Ok, everyone, we are back to the “House” series at church!! We had a nice two weeks of Mike Gerber’s messages; and now, we are back to Chad’s “House” series. I think this may have been the last installment of this series today. But, if it isn’t, look forward to more! And, as always, I will continue posting my sermon notes. You can also listen to the sermons online at our church website - or download the podcasts if you have an ipod. You’ll DEFINITELY want to hear today’s because Chad told some REALLY good stories. He was pretty funny today as well. So, check that out once it gets uploaded to the site, because this is one message I don’t think I will be able to articulate as well as Chad did.
Anyways, in case you haven’t been following the series, you might want to go back and read parts one, two, three, and four so that you will understand the flow and what I’m about to talk about next. So, let’s jump right in!!
Today, we come to the “Kingdom” door inside the house. Often times, we think of “Kingdom” as being in the future tense. We think of it as in being the end destination - the Kingdom of Heaven when we die. But, God’s Kingdom isn’t just “later” it’s NOW!!
The definition of “Kingdom” needs a little bit more expansion. Chad says there are two Kingdom realities: realm and rule. Sure, we have God’s Kingdom of Heaven where He rules and reigns, but His Kingdom is also HERE on Earth where He indeed rules and reigns. Also, HIS Kingdom is warring with another kingdom: Satan’s kingdom. Just like in the parable of the sower, this world is a crop of wheat and weeds. In that sense, the “Kingdom” is future because in the end, the wheat and weeds will be separated. The good wheat will be harvested and the weeds will be uprooted and tossed away.
So, what do we do in this present Kingdom while we wait for the ultimate Kingdom? Well, for one, we endure. As was mentioned, this is a world of both wheat and weeds. We can’t escape the weeds right now. So, we’re just going to have to grow alongside the weeds for right now and try to flourish despite the weeds all around us. We mustn’t allow the weeds to choke us out!!
So, what does it mean to be wheat and to be concerned with God’s Kingdom now? Well, we all have our kingdoms. Does it line up with God’s? I know that for one, I was thinking of this song by Casting Crowns when Chad was preaching today. Watch this you tube music video and take in the words:
American Dream
By Casting Crowns
All work no play may have made Jack a dull boy
But all work no God has left Jack with a lost soul.
But he’s moving on full steam
He’s chasing the American dream
And he’s gonna give his family the finer things
Not this time son I’ve no time to waste
Maybe tomorrow we’ll have time to play
And then he slips into his new BMW
And drives farther and farther and farther away
So He works all day and tries to sleep at night
He says things will get better;
Better in time
‘Cause he works and he builds with his own two hands
And he pours all he has in a castle made with sand
But the wind and the rain are comin’ crashing in
Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands
His kingdom stands
His American Dream is beginning to seem
More and more like a nightmare
With every passing day
“Daddy, can you come to my game?”
“Oh Baby, please don’t work late.”
Another wasted weekend
And they are slipping away
‘Cause he works all day and lies awake at night
He tells them things will get better
It’ll just take a little more time
He used to say, “Who ever dies with the most toys wins”
But if he loses his soul, what has he gained in the end
I’ll take a shack on a rock
Over a castle in the sand
Now he works all day and cries alone at night
It’s not getting any better
Looks like he’s running out of time
‘Cause he worked and he built with his own two hands
And he poured all he had in a castle made with sand
But the wind and the rain are coming crashing in
Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands
His kingdom stands
All they really wanted was you
All they really wanted was you
All they really wanted was you
Profound message isn’t it?? ;)
There is so much more I would like to say about today’s message. But, like I said, I don’t think I can put it into words the way Chad did today - especially with the funny and unique stories he told. You’ll have to listen to it for yourself. ;) But, I will leave you with this quote he gave us from C.S. Lewis: “Faith is not hearing what Christ said long ago and ‘trying to carry it out.’ Rather, the real Son is at your side. He is beginning to turn you into the same kind of thing as himself. He is beginning to inject his kind of life and thought into you…”
Yeah, that is just like the mixing bowl illustration Chad told us. They are all nested in each other. The little bowl of the Holy Spirit working in us rests in the bowl of us working in the church/community, and rests in the bowl of the bigger picture of the Kingdom. How profoundly interesting!! I like that!!
Anyways, I loved this “House” series!! My kudos to Chad!! I can’t wait to see what’s next!! And, I’m looking forward to our Christmas musical production - which I am participating in!! So much fun!!
God bless you everyone!!
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