WE ARE THE CHURCH: Where the Kingdom is priority (Matthew 6:25-34) Sermon Outline (a blog post for a video sermon for Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on July 12, 2020)

WE ARE THE CHURCH: Where the Kingdom is priority (Matthew 6:25-34) - July 12, 2020

INTRODUCTION‬

We are the church where the Kingdom is priority.

In recent years a head coach divorced his wife of 26 years when he left coaching a college team to become head coach in the National Football League. He said he needed a wife while coaching on the college level for social functions and to show families that he would be looking out for their sons. In pro football, however, she was an unnecessary accouterment and a distraction to winning. He said winning football was his number one priority and his two sons second. How tragic! 

In contrast to this, Tom Landry, former coach of the Dallas cowboys said, "The thrill of knowing Jesus is the greatest thing that ever happened to me ... I think God has put me in a very special place, and He expects me to use it to His glory in everything I do ... whether coaching football or talking to the press, I'm always a Christian ... Christ is first, family second and football third.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:25-34‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I. THE CONCERNS OF LIFE ARE NOT OUR CONCERNS

A. Provision

1. What shall we eat?

2. What shall we drink?

3. What shall we wear?

B. Worry

C. Faith

1. Fundamentally faith is trust.

2. Belief that does not trust is not faith.

II. OUR CONCERNS ARE HIS CONCERNS

Over the triple doorways of the cathedral of Milan there are three inscriptions spanning the splendid arches. Over one is carved a beautiful wreath of roses, and underneath it is the legend, "All that which pleases is but for a moment."

Over the other is sculptured a cross, and there are the words, "All that which troubles us is but for a moment."

But underneath the great central entrance to the main aisle is the inscription, "That only is important which is eternal."

If we always realize these three truths, we will not let trifles trouble us, not be interested so much in the passing pleasures of the hour. We should live for the permanent and the eternal.

A. He is lord.

1. LORD GOD

a. Hebrew

b. YHWH - Yehweh - Tetragrammaton

c. “I am that I am”

2. Lord

a. Greek

b. Kyrios

c. “Master”

B. He is provider.

1. Jehovah-Jireh = The LORD who provides

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

C. He is enough.

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

‭‭ Ephesians‬ ‭3:14-21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

III. OUR PRIORITY IS HIS PRIORITY

Haddon Robinson points out that one old recipe for rabbit started out with this injunction: "First catch the rabbit." Says Robinson: "The writer knew how to put first things first. That's what we do when we establish priorities -- we put the things that should be in first place in their proper order.

A. His Kingdom

1. The rule of Jesus Christ on earth

2. The blessing and advantages that flow from living under Christ’s rule.

3. The subjects of this kingdom, or the church

“From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.””

‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭4:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

B. His righteousness

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

‭‭ 2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

C. The interconnectedness of His Kingdom and His righteousness.

““Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

‭‭ Luke‬ ‭12:32-34‬ ‭NIV‬‬

CHALLENGE

What is your highest priority? Rank the five most important things in your life (What takes the most time, money, energy, focus, etc.) from 1 to 5 (5 is the highest). Circle where God’s Kingdom and righteousness rank. Consider what it would take to move God’s concerns to number 5 if they are not there already. Do what it takes to get your priorities in order.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word. You may want to follow Jesus. You may want to proclaim your faith. You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things). Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, I would be honored to speak with you in the upper parking lot following the service about what God is doing in your life.