Kingdoms In Conflict Series

ME:

Welcome

Series Review

Week 1: The nation is more divided than ever. Those who want power and money have been using fear to keep us divided. (If you do/don't vote for ____ you will lose your right to ____)

That's nothing new. But the church has joined the fight and is using the world's tactics which causes DISUNITY. But DISUNITY WILL ALWAYS DISRUPT THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH.

Last Week: We looked at one of the best remedies for disunity. SERVICE. Too often the church is looking to political parties and political leaders to give us what we want (our rights, etc.). But that feeds DISUNITY because what we want/need isn't always the same. But when we serve… everything changes. SERVING TOGETHER BRINGS US TOGETHER

Today, we are going to look at the conflict between the Kingdom of Jesus and the kingdoms of this world.

WE:

How many of you would agree that there is a clear sense of difference… even conflict… between the church and culture of our nation? It's really not deniable. The values and the vision of the culture are not the same as the values and the vision of the church. And they aren't supposed to be.

The values of the kingdoms of the world are largely…

• Self-centered.

• Pleasure focused.

• Power driven.

• Aimed a keeping the 'other guy' down so I can get ahead.

• Lacking any sense of accountability or personal responsibility.

• Anything goes.

• If it feels good… if it feels right… if I like it or want it, you can't tell me I'm wrong.

• If it makes me feel good - it can't be wrong.

I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea.

And the values of the Kingdom of Jesus are…

• Self-sacrificing

• Others focused

• Loving

• Compassionate

• Generous

• Holiness

• Obedience

• Surrender

Again, I could go on, but I think that paints a clear enough picture for us to see that the kingdoms of the world and the Kingdom of Jesus are KINGDOMS IN CONFLICT.

• I do not deny that, as followers of Jesus, our values and our mission are at odds with the world around us.

• And I do not deny that, as followers of Jesus, we are called to advance the mission and the Kingdom of Jesus.

• I don’t deny that our mission will bring us into conflict with the kingdoms of the world.

But too often we assume we are in a war for the soul of our nation. (After all, that's what the leaders of our political parties tell us. That's what the media tells us. That's what some of our pastors have told us.)

Too often we act as if we are going to WAR against the "Godless Left" or the "Heartless Right" in an effort to save our nation. But what if that focus is wrong? What if that is a human way of looking at a spiritual issue?

What if, in our efforts to save our nation, we have become side-tracked and are spending our time and our energy on merely human concerns?

What if our view of the battle is far too small?

What if, as followers of Jesus, that is not even the battle we are called to fight?

What if the war we are fighting is causing more division, not less?

What if, as followers of Jesus, we've been using the wrong methods and as a result we've been fighting the wrong war?

HOW WE FIGHT THE BATTLE WILL DETERMINE WHAT WAR WE WIN.

HOW WE FIGHT THE BATTLE WILL DETERMINE WHAT WAR WE WIN.

Open Bibles to Matthew 16:21. Pg. 669.

While you're finding Matthew 16:21, let me ask a question.

Did you ever think you had something figured out? You knew exactly what needed to be done and you didn't need any help. And you stepped up and showed/told everyone else how to do it… only to be humiliated because you had it all wrong?

[Psychology Class: Toby - Freud -- that is FREUD - F. R. E. U. D.]

That's kind of the situation one of Jesus' followers finds himself in here in Matthew 16.

GOD:

SET UP…

• Jesus has just asked his disciples what people are saying about him. (Some say you're a prophet - Elijah, Jeremiah, etc., some say John the Baptist)

• Jesus asks them 'Who do you say I am?'

• Peter replies, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

• Jesus acknowledges that Peter is right.

• Peter is right because GOD revealed it to him, not because Peter figured it out.

• On this 'rock' I will build my church

• The gates of hell will not stand against it