Introduction

Welcome, beloved family of faith. We find ourselves here again, gathered in the presence of our Lord, ready to receive His divine wisdom and guidance. We're here, not by accident, but by His divine orchestration. We're here because there's something He wants us to hear, to learn, to embrace.

Our sermon today is a powerful reminder of where our priorities should lie. It's about the Kingdom of God and our role in it. It's about stewardship and generosity, and how these two virtues manifest themselves in our lives as Christians.

Before we delve into the heart of our message, let's take a moment to reflect on the words of the renowned Christian author, J.I. Packer, who once said, "Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life's problems fall into place of their own accord."

Let that sink in for a moment. Our main business here on earth is to know God. This is the essence of our sermon today.

Now we turn our hearts to the Scripture, Matthew 6:33, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

This verse is a compass, guiding us to align our lives with the Kingdom of God. It calls us to prioritize His Kingdom above all else and promises that when we do, everything else will fall into place.

Now, let us bow our heads in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, we are here today, eager to hear Your word and ready to align our lives with Your Kingdom. Open our hearts and minds to the message You have for us today. Help us to understand what it truly means to seek first Your Kingdom and to serve You with stewardship and generosity. We pray that Your word would not just inform us, but transform us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

So, let's embark on this spiritual adventure together, learning about the Kingdom, stewardship, and generosity. Remember, we're not here by accident. We're here because God has something He wants us to hear. Let's open our hearts and minds to receive His word today.

Seeking First the Kingdom

When we look at the scripture, Matthew 6:33, it gives us a clear directive. It tells us to prioritize the Kingdom of God above all else. But what does that mean? How do we seek first His Kingdom in our daily lives?

The Kingdom of God is not a physical place. It's not a location we can pinpoint on a map. It's a spiritual realm, a state of being. It's where God's will is done, where His authority reigns supreme. When we seek first His Kingdom, we are seeking to live in accordance with His will. We're striving to make His priorities our priorities. We're committing to live under His authority, to follow His commandments, to love as He loves. It requires us to make choices every day that reflect our allegiance to His Kingdom. It requires us to put God first in our thoughts, our actions, our relationships, our resources.

While in a fallen world, this is a difficult task. Apart from the Spirit, it is impossible! Many distractions in this world can pull us away from God's Kingdom and lead us astray. But the scripture assures us that when we seek first His Kingdom, everything else will fall into place. We can face challenges and have the peace, the joy, the fulfillment that comes from living in alignment with God's will. Now, let's look at how this principle applies to different aspects of our lives.

First, let's consider our relationships. As believers, we must prioritize love, forgiveness, and unity. We strive to treat others with kindness and respect, regardless of how they treat us. We seek to build bridges, not walls. We seek to be peacemakers, not troublemakers.

Second, let's consider our resources. We should recognize that everything we have is a gift from God. We must be using our time, our talents, our treasures to serve Him and advance His Kingdom.

Third, let's consider our actions. When we seek first His Kingdom, we strive to live in obedience to God's commandments. We don't just talk the talk, but walk the walk. We don't just profess our faith, but live it out in our daily lives.

Finally, let's consider our thoughts. We should be filling our minds with things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. We meditate on God's word and seek His wisdom in all things. We don't let the worries of this world consume us, but trust in His promises.

Transition. In all these ways, we can seek first His Kingdom. It's not a one-size-fits-all approach. It's a personal, individual commitment that looks different for each of us. But the underlying principle is the same: to prioritize God's Kingdom above all else. Remember, this is an active, intentional commitment. It's a choice we make every day, in every aspect of our lives. And when we make this choice, we can trust that everything else will fall into place.

Stewardship as Service

Stewardship, at its core, is about service ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO