Encourages honoring God through kingdom building, living a godly life, and heeding His call to follow Him, guided by His Word.
Greetings, beloved congregation. It's a joy to gather together in the house of our Lord, united in spirit and purpose as we seek His wisdom and guidance. We are here to honor God, to build His kingdom, and to heed His call. We are here to learn, to grow, and to be transformed by the renewing of our minds through His Word.
And so, we turn to God's Word. In the book of John, chapter 12, verses 23 to 26, we read:
"Jesus replied, 'The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.'"
And in Matthew, chapter 4, verse 19, we read:
"'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will send you out to fish for people.'"
In these passages, we find the essence of our gathering today - honoring God through kingdom building, harvesting honor from a godly life, and heeding God's call to follow Him.
As we prepare our hearts to receive God's Word, let's bow our heads in prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word, a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. We ask that You open our hearts and minds to receive Your timeless truths. May Your Holy Spirit guide us and teach us as we ponder on these passages. Help us to honor You in all that we do, to build Your kingdom here on earth, and to heed Your call to follow You. May Your Word transform us and equip us to be the salt and light in this world. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
As we move forward, let us be mindful of the words of Charles Spurgeon: "Visit many good books, but live in the Bible." Let us live in the Bible today, and every day, as we seek to honor God, build His kingdom, and heed His call.
As we gather here today, we stand on the precipice of a profound understanding, an understanding that is woven into the very fabric of our faith. It's an understanding that takes us back to the heart of the Gospel, to the very words of Jesus Himself. It's an understanding that, when fully grasped, has the power to transform not just our lives, but the world around us.
A kernel of wheat: He tells us that unless it falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. This is a powerful image, a vivid metaphor that Jesus uses to illustrate a profound truth.
Not just about death: It's about life. It's about the potential for new life that is contained within each and every one of us. When we surrender our lives to Christ, when we die to ourselves, we are like that kernel of wheat. We are buried in the ground, but it's not the end. It's just the beginning. Because from that death comes new life, a life that is abundant, a life that is fruitful, a life that is filled with the potential to produce many seeds.
What does it mean to produce many seeds?: What does it mean to be fruitful? In the context of the Kingdom of God, it means to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the fruits that we are called to produce. These are the seeds that we are called to sow. And when we sow these seeds, when we live out these fruits in our daily lives, we are building the Kingdom of God here on earth.
Build the Kingdom of God: When we talk about building, we're not talking about constructing buildings or erecting monuments. We're talking about building relationships, building community, building a culture that reflects the values of the Kingdom of God. We're talking about living out the Gospel in practical, tangible ways. We're talking about loving our neighbors, serving the poor, standing up for justice, and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with those around us.
Not a task that we undertake on our own: It's a task that we undertake together, as the body of Christ. Each one of us has a role to play, a part to contribute. And when we each do our part, when we each use the gifts and talents that God has given us, we can accomplish great things. We can make a difference. We can change the world.
The most important part of this process: Let's not forget the reason why we do what we do. We don't build the Kingdom of God for our own glory. We don't do it for recognition or reward. We do it to honor God. We do it because we love Him, because we are grateful for all that He has done for us, because we want to bring Him glory.
Ask ourselves: Are we living our lives in a way that honors God? Are we using our gifts and talents to build His Kingdom? Are we producing the fruits of the Spirit in our lives? Are we sowing seeds of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?
Let’s go back to the metaphor of the kernel of wheat ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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