away.
When the crop began to grow and produced grain, the weeds grew also. The farmer's workers went to him and said, sir, the fields where you planted that good seed is full of weeds. Where did they come from?
An enemy has done this, the farmer exclaimed. Should we pull out the weeds, they asked. No, he replied. You'll uproot the wheat if you do. Let them both grow until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles and burn them and put the wheat in the barn.
Jesus is trying to explain what the kingdom of God is to his listeners, to the Jewish people. And this is the story he tells.
Now, if you remember when we talked about David, we talked about that the kingdom of God is not a New Testament thing. It's an Old Testament thing that Jesus is teaching on because they believed that David was the steward for God's kingdom, that the nation of Israel was the kingdom of God, that they were the citizens of the kingdom of God and the land they possessed was God's kingdom.
And they believed that David was the steward for God's kingdom. And he was the ruler. So the king was just stewarding the nation of Israel.
Now here comes Jesus giving this story about the kingdom of God. It's an odd story for him to tell. The reason for this is because there's a dramatic shift in the New Testament between the kingdom of God and the Old Testament.
See, when God was honoring the kingdom in the Old Testament, he backed Israel. When they went to war and they were honoring God and they asked for God's protection, God protected Israel.
Remember that redemption plan we were talking about when we were talking, we've been talking about how the redemption plan's gotten bigger and bigger. In each stage, more people were included.
Well, see, in Jesus' point of the redemption plan, it's no longer redeeming just Israel. We're redeeming the entire world now, friends. Everyone.
Which means, the kingdom of God is no longer just the people of Israel. They weren't understanding yet. It's taken some time for even us Christians to wrap our heads around. And the kingdom of God is one of the hardest things for theologians to debate.
But if we look through it through the Old Testament lens, the kingdom of God is no longer the land mass of God's nation. The kingdom of God is wherever the people of God are.
And Jesus is trying to say, you may have God's people and other people rising up together. We can't just pull things out. Meaning, it's not the world it used to be now that Jesus has set the covenant free to everything.
We often wish it would be easy if God could just take all the evil out in the world, don't we? Yeah. But which evil does he take out? Does he take out the evil that's harmful to me? Does he take out the evil that's harmful to you? Does he take out the evil that's harmful to the United States? Or maybe the evil that's harmful to Mexico?
What if our evil hurts another country when he takes it all out from us? There's a lot of Christians in South America, friends. I hate to tell you this, but they're growing faster in Christianity than we are. There are some revivals going on in South America that are amazing, and we are doing it.
We are doing it. We are doing it. We are doing it. We are doing it. Going down in Christianity. So should that mean God should protect the countries that have the most Christians? I sure hope not. Because if he's looking by population in which countries he's going to back, then we are not looking so good.
See, the reality is, is now God walks with us, not behind nations. And that's a hard pill for us to swallow. Let's just admit, take a second, it's a little hard to swallow. But he hasn't done that, friends, for 2,000 years. He hasn't done that for 2,000 years.
This is not new. Jesus is saying here that we have to let both grow up and wait to the end, because now the covenant of God is for everyone. Now the protection of God is set free across the world.
If you think of every war we've ever fought in the world, can you put money on the fact that there's probably been Christians on both sides of the battle, and people on both sides praying and asking God for protection?
And do you think our God, who loves us, is going to choose which child that he loves more? Because I don't think he does.
You see, the reality is, is that Christ broke through this world, and he defeated death. Amen? And when he did that, he brought the new covenant so that we could become part of the new creation.
This is the new peace, because it fulfills all five of the covenants we've been talking about. They've all come into the new covenant of Christ. We are a product of Abraham. We are a product of David. We are a product of Moses, and of Adam, and of Noah.
The kingdom of God is something that we say is here and not yet. We have seen it come forward as Christ included us into the new covenant, and yet it is still to come in the new creation in the final days.
We get to live into it. We get to live into it. We get to live into it. We get to live into it. Now, and it will be even more glorious when all of creation has returned.
The people of God are the children of Abraham. They are us, yet they will also be fully 100% reborn when we come back in our resurrected bodies. Who is ready to not have anything wrong with them? Anybody. I sure hope I can eat chocolate and not feel guilty about it. God, give me that one. My resurrected body can have sugar guilt-free.
Okay. Banquet feast better have lots of sweets on it. We are the children of God now, and the new creation is still coming. The place, the kingdom of God on earth is everywhere, friends. We carry the kingdom everywhere we go.
There is no longer a geographical kingdom, but we are the kingdom, and yet the kingdom of God is also the new Jerusalem that has not yet begun. What we call heaven, when every tribe will be, and we will sing, and we will dance, and we will worship, and we will exist in creation that is no longer going against us, and the humidity is not going to kill us, and the hurricanes are not coming to our shores.
We will not be at odds with creation anymore in the new Jerusalem, and the presence of God dwells within us now, and yet at the end, at the end, the presence of God will walk with us.
Friends, this is the promise of the new covenant. We have it now, but in the end, in the end, it will be so much more. It's my prayer that each of us can experience a glimpse of the new creation in this life, because that is the intention.
When we pray things like your kingdom come on heaven as it is on earth, what we're praying is that we are experiencing that glimpse of what is true. We are experiencing that to come now.
Would you pray with me?
God, it is my prayer that each of us experience just a glimpse of what eternity would be, and a glimpse of that is so much better than no glimpse at all, because you set us free. Free from the trials of feeling helpless and knowing you walk with us. Free from the weight of this world.
God, we are children of Abraham. We are your ambassadors walking in this world. So as we walk forward, renew our covenant with you. Show us what that means to be growing among not only our fellow Christians, but those who are not.
And God, I pray that all the seeds around me by the time the harvest comes are not weeds, but fellow wheat. We pray this in your holy name. Amen.
Friends, this is the time in our service that we respond to God. You can respond in whatever ways feels right for you, but you can, if you have something that God's put on your heart, a question, something he's prompting you to do, I would love if you shared that with me so that I could pray with you, journey with you.
There's response cards in your seats. You can fill those cards out on our church app or online. My job is to help support you, and I'd like to be able to do that if I can.
But this table is also part of our response. And however you and God are journeying together, it's my prayer that you can take one step deeper into that journey. A table is open to everyone. There's no requirement to be here. This is about you and God.
So anything that you might have held back in this week that you need to confess to him, this is your time. If you're watching online, it's my prayer that you'll take something from your kitchen so you can join with us. So that we extend this table to you.
On the night Christ sat with his disciples, he took bread and he broke it. He said, this is my body broken for you. He also took the cup and he said, this is the blood of the new covenant. Pray it's spilled for you to wipe the sins of all people. Drink as you eat in remembrance of me.
The only requirement of this table is that we confess our sins and our sins are forgiven. And so that we can be able to confess our sins and our sins are together.
So if you would join me, we're going to confess our sins with the reading that we have on the screen. Join me.
Holy God, you lavish us with your good gifts. Yet we persist in seeking after that which robs us of abundant life. We hold fast to our anxieties and give in to our greed. We desire the very things that harm us. Forgive us, purify, and sustain us by the strength of your Holy Spirit. We ask in Jesus' name.
Lift to God anything you need to lift in your heart that you'd like to confess.
God, we ask that you hear the confessions of our heart. We thank you for being a loving father that always receives your children, that you strengthen and guide us today. You allow us to help in this world to bring your kingdom here.
We ask the Lord also that you send your spirit upon this bread and this transform it to be your body and your blood, that we may experience your grace and your love so that we may share it with others in the world. We pray this in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Friends, if God is for us, who can be against us? In the name of Jesus Christ, you have been set free. Be at peace and rejoice. In the name of Jesus, you are forgiven. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. Amen.
Those who are going to help me with communion will come forward. As they come, just a word of instruction. I will serve my helpers first and then we'll invite everyone forward. I'll give you a small piece of bread and you'll be able to dip that into the cup of juice.
If you prefer your communion to be gluten-free or not be touched by anybody, we'll have gluten-free and pre-packaged right here in the center. We'll invite everyone up the center aisle, then out the outsides.
We do have our kneeling rails open if you'd like to stop and pray. If you give me just a second, let me serve my helpers and then I'll invite everyone forward. The Lord's table is prepared and you're all invited to come.
We'll start in the back and come to the front. Y'all can have a seat for just a second.
Everybody's going to take at least one pork flyer home, right? Yes, say yes.
And you're going to find at least one person to share it with, right? Yes.
Great. Because we are thankful that this fundraiser, it doesn't take a lot of work, right? You can say that one a little more excited.
That makes me happy.
Okay. I would like to share the rest of those details about the next sermon series with you. The one I mentioned that the conference is providing the resources for us for.
So here you go. Who is a United Methodist? Someone who believes in God's grace, love, and divine goodness. It's our foundational belief that the world is our mission field.
But what does this mean in reality? Bishop Berlin has distilled our Methodist life down to five areas: spiritual growth, scriptural dynamism, Christ-like practice, wide embrace, and missional character.
Get ready, friends. We're getting rooted together.
All right. So what is this? What does this mean for you? It means starting September 8th, which is the last Sunday to buy pork, starting September 8th, we will start this five-week series. It's for all ages.
If you are new to our United Methodist tradition, this is a wonderful way to figure out how United Methodism stands apart from other Christian denominations. If you are a lifelong Methodist, I've got lifelong Methodists in this room, this is a great way to remember our roots.
If you are a 7th through 12th grader, and you would like to be confirmed, that means to make the decision for yourself if you want to be Christian and United Methodist. We will have a class for you to do that during this series.
If you would like to find a small group, now is the time. So we will have a Wednesday night component for all ages. The children will have an activity, the students will have an activity, and the adults will have an activity. Three separate, not all in one.
We understand that we need to focus, and we can't do that when we're parenting. I feel you. Three separate, and we have these resources they developed for us so that we can do that.
That will be Wednesdays at 6:30, starting the week of the 8th. Not the 8th, the week of the 8th.
So we follow in what's going on. I'm really excited. They've been sharing these things with me and all the other pastors. I'm watching what the other churches are doing. The other United Methodist churches around are going to do this.
We're doing it before the one in Orange Park is, so we're doing it first. Excited about that, just to have to say. Our bishop just asked that we do it sometime in the fall, and so I just decided to go ahead and get it done because I was excited and I wanted to jump in.
So I hope you're excited. It's going to be fun. It's going to help remind us what it means to grow in a way that's all about holy love. That's the foundation of who we are as United Methodists, and I'm just really excited.
So please, please mark your calendars. It's going to be a really great way to connect with others in our church, and I want to help make sure everyone has a place to grow.
If you have a small group and you don't want to come on Wednesdays, but you want to do this in your small group, please let me know and I'll get you the resources. That's okay. I'm not one that says you have to do it my way. Totally fine.
You want to do it another way, but I'd still like to help you get involved. All right? If you have questions, come see me afterwards.
Okay. Let me pray everybody out.
God, we thank you. We thank you. We thank you. We thank you. We thank you.
That you find ways for us to be connected to you, that in all things we walk together. So as we prepare for this week and what the week brings in preparation for Labor Day and all that life is, just ask God that you renew us and you strengthen us and you guide us and help us be people of love so that we may honor and glorify you.
We pray this in your holy name. Amen.
1. "Friends, all summer we have been unpacking the Old Testament. And this week, we have left the Old Testament and got into the new. So who's excited? Some of you are like, finally. If you'd like to see the full images of these pictures that I've just shown, you can find them inside the sermon notes, along with the scriptures that I'm using. And you can take those notes by either going to the websites, you can find them by going to the e-mag, or you can open the church app." [26:56] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The kingdom of God is something that we say is here and not yet. We have seen it come forward as Christ included us into the new covenant, and yet it is still to come in the new creation in the final days. We get to live into it. We get to live into it. We get to live into it. We get to live into it. Now, and it will be even more glorious when all of creation has returned." [47:44] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We are the children of God now, and the new creation is still coming. The place, the kingdom of God on earth is everywhere, friends. We carry the kingdom everywhere we go. There is no longer a geographical kingdom, but we are the kingdom, and yet the kingdom of God is also the new Jerusalem that has not yet begun. What we call heaven, when every tribe will be, and we will sing, and we will dance, and we will worship, and we will exist in creation that is no longer going against us, and the humidity is not going to kill us, and the hurricanes are not coming to our shores." [49:20] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The reality is, is now God walks with us, not behind nations. And that's a hard pill for us to swallow. Let's just admit, take a second, it's a little hard to swallow. But he hasn't done that, friends, for 2,000 years. He hasn't done that for 2,000 years. This is not new. Jesus is saying here that we have to let both grow up and wait to the end, because now the covenant of God is for everyone. Now the protection of God is set free across the world." [45:48] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We often wish it would be easy if God could just take all the evil out in the world, don't we? Yeah. But which evil does he take out? Does he take out the evil that's harmful to me? Does he take out the evil that's harmful to you? Does he take out the evil that's harmful to the United States? Or maybe the evil that's harmful to Mexico? What if our evil hurts another country when he takes it all out from us?" [43:52] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "The kingdom of God is no longer the land mass of God's nation. The kingdom of God is wherever the people of God are. And Jesus is trying to say, you may have God's people, and other people rising up together. We can't just pull things out. Meaning, it's not the world it used to be now that Jesus has set the covenant free to everything." [43:52] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "We are a product of Abraham. We are a product of David. We are a product of Moses, and of Adam, and of Noah. The kingdom of God is something that we say is here and not yet. We have seen it come forward as Christ included us into the new covenant, and yet it is still to come in the new creation in the final days." [47:44] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "It's my prayer that each of us can experience a glimpse of the new creation in this life, because that is the intention. When we pray things like your kingdom come on heaven as it is on earth, what we're praying is that we are experiencing that glimpse of what is true. We are experiencing that to come now." [49:20] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "The people of God are the children of Abraham. They are us, yet they will also be fully 100% reborn when we come back in our resurrected bodies. Who is ready to not have anything wrong with them? Anybody. I sure hope I can eat chocolate and not feel guilty about it. God, give me that one. My resurrected body can have sugar guilt-free. Okay. Banquet feast better have lots of sweets on it." [49:20] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "We are the children of God now, and the new creation is still coming. The place, the kingdom of God on earth is everywhere, friends. We carry the kingdom everywhere we go. There is no longer a geographical kingdom, but we are the kingdom, and yet the kingdom of God is also the new Jerusalem that has not yet begun." [49:20] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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