The Kingdom: With Every Act of Love, 4/19/15

Sermon 4-19-15 the kingdom - With Every Act of Love: 2 Cor 5:11-20 NIV

¹⁴ For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. ¹⁵ And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. ¹⁶ So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! ¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

If we truly love god, we will express it by loving our neighbors, and when we truly love our neighbors, it expresses our love for God. 66

Series – the kingdom.  Last week, where is it and who is in it.

This week- kingdom principles, kingdom actions

In every kingdom there are rules.  Pay your taxes and don’t break the law.  Then you are ok.

This keeps us pretty self absorbed.  Do a few things and then your life is yours.

This line of thinking does not transfer well to the Kingdom of God

It is not a matter of pay your tithes and do no harm

It is not a mafia payoff to god so you can live as you please

In this kingdom, the king asks for every moment

We no longer live for ourselves, but for him v15

Paul spoke of the flesh warring with the spirit.

Are we even aware which one is which?

The cartoon of the martins

We are not asked to set aside our preference on easter and Christmas, but every day.

Inconvenienced every day for the kingdom

Turn the other cheek, go the second mile, take up your cross

We are on a mission for god [blues brothers]

Christ’s Love Compels us v 14

Love is the motivator, not guilt

Mt 25 – why do they do these things?

He was blind to their faults

Father forgive them, they know not what they do

Mother Teresa

Why we love mother Teresa

Shane Claiborne once worked alongside Mother Teresa in Calcutta:
When entering the church to worship, it was customary for everyone to remove their shoes, and it was during these times that Shane noticed that Mother Teresa's feet were very deformed. So deformed, in fact, that Shane thought that it was perhaps due to leprosy.

But, he didn't dare ask her.
One day, while talking to one of the other sisters, the subject came up. The sister asked if Shane had noticed Mother Teresa's feet. She went on to tell him that they get donations of shoes only once and a while, and there are only just enough for each person to get one pair. When the shipments come in, mother Teresa would sort through all the shoes. She would look for the worst for wear pair, and then she would claim them for herself.

Mother Teresa never wanted anyone to wear a pair of shoes that were in worse shape than her own.

Its not what you belive that counts, its what you believe enough to do. 87

We do not regard others in an earthly fashion v16

When we are judging someone, we cannot love them.

The ke class.  Sending a note to a registered sex offender

"I know you don’t know me, and I don’t know you.  But I found your name on the internet on the registered sex offender website.  I know this is a strange thing to do, but I wanted to send you a note of encouragement and a small gift.  I wanted you to know that you are loved and cherished by someone who has no conditions or expectations.  His arms are open wide to all of us who will accept His grace.  I’m sure it must be difficult to be in your position- but I just wanted you to know that God loves you, and I will be praying for you."

We see sex offenders online.  We think things

are their sins worse than ours?

Jesus ran with the people that others rejected.

We do not judge them

We do not look to see what is wrong

We see them as souls

Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, elegance or learning. – Frederick Faber 13

Parable of the talents

What do we offer to God?  Time, talents, treasure?

·        What if we also offered him:

·        Hands to touch others

·        A mouth to speak kindness

·        A heart occupied only with love

Everything we have and everything we are can be used in service to the Lord and to further his kingdom goals.

We have been given the ministry of reconciliation v 18

What is our role

How can we help it happen?

For too long the church has badgered people, guilted them, ruled them to death.

This is not reconciliation

Reconciliation is pictured as the prodigal son comes home

At st marys hospital in blue springs there is a letter from mother Teresa..

Dated march 10, 1986

Dear Mr. Coen,

Thank you very much for your letter and good wishes.  Thank god for god.  For using our nothingness to show his love.  He calls me, he calls you – each of us to be his sign of love to each other.  This is a great privilege that  he shares with us.

I shall pray that you may learn to love him much and share this love with those around you, your loved ones, first, then your neighbors and every person that you meet.

God bless you

Mother m. Teresa

Ark –examples of acts of random kindness

Bill carter

Diane harper

How can I get involved at wcc?

Why are there cars here during the week?

How can I get involved in the kingdom

There are a million ways – 40 + mission endeavors

Countless opportunities for service at wcc

From the kingdom experiment class: We bring the kingdom to earth with our acts of love, whether big or small.  Through the kingdom experiment, we were challenged to reach out with an act of kindness to ‘invisible people in our lives’.

Brent Parsons wrote a thank you and left a gift card for the cleaning staff that work at night at his office.  Janet Smith struck up a conversation and now a friendship with the lady that cleans her office.  Several bought pizza or baked cookies for the google fiber guys working outside their house.  Guys were popping out of holes when they heard free food .    

Every day holds its hands out to you and bids you to love

A cup of cold water in his name

We are going to close with the beatitudes again, from the message bible.  They are the principles of the kingdom.  Lets say them together.

·         ³ “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

·         ⁴ “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

·         ⁵ “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

·         ⁶ “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

·         ⁷ “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.

·         ⁸ “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

·         ⁹ “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

·          ¹⁰ “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world, indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. Margaret mead