Sermon Brief: Why I’m So Positive About the Church

November 30, 2008 in Sermons with 0 Comments

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

ONE GREAT TRUTH: Christians have plenty of reasons to be positive about the state of the church in today’s culture, and all of those reasons revolve around Jesus’ affirmations.

Passage: Matthew 13

I realize that there is a lot of debate among dispensationalists about the meaning of the word “kingdom,” especially in passages like Matthew 13. Some would reserve the word specifically and exclusively to refer to the nation of Israel past, present, and future. I on the other hand, prefer to see the “kingdom” as something not suspended, but in full operation today. I like the simple understanding – the word means the realm of rule by a monarch.

So the kingdom, which is in operation today, is the expression of Jesus’ rule over all who call Him Lord – and that includes me! In Matthew 13, Jesus made some bold promises about His kingdom in a series of parables. There are plenty of negative statements to make about the church in our culture, but Jesus made some positive affirmations…

JESUS’ AFFIRMATIONS ABOUT THE KINGDOM…

1. The seed of the gospel will bear fruit. (Matthew 13:1-23)

The promise is simple. The sower went out to sow. Rather than analyze the various types of soil Jesus discussed, I just want to focus on the promise that the seed produced fruit. The numeric value of the harvest varied, but the harvest always came.

2. The gospel will produce a harvest. (Matthew 13:24-30)

The second parable is of a field of wheat sown by enemies with tares, which look exactly like tares. Rather than uproot both, we are to wait for the end when God will handle the judgment of the souls of men. But when? At the harvest! There will be a harvest – people will be affected by the gospel.

3. The Kingdom begins small and hidden, but changes the world. (Matthew 13:31-33)

The truth of the mustard seed and the leaven are the same – what begins small and hidden away grows large and permeates its environment. This is another promise of the kingdom of God. I believe that the church today can impact and infiltrate culture if we’ll only begin to understand it. Jesus promised it!

4. The Kingdom of God is of infinite value. (Matthew 13:44-46)

Again, Jesus speaks in two separate parables to make the same point. There is nothing more valuable than the Kingdom of God. Finding it is worth all else that we own or could even dream of owning. Sell all – abandon every other fleeting pursuit and pursue the Kingdom!

Jesus spoke of the growth, the impact, and the value of the Kingdom of God. It is immeasurable. It’s worthy of all of our energy.