🎙️ Sermon Recap: The Church as a Community of Shalom
Main Points:
🌍 In a world fractured by division, Jesus calls His church to something radical. “Being a witness is our central purpose.” For Jesus, “the central purpose of any church is to be a witness in this world.”
And how do we do that? By embodying Shalom.
✨ “We live as a community of Shalom. That’s what we do.”
Shalom isn’t just peace in the shallow sense — “Shalom… carries the meaning of wholeness or completeness.” It’s Eden restored, the wholeness every human longs for. “It’s what revolutions are fought over, but never deliver.”
The church is uniquely called to preview that Kingdom. “The church is not the Kingdom, but it is the only living preview of the Kingdom.”
1️⃣ Shalom must be the center of our seeking
Jesus said, “Seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness.” That’s not about chasing comfort or success, but about living out God’s justice. “To seek his Kingdom and his righteousness isn’t speaking about two things, but one—Shalom.”
2️⃣ Shalom must be sought at a cost
“To seek his Kingdom and righteousness will be costly.” Shalom is not cheap. “Shalom seeking will cost us our bitterness. Shalom seeking will cost us our anger. Shalom seeking will cost us time. Shalom seeking will cost us money. Shalom seeking will cost us comfort.”
3️⃣ Shalom will be a long-term project
God is patient. He calls us to trust Him as we sow seeds of peace. “There is no greater goal than Shalom. Peace on earth, as it is in heaven.”
And so we end with the question that echoed through the sermon:
“What do we do now? We live as a community of Shalom, as those forgiven by the King Jesus.”
👉 This is your invitation: be part of God’s preview of the Kingdom — a forgiven, peace-making people who embody Shalom until Christ returns.
🌿 Sermon Recap
Series: Cultivating Peace in a World of Division
Text: Philippians 4:1–9
Message Title: The God of Peace Will Be With You
1. The Longing for Peace
We live in a world where peace feels scarce. “Peace and Shalom are precious commodities. But they're not around very much.” Almost everyone can agree on one thing: “There's not very much peace around.”
The longing is deep, but so is the struggle: “Seeking peace in our world today is a significant challenge.” The reality is, “Peace is rather elusive.” And so the personal question arises: “How do you actually get there? How do you get peace?”
The good news is that “God's word teaches us about having peace.”
2. Stand Firm in the Lord
Paul begins Philippians 4 with a charge: “Stand firm in the Lord. That means live out our convictions. Don't settle for just being part way there.”
But this was not theoretical for Philippi. “Paul has to address the lack of peace in the church.” And the truth is, “The whole struggle and the whole issue of peace is here too.”
That is why Paul urged two believers to “agree with each other in the Lord.” Because, “When we agree in the Lord, we align our mindset.”
And Paul reminds us: “The rest of you all can join in. You can help.”
3. Rejoicing and Gentleness
Paul then sets a surprising tone: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, rejoice. Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”
But this kind of response only comes from a deep conviction: “That only happens when I choose to stop and believe and know and act on the fact that God is here.”
For, “God is in every situation. God is in every issue.”
4. Prayer and Petition
Paul next provides the pathway: “Do not be anxious for anything. Pray about everything. Talk to God about everything.”
This is not a shallow prayer life. “We can petition him. We can pour out our hearts to him.” And the reason we can be so honest is simple: “God never gets surprised.”
When we truly entrust our petitions to Him, we remember: “He's never failed you once.” And it is here, in surrender, that “That’s when the peace comes.”
Paul describes it: “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds.”
Sometimes this peace is hard to explain because “Sometimes we struggle to understand because it's beyond our comprehension.” Yet it is real and deeply transformative.
5. Renewing the Mind
Peace is also about where we set our thoughts. Paul calls us to think on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.
That requires transformation: “It's in our hearts where everything we do begins.” Which is why we must “Align our mind with Christ's mind, so that we can have the mind of Christ.”
When this happens, we can answer Paul’s challenge: “Can you think clearly? Can you act rightly? Can you practice gentle peace?”
Changing our thought life is essential: “How do you change your thought life? When we change our thoughts and we think about different things, they will lead to different actions.”
This is not just about avoiding wrong thoughts but replacing them: “All we gotta do is say God, I need to put different thoughts in.”
6. The Practice of Peace
The sermon ended with a practical reminder: “Proper prior prayer prevents poor performance and provides patient peace and the practice of the presence of God.”
The call is to cultivate habits of prayer, thanksgiving, renewed thinking, and practicing God’s presence in daily life—because “The God of peace will be with you.”
✨ Summary:
Peace may be rare in our world, but God has provided a clear path. Acknowledge His nearness. Rejoice and let gentleness mark your relationships. Pray honestly, with thanksgiving. Guard your heart and mind with truth. And keep practicing the presence of God.
For when we do, we discover again that “The God of peace will be with you.”
🎙️ Sermon Recap
Title: How Do We Pursue the Unity of the Spirit?
Series: Cultivating Peace: A Witness of Reconciliation in a World of Division
Text: Matthew 18:15–20; Ephesians 4:1–16
Sermon Points:
🔹 1. Bear With Each Other Lovingly
“Jesus knows the human heart better than any of us know our own hearts and his instruction is going to be wiser than human invention.” His words in Matthew 18 are not about pushing people away, but bringing them close: “Matthew 18 is often read as if it were a process for kicking people out of the church. Jesus intended it as a means of keeping them in.”
And yet unity will never be automatic: “Unity will not happen by accident just because we all get along so swimmingly.” It takes every effort and that includes patience: “Bearing with each other lovingly is not the same as putting up with someone.”
“Patience can change the world.” This means slowing down, resisting reaction, and “having more patience for those whose lives reveal they’ve not had nearly the benefits in life that you have.”
🔹 2. Value the Gifts of Others Properly
Recognizing the Spirit’s work in others changes how we handle disagreement: “Recognizing that each one of us has been given gifts is a great preventative to conflict.”
True humility reflects Jesus: “Christ thought more highly of others than himself.” So we follow Him: “When we value gifts in others properly, we will seek to understand them.”
This requires a shift in our aim: “Genuine love is not a desire to make sure they know what I’m thinking. Genuine love is a desire to understand what they’re thinking.”
🔹 3. Speak the Truth Lovingly
Conflict will come, but our response matters: “We have to seek to understand them more than we seek to be understood.” And this must be direct: “Speaking the truth lovingly requires us to go to them and not to others about them.”
The goal is always restoration: “The selection of others is not for the purpose of building a case. Its goal is reconciliation, forgiveness, restoration.” Even in disagreement, we remember: “Even if they are sinning in the area of our concern, they still have something from which we need to benefit.”
Listening matters: “Someone who knows they have been heard is far more likely to be willing to own their own sin.”
🔹 4. Build One Another Up Lovingly
Unity grows through our words and actions: “We will build one another up through our words.” “Our gifts differ, but we are all needed and must be valued.”
This work isn’t easy: “When we make every effort to pursue the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, we will not go unscathed.” But we are never alone: “Jesus promises to be present with us in this peacemaking process.”
He joins our work: “Just as there is a third party stalking our conflicts, there is a much greater third party that joins us in making every effort toward unity.” His presence fuels our faith: “The obedience required to walk in these peaceful ways of Jesus is fueled by his presence.”
So we move forward with this confidence: “There is no need to go alone when you seek peace. Jesus himself will meet you there.”
🙏 Recap & Response
This is a call to courage in community. “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Pray for humility. Look for the Spirit’s gifts in others. Speak the truth lovingly. Build with your words. And trust that when you step toward reconciliation, Jesus will step in with you.
🎙️ Sermon Recap
Title: What If Peace Isn’t the Safe Option
Series: Cultivating Peace: A Witness of Reconciliation in a World of Division
Text: Matthew 10:34 to 39
Sermon Points:
Vulnerability
Aversion
Venturing
🔹 1. Vulnerability
We often talk about peace as though it’s soft and soothing, but Jesus reframes peace as something far more courageous. His words in Matthew 10 are shocking: “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” But the sword, as we learned, is not for violence. It is the cost His followers might bear for daring peace in a divided world.
“Peace sounds like a good idea until it demands that we step into no man’s land.”
“Real peace requires someone to be vulnerable, risk rejection and exposure, knowing that they might be misunderstood.”
“Peace is born when someone dares to cross enemy lines not with weapons, but with open hands.”
Following Jesus demands more than agreeing with doctrines. It means living the way of the cross, choosing costly grace over comfort.
“Jesus didn’t bring peace at the cost of truth, but peace at the cost of himself.”
“We follow Jesus not by walking the same physical road, but by walking in his ways, imitating his way of life.”
“Walking how Jesus walked is quite different from simply believing that one day I’ll go to heaven.”
“True fishers get wet. You can’t stay dry and clean fishing for people.”
🔹 2. Aversion
Jesus’ words expose our tendency to avoid discomfort. We like the idea of peace, but we also like the idea of safety. However, the gospel does not coddle us into comfort. It transforms us through cross shaped love.
“These verses are describing the consequence of obedience to Jesus, not actions that we take against others.”
“Jesus is describing what happens to those who follow him faithfully, not what his followers should do to others.”
“Peace must be dared. It is the great venture. It can never be made safe.”
“What are the trenches that feel safer to us than the peace that Christ calls us to?”
“The path of safety and security does not bring peace. It brings the church losing its candlestick.”
This is why cheap grace is so dangerous. It offers a gospel with no cost, no repentance, and no transformation.
“We coddle people into the Kingdom and keep them the same way we called them in. We offer a gospel that requires no change, no cost. That’s not the gospel of Jesus. Cheap grace is grace without the cross, grace without the living incarnate Jesus Christ.”
“Our aversion to costly grace leads us to echo the serpent with the question, has God really said?”
🔹 3. Venturing
Jesus does not just ask us to believe in Him. He invites us to stake our lives on His way of peace.
“Jesus doesn’t just call us to believe in him. He calls us to believe him.”
“Peace is not just a feeling. It’s a governing reality.”
That means following Him into the places we would rather avoid. It might look like having a hard conversation, giving sacrificially, or initiating reconciliation. And often, that step feels like death. But it is the path to resurrection.
“Maybe avoiding difficult conversations with your spouse might feel safe, but it never leads to peace.”
“Giving generously is not just about money. It’s about peace, about restoring what is broken.”
“Clinging to our money keeps us in the trench. Generosity ventures peace.”
“Choosing safety never leads to carrying a cross, but it can never lead to resurrection either.”
“If we want the peace of Christ, we can’t cling to safety.”
“You don’t need to be fearless. You just need to follow the one who went first.”
🙏 Final Word
Jesus ventured peace when He entered Jerusalem on a donkey. Not to crush His enemies, but to be crucified by them. Now He turns to us and says, Follow me.
This kind of peace costs something. It always has. But this is how the world sees the cross. And this is how the world sees Christ in us.
✝️ Will you dare peace?
✨ Sermon Recap
Series: Cultivating Peace: A Witness of Reconciliation in a World of Division
Message 5: Let the Peace of Christ Rule Among You
Text: Colossians 3:12–17
Sermon Structure:
1. The Peaceable Rule of Christ
2. The Peaceable People of Christ
3. The Peaceable Apparel of Christ
4. The Peaceable Message of Christ
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📖 Introduction
What if peace is not merely something you feel but something that governs you?
In a world ruled by outrage and anxiety, Colossians 3 does not treat peace as a soft option but as a bold command. This message invites us not just to enjoy peace but to be shaped, clothed, and ruled by it.
“Peace is not a feeling; it is a governing reality among God’s people.”
“Peace must rule; it’s not optional in gospel culture.”
“There is no gospel culture where peace does not rule.”
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1️⃣ The Peaceable Rule of Christ
The call to peace is a call to be governed by Jesus himself. Not by our inner feelings or external panic, but by the Prince of Peace.
“Let Christ’s message dwell among you richly. Christ’s peace must rule in your hearts.”
“He governs how it works.”
“The peace that rules us comes from Christ, not from ourselves. It’s something we receive and submit to.”
“Whatever aligns with the character and way of Jesus is right. Whatever violates that peace is not.”
We are either ruled by Christ’s peace or by the world’s panic.
“Far too often, the church listens more to the spirit of Pan than to the voice of Jesus.”
“Jesus is not like Pan. Panic maintained his life through fear. Jesus through sacrifice.”
“The temple of panic will be rebuilt not in stone, but in our hearts, in our habits.”
“Let’s not be another echo chamber of the world’s panic.”
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2️⃣ The Peaceable People of Christ
Paul grounds this peace in our identity: chosen, holy, and dearly loved. These aren’t mere labels. They are a mission.
“The church is to be the model of peace so the world might know it.”
“We have a serious case of mission drift.”
“We scroll, consume, and react hook, line, and sinker.”
Our calling is not only to know peace but to show peace together.
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3️⃣ The Peaceable Apparel of Christ 👚
God’s people are given garments to wear. These are not fabric or thread but the character of Jesus. Peace grows in communities who choose to clothe themselves with Christ.
“These garments are not made of thread and fabric. They’re woven from Christ’s own character.”
Ask yourself:
“Are you wearing kindness in your relationships?”
“Are you wearing Christ’s gentleness?”
“Don’t leave the house without putting humility on.”
Forgiveness is a hallmark of gospel clothing:
“Forgiveness means releasing others from what they owe us, even legitimate grievances.”
“Put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
None of this is automatic. It must be practiced, put on, and worn daily.
“This is not weakness. It’s witness.”
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4️⃣ The Peaceable Message of Christ 📜
The peace of Christ only rules where the message of Christ dwells. This message is not just about Christ. It is Christ’s message. It teaches us what peace actually looks like.
“You can’t follow Christ and ignore His message. Christ’s peace can’t rule where Christ’s message doesn’t dwell.”
“Let Christ’s message dwell among you richly.”
When we let his words shape our speech, reactions, and instincts, peace begins to lead. And truth is not divorced from love. It is bound to it.
“Love without truth becomes hollow. Truth without love becomes harsh.”
“Peace describes a state or result of right relationships, wholeness, reconciliation, and the absence of hostility.”
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🕊️ Final Appeal
The world needs more than noise. It needs a witness.
“Peace is being reconciled with God and human beings in the body of Jesus Christ.”
“Let Christ’s message dwell among you richly. Christ’s peace must rule in your hearts.”
This is our culture. This is our calling. Let the peace of Christ rule.
a✨ Sermon Recap: The Power of Peace
Series: Cultivating Peace: A Witness of Reconciliation in a World of Division
Text: Acts 9, Ephesians 2, John 17, Isaiah 11, Colossians 1
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💬 “Peace is the foundation of the gospel that you and I believe.”
We often think of peace as soft, passive, or optional—but in the kingdom of God, peace is power. In this message, we’re reminded that peace isn’t just a side effect of salvation. It’s central to the work of Jesus and to our witness in the world.
Jesus doesn’t merely teach peace—
💬 “Jesus doesn’t just give us peace. He’s the embodiment of it.”
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1️⃣ The Power to Reconcile Enemies
The story of Saul and Ananias shows just how radical the gospel of peace is. Saul was a violent persecutor, Ananias a fearful believer—yet Christ intervened and made them brothers.
💬 “You have rage from Saul… and fear from Ananias… but the gospel made them brothers.”
💬 “Persecution against God's people is persecution against God because we are his body.”
💬 “Saul’s conversion is a witness of the gospel’s power—for all of us in here, and for those outside the church.”
What happened between them wasn’t tolerance or avoidance—it was true reconciliation, rooted in Christ.
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2️⃣ From Uniformity to Unity
The church is not meant to be a collection of identical people. Gospel peace doesn't erase differences—it brings wholeness through them.
💬 “We’re more diligent to preserve uniformity over unity.”
💬 “Be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
💬 “The gospel reconciles entirely different ethnic groups into one body.”
True unity requires intentional work. It calls us beyond comfort and sameness into a shared life where gentleness, humility, and forgiveness hold us together.
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3️⃣ Prophetic Witness in a Divided World
The world is desperate for solutions to conflict—but the church isn’t called to fix everything. We’re called to embody something better: peace that flows from the cross.
💬 “Our reconciled witness is prophetic.”
💬 “If we can’t learn to handle micro level conflict… how are we ever going to help the world in big macro level conflicts?”
💬 “The church is called to be the pilot project of a new humanity.”
This means we don’t respond with outrage or retaliation. Instead, we offer another way—the way of Jesus, who turns enemies into family and outcasts into witnesses.
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4️⃣ Peace That Forms Us
Peace is not passive. It is formed in us as we follow Jesus. It reshapes our instincts, our conversations, our relationships. As we walk in it, we’re changed.
💬 “Jesus guides our feet into the path of peace.”
💬 “Love doesn’t mean silence—it means we speak what is true in gentleness.”
💬 “It is your glory to overlook a transgression.”
💬 “When you are behaving or acting as if you love someone, you will presently come to love them.”
Peace is both a destination and a discipline. It demands courage, especially when it’s easier to walk away or strike back. But peace is our calling, our identity, and our witness.
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🕊️ Final Reflection
💬 “We are agents of peace. We are ministers of reconciliation.”
💬 “Our approach to the Christian life is more likely to be an expression of our sociology than our Christology.”
Let this message confront not just our theology, but our posture. Are we peaceable people in how we live, speak, serve, and post online? Are we letting Christ’s peace rewire us, or are we defaulting to the divisions around us?
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📣 Next Steps
• Where do you need to extend peace this week—in your home, workplace, or church family?
• Who have you labeled an enemy that Jesus might be calling “brother” or “sister”?
• What would it look like for the circle of violence to end with you?
Let’s not just talk about peace—let’s cultivate it, and in doing so, become a witness of reconciliation in a world desperate for something different.
✨ Sermon Recap
Title: The Aroma of Gentleness: A Witness of Peace in a World of Division
Texts: Matthew 11:28–30, Matthew 21:5, Galatians 5:22–23, Philippians 4:5, Colossians 3:12, 1 Timothy 6:11, 2 Timothy 2:22–26
Series Theme: Cultivating Peace
Sermon Points:
💛 Gentleness and the Heart of Christ
At the center of this message is an often overlooked truth: “Gentleness is the embodiment of humility.” Jesus doesn’t begin our discipleship with harsh demands or impressive power, but with this invitation: “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.”
We see this in His entry into Jerusalem, not on a war horse, but a donkey. “Christ’s triumph was through gentleness, not violence.” This wasn’t weakness. This was the powerful clarity of heaven’s peace strategy.
Gentleness, the message reminded us, “is the bodily expression of humility.” But it’s not rooted in shame or low self worth. It flows from how we see others. “Christ was not humble because he viewed himself poorly. He was humble because he viewed others highly.”
That’s the life Jesus offers us, a rest from striving. “There is great rest and a light yoke when we cease trying to be the king of whatever hill lies before us.”
Because in the kingdom of God, “the burden of loving others is much lighter than the burden of loving ourselves.”
And “you’re never free to love others when you’re too busy trying to love yourself.”
🔥 Gentleness and the Work of the Spirit
Paul’s transformation from violent zeal to Spirit shaped gentleness reveals the inner work Christ does in us. His example reminds us: “Zeal is good, but let’s be zealous for love.”
True gentleness is not manufactured by willpower. It is a fruit of the Spirit. It begins when we die to self and allow Christ to live in us. “That’s how we know someone has been crucified with Christ — their violence has been replaced with gentleness.”
This requires restraint and replacement. “Self control speaks to what we stop. Gentleness speaks to what we replace it with.”
The Spirit doesn’t just produce gentleness in abstract. It grows in us when we stop defending our pride and start embodying humility. “Violence is a lack of self control. To be sure, gentleness is only possible by self control.”
🎯 Gentleness and the Way of Leadership
Too often, leadership is shaped by charisma or ambition rather than Christlikeness. The church must not follow worldly success models. “More important than numerical growth is Christlikeness.”
But here’s the trap: “We are usually convinced of the goodness of something by its success, and by that, I mean worldly success.”
And in ministry, that often shows up in how we pursue bigger buildings or crowds. “Flee from all this… this greed, this desire to get rich, and pursue gentleness.”
There’s nothing wrong with growth. But “growth isn’t bad. What Paul is saying is that we can’t pursue righteousness and gentleness while making growth the goal.”
And within the grind of leadership? “Endurance is often enduring people.”
This is where the character of Christ must be formed. We lead not by power, but by presence.
🌍 Gentleness and the Witness of the Church
What does the world see when it sees the church?
It sees a people marked by peace when it sees gentleness, not rage, not defensiveness, not aggression. “If we view others as less important than ourselves, we will not be gentle.”
But if we put others above ourselves, “let your gentleness be what people see most when they see you.”
In a divided, hostile age, “we need the secret weapon of gentleness in an age of us against them.”
The watching world has seen enough harsh religion and swaggering theology. It’s longing for the aroma of grace. “Gentleness is what allows us to be both truthful and compassionate at the same time.”
And that starts with remembering who we follow. We are not being called to be right all the time. “We don’t have to carry the burden of being right all the time.”
That is freedom. That is rest. That is the way of Jesus.
🙏 Final Word
We close where the sermon began, with the invitation from Jesus:
“Come to me… and I will give you rest.”
What if the most countercultural witness we offer the world is this:
“The most countercultural thing that you can do may be to answer with a gentle word, a patient spirit, and a humble heart.”
🕊️ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Cultivating Peace: A Witness of Reconciliation in a World of Division
Week 2 – “Bind Your Feet”
Isaiah 8:6–8; Isaiah 52:7; Luke 1:76–79; Acts 10:36; Ephesians 6:14–15
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🛑 1. Detours in the Path of Peace
Peace is not peripheral to the gospel—it is embedded in its very nature. And yet, so often we miss it. Why? Because we don’t expect to see it.
“If we don't talk about peace, we're not going to see it where it is.”
Scripture repeatedly links grace and peace, not just as poetic phrases, but as the natural outflow of salvation:
“Grace and peace... both of them were put parallel, because if we've been by God's grace restored into relationship with Him, then we must live at peace with others.”
But detours abound—political allegiances, theological distortions, cultural fears, and the myth of redemptive violence. Isaiah spoke of people rejecting the "gently flowing waters of Shiloh," trusting instead in military might:
“They had rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloh and had embraced security and safety in the military powerhouse.”
“Like Jerusalem in Jesus' day, Israel rejected the peace God offered and believed the sword was a better path to peace.”
This false path leads to destruction, not shalom.
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🤝 2. Differences and Peace
Real peace doesn’t ignore differences. It works through them.
“We show the power of the gospel when we pursue peace despite our differences, disagreements, and discomforts.”
Peter had to learn this lesson, painfully and publicly, when he was sent to Cornelius’ house—a national enemy, cultural outsider, and political threat. And yet:
“Jesus came to guide our feet into the paths of peace, but we often find we are being detoured.”
Paul and Peter’s public dispute in Galatians showed that peace isn’t avoiding conflict—it’s addressing it biblically:
“Peace isn't about ignoring problems. It addresses them.”
In marriages, friendships, churches—too often we mistake silence or suppression for peace. But peace may sound like a hard conversation. It may look like a confrontation... followed by forgiveness:
“Real peace sometimes requires difficult conversations, active listening, repentance, and forgiveness.”
The early church practiced this.
Do we?
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🥾 3. Desperately Needing Preparation
Paul tells us in Ephesians to strap peace onto our feet:
“Bind your feet with the preparedness that belongs to the gospel, whose innate quality is peace.”
This isn’t decorative footwear—it’s daily armor. It’s not natural; it must be learned, rehearsed, practiced:
“The practices that bring peace will also be difficult, like taking up a cross and following Him.”
“It takes training to acquire reflexes.”
Like Dirk Williams, who turned back to save the life of the man chasing him to his death:
“Dirk turned back to rescue his enemy.”
“If we are going to perform the faith, we can't wait until the day of the performance.”
We don’t just need the message of peace. We need the muscle memory for peace—formed through small acts of courage, forgiveness, and community accountability.
“We need to bind our feet with the gospel of peace, or we will walk in all sorts of ways we ought not walk.”
And so we ask again:
“The Lord is still guiding His people's feet into paths of peace.”
Are we following?
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🌱 Recap & Response
The gospel of Jesus is a gospel of peace—not just between God and humanity, but between peoples, cultures, and even enemies.
“The world that divides people from each other—the gospel unites them.”
“This tearing down of the walls of division consumes a significant portion of our New Testaments.”
It’s time to resist the world’s cycles of suspicion, fear, and violence. To unlearn retaliation. To tie peace to our feet so we walk nowhere without it.
“Let the Christians of the world agree that we will not kill each other.”
This week, ask:
👣 Where have I walked away from peace?
👣 Who is the “Cornelius” God is calling me toward?
👣 What does binding peace to my feet look like in my home, church, and community?
“Jesus brought peace by His blood being shed on the cross.”
“The Lord is still guiding His people's feet into paths of peace.”
May we walk in it.
Amen.
If this message stirred something in you and you are longing to grow in the ways of peace, justice, and gospel-shaped community, we invite you to join us at Gulf Coast Community Church. If you are searching for a church near me, a non denominational church in St. Pete, or a non denominational church in St. Petersburg, we welcome you. Our desire is to be a local expression of Christ’s kingdom in St. Petersburg, rooted in Scripture, shaped by grace, and committed to reconciliation.
✨ Sermon Recap
Cultivating Peace: A Witness of Reconciliation in a World of Division
June 29, 2025 – Gulf Coast Community Church
🌿 Introduction
We began a new series that invites us to become a people of peace in a divided world. This message set the foundation by asking:
We live in a world fraying at the edges — not just globally, but in our homes, our churches, and our inner lives. We are constantly being formed — or deformed — by patterns of conflict and violence.
Peace isn’t just the absence of tension. It’s the fruit of something deeper, something rooted in God’s nature and the work of Christ.
✋ 1. Why Do We Need Peace?
From playgrounds to parliaments, we see what happens when peace is absent.
“If we can't learn to handle micro level conflict… how are we ever going to help the world in big macro level conflicts?”
We are vengeful children apart from grace. The pattern of this world is driven by fear, self-preservation, and violence. It takes intentional formation to become something different.
💗 2. What Do We Mean by Peace?
Peace isn’t just inner calm — it’s relational wholeness.
Peace and love are bound together. “Just as the opposite of love is hate, the opposite of peace is violence.”
To follow Jesus, we must understand that “we must learn to fight differently.”
🛡️ 3. How Does Peace Transform Our Warfare?
Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 10 that though we live in the world, we do not fight as the world fights.
This is the upside-down warfare of the kingdom. We give up the weapons of the world to embrace the cross-shaped tools of gospel peace.
In this way, we sow righteousness.
“A harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
And we participate in a new kind of culture.
“We cultivate piety, justice, brotherly charity — that's love — faith and hope.”
✝️ 4. What Has God Done to Create Peace?
The cross is the place where hostility was absorbed and transformed.
“By rejecting Jesus’ peaceful ways, they were rushing headlong into violence, and Jesus wept.”
“All of our hostility toward God and man was poured on Jesus on the cross.”
“The circle of violence ended with Jesus.”
“The cross says it ends with me.”
This is how peace is not only made possible but modeled. We no longer retaliate. We surrender our rights to win and instead bear witness through sacrificial love.
🌱 Conclusion: The Call to Cultivate Peace
We are not called to escape conflict, but to redeem it. Not to overpower, but to overcome.
In a culture formed by outrage and division, we are invited to be reconcilers, bridge-builders, peacemakers. Not simply avoiding conflict, but actively cultivating the fruit of peace — in our homes, our churches, and our cities.
Let it end with us. 🙏
Let the circle of violence be interrupted by the cross we carry.
Let the world see in us the witness of reconciliation.
🎙️ Sermon Recap: IF We Love One Another
Text: John 13:34–35
Main Points:
1. A New Command
2. A Distinctive Witness
3. A Church the World Can’t Ignore
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📖 1. A New Command
In the upper room, on the eve of his crucifixion, Jesus gave his disciples a new command — not in the sense that love was new, but in the quality and standard of that love:
“We are loved unconditionally by God, but the condition of the world knowing we are his disciples is this—if we love one another.”
Jesus didn’t leave love undefined. He modeled it through foot washing, forgiveness, and ultimately, through the cross. This is not love based on agreement, convenience, or compatibility. It’s something deeper:
“The kind of love Jesus is calling you and me to is an unconditional commitment to imperfect people.”
In giving this command, Jesus made something radically clear:
“Love, church, it’s not just your duty—it is evidence.”
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🌎 2. A Distinctive Witness
Jesus tied the credibility of our witness to how we love one another. Not our theology. Not our music. Not our programming. Just this: love.
• “Our witness is not automatic. It's actually conditional.”
• “I don’t think the problem is people don’t want Jesus. I think they’re having a hard time seeing Jesus because of us.”
What people see in the local church may be the only “Jesus” they ever encounter. And what will they find?
“Is it obvious that the relationship we profess to have with Jesus is actually functioning in relationship with one another?”
It’s possible for churches to be vibrant in form, but lacking in love. That’s why Jesus' “if” carries so much weight.
• “It’s possible to simultaneously be doctrinally sound and relationally cold.”
• “If our doctrine really, truly is sound, we will love one another.”
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🕊️ 3. A Church the World Can’t Ignore
When churches are full of gossip, pride, and cliques, it betrays the very thing Jesus said would define us.
“The church shoots its wounded instead of seeks to heal their wounded.”
But imagine something better. A church marked by gentleness, grace, forgiveness, and unity:
• “Love does not mean silence about what’s true—it means we speak what is true in gentleness.”
• “Love without truth becomes hollow. Truth without love becomes harsh.”
• “Knowledge has informed me. It’s never transformed me. Love has transformed me.”
This is how we become the kind of church people notice—not for polish, but for presence. Not for production, but for love.
• “Let’s not just attend church—be a local church the world can’t ignore.”
• “They love one another. I don’t know what else they’re about, but I know this—they love one another.”
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🙏 Recap & Response
We are works in progress, but Jesus calls us to walk in love anyway:
“We’re already declared righteous and will never be declared more righteous, but on the ground… we’re works in progress.”
So let’s walk humbly:
“Recommit daily to humility. Teachability. Guard against spiritual pride or the idea that we’ve arrived.”
And when we fall short, let’s be quick to extend grace:
“Be quick to forgive Gulf Coast, and slow—to take offense.”
This is the kind of love that makes Jesus visible. This is the “if” that matters.
💗No Greater Love
Text: John 15:1–17
Sermon Points:
1️⃣ God in the Garden
In John 15, Jesus reveals something profound: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.” This is not just poetic language—it is a return to Eden, a picture of what we were created for.
From the beginning, God has been tending to His creation. “God does what is best for the garden, so it thrives.” Even when humanity walked away from Him, “God has never stopped working this good work.” And He proved this love by stepping into the soil of our broken world: “The garden maker, he was mocked and murdered by his own creation.”
Why? Because “God, as a man, gave up his life so that we could live.” In Jesus, “the true vine, the source of all life,” God is creating a new Eden.
2️⃣ A Thriving Garden
We all want to flourish, but there is a way the garden works. Jesus says, “Apart from me, you can do nothing.” He invites us to “remain in me as I also remain in you.” True fruitfulness comes from abiding.
But to thrive, we must be pruned. “What does it take for a garden to thrive? Well, a thriving garden has branches removed if there’s no fruit.” This is not punishment—it’s care: “Pruning is good. It's what the garden needs to be more fruitful.” Jesus tells his disciples, “You’ve been pruned because of the word I have spoken to you.”
Many of us are doing good things—serving, loving, helping. But “a healthy church can't be mass produced, and our lives can't be shaped by cheap substitutes for growth.” Transformation takes time. “If we want to bear lasting fruit, it is slow. That God does his work by his Spirit.”
Discipleship is not optional. “To be a disciple is to be a learner.” And over time, “we reflect Jesus with our lives as we learn from him.” Because “if we’re not looking more like Jesus, there’s a problem.”
3️⃣ A Boundless Garden
Jesus calls us to Himself not with guilt, but with love. “It starts with his love for us, and then we love him.” He says: “You are my friends if you do what I command.” His commands are rooted in relationship.
God wants us to thrive, not just as individuals, but together. “You’ve set time aside today to fix your eyes on Jesus. The gathered people of God—we are abiding together today.” Abiding is both personal and communal: “Abiding or remaining requires time and attentiveness.”
Yet everything around us fights this. “Our world is designed to rip us from the vine.” We are constantly hurried, distracted, and tempted by what looks like life but leaves us dry. Still, Jesus offers more: “His love is boundless, his care for you is boundless. It’s endless. It’s pouring over.”
And so we ask: “What is trying to pull you away from the vine?” What would it look like for you to trust again, to slow down, and to abide?
Because in the end, “there’s no greater love.”
🛐 Let This Take Root:
Let’s not be known merely for programs, events, or appearances. “I don't want it to be known for me... I want it to be known for our love. That is what a healthy church is known for.”
May we be a people of deep connection, long-term fruit, and enduring love—rooted in the True Vine.
🎙️ Sermon Recap: “The Liberating Power of the Spirit”
Part of the Isaiah Series: A New Understanding of Everything
On Pentecost Sunday, we concluded our journey through Isaiah by reflecting on Isaiah 61 and the Spirit's liberating work—then, in Jesus, and now, in us. The sermon titled “The Liberating Power of the Spirit” explored how the Holy Spirit brings true freedom—not by worldly definitions, but by the power of Christ’s redemptive mission. The message was structured around three movements:
1. A Liberating Power
2. A Liberating Prince
3. A Liberating People
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🔥 1. A Liberating Power
Freedom, as the world often defines it, is misunderstood. “Paul did not mean everything the word freedom could mean.” The Spirit’s freedom is not about doing whatever we want—it’s about healing, restoration, and wholeness.
Isaiah 61 outlines a vision where those who are poor, brokenhearted, and in captivity are met with good news, healing, and release. This is not abstract. It’s tangible, real, and transformational. “The total transformation of a person from grief and loss to comfort and restoration…this is freedom.”
And this freedom touches every dimension of human life. “For Jesus, spiritual and physical freedom were all of a piece.” His mission was holistic, and so is the Spirit’s work in us.
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👑 2. A Liberating Prince
Jesus embodied the mission of Isaiah 61. He was anointed by the Spirit to liberate, restore, and renew. His ministry shows us what it means to bring freedom in both word and deed. “The liberating power of the Spirit is about total human liberation and pursues the restoration of the totality of God’s creation to Shalom—peace, wholeness, completeness.”
Jesus didn’t just preach freedom, He enacted it. His life, death, and resurrection were the Spirit’s liberating work breaking into the world. As He was empowered, so too are we.
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🌍 3. A Liberating People
Pentecost was not the end—it was the beginning of a new people, empowered by the same Spirit who anointed Jesus. “We are a liberated and liberating people.” We are not only recipients of freedom—we are agents of it.
“The Spirit empowers us to be a liberating people.”
“The Spirit not only set them free, but he will now send them to set others free.”
We see this mission continuing through the early church. “Can it be demonstrated that we carry on the liberating ministry that the Spirit gave Jesus? Yes, it can.” The Spirit-filled community in Acts healed, comforted, reconciled, and set captives free in body, soul, and society.
But liberation is not always clean or easy. Often, it comes at great cost. “Paul and his team were willing to suffer to bring freedom to others.” In Christ’s Kingdom, freedom comes through sacrifice.
“We must also be willing to be led captive in Christ’s triumphal procession, taking up our cross for the comfort and freedom of others.” This is the paradox of the Gospel—our freedom leads to laying down our lives for others, so they too might walk free.
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✨ Closing Word
Pentecost reminds us not only that “the Spirit anointed Christ to proclaim your freedom and free you—Christ calls and empowers us to proclaim his liberating power and to liberate.”
This is not only personal. It’s communal, global, and cosmic.
“The liberating power of the Spirit is about total human liberation and pursues the restoration of the totality of God’s creation.”
May we be filled, transformed, and sent…freed by the Spirit, and freeing others in Jesus’ name.
✨ Sermon Recap: A World Transformed
Series: Isaiah – A New Understanding of Everything
Text: Isaiah 52:13–53:12
Sermon Points:
1️⃣ What Are You Buying and Eating?
Isaiah 55 opens with a bold and gracious invitation to a feast: not one we purchase with money, but one we receive through surrender. This is a call not to spend our energy on what doesn’t truly satisfy.
"It isn't about what we say we value, but about the daily decisions we make."
We often claim to follow Jesus while clinging to the world’s economy of value. But the kingdom turns that economy upside down:
"God's measure of value isn't money. It's mercy. It's grace. It's forgiveness. It's patience. It's humility. It's love."
This new way of living is not something we tack onto our busy lives. "You can't just add a commitment to the Lord to all your other commitments. Something has to go away." The invitation is clear: come hungry, come thirsty, and exchange your logic for God’s logic.
2️⃣ What Is It Costing You?
This exchange isn’t free—it costs us our way of thinking. Yet ironically, it also reveals the true cost of holding onto the world's wisdom. As Isaiah says, “Why spend money on what is not bread and your labor on what does not satisfy?”
"God invites us to exchange our logic for how to live, for his logic for how to live."
This reordering must reach deep into how we understand our lives. "God has done something to remake the world and he is in the process of remaking it." Living in light of that changes everything—from how we speak, to how we wait, to how we spend.
Patience, for example, is not a cultural virtue, but it's kingdom-critical. "You must be a slow cooker when it comes to anger."
Why? Because "that isn't a calculator for Christ's return, but a calculator for how long we should endure others."
That’s a radical reframe. It leads us to become peaceable, gentle, and open to God’s timing in every relationship.
And when it comes to generosity, we move from ownership to stewardship:
"We are to share what we have beyond our daily provision until all of us have our daily provision."
Our cultural logic tells us to hoard and secure. God’s wisdom says give.
"The real issue in the world is not the unequal distribution of wealth, but the unequal distribution of sacrificial love."
When we live that way, God provides:
"God will abundantly provide you with resources to distribute to his people when you realize that's the purpose of them."
3️⃣ Are You Transformed and Transforming?
Isaiah 55 doesn't just call us to change—it shows us the kind of world that begins to emerge when we do. When we take on God's ways, the transformation in us spills into the world around us.
"Isaiah's invitation is not about an altar call, but about a living sacrifice."
This is not a one-time moment—it’s a daily way of life.
"Before Creation is renewed, hearts must be remade."
As we follow in the footsteps of the Servant King, living lives marked by grace, patience, and generosity, the world itself begins to respond. Isaiah uses poetic language to say: the mountains sing, the trees clap, the wilderness blooms. Signs of Eden start to emerge again.
"Signs of Eden begin to appear."
✨Final Encouragement
Let that one exchange begin the transformation. And as you do, may joy and peace go with you—“for an everlasting sign that will endure forever.”
✨ Sermon Recap
Title: God’s Satisfying Solution to Humanity’s Rebellion
Series: Isaiah: A New Understanding of Everything
Text: Isaiah 52:13–53:12
"Isaiah 53 is God's answer to the deepest human problem."
This week we arrived at the heart of Isaiah’s vision—God’s unthinkable, glorious response to humanity’s endless rebellion. Isaiah 53 confronts us with a radically different kind of power, one that overturns our assumptions and reshapes our hope.
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🚨 1. Shocking
Isaiah describes a servant who comes not in strength, but in suffering. God's chosen method of salvation doesn't look like victory in the eyes of the world—it looks like loss.
The servant’s appearance and manner do not draw us in. Instead, we are repelled—just as the world is repelled by humility and sacrifice. And yet, this is precisely where God's wisdom is revealed.
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💔 2. Atoning
What the world calls failure, God calls redemption. The servant’s suffering is misunderstood, but it is exactly what reconciles us to God.
We often look at affliction and assume someone must be in the wrong. But the cross flips the script. It reveals that healing comes not from avoiding pain, but from absorbing it with mercy.
The cross is not a loophole. It’s a love so deep it transforms justice itself. Forgiveness is not God ignoring sin—but God bearing it in Himself.
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🔄 3. Transforming & Expanding
God’s solution does not end with forgiveness—it creates a new kind of people. The servant’s atoning work forms a community that lives differently in the world.
The ripple effects of this salvation keep expanding through His people.
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🙏 Final Takeaway
The servant's story is not only Jesus' story—it's the calling of His people. The shocking wisdom of the cross reshapes us into a community of compassion, justice, and humble power. Let’s live into that story this week.
Sermon Recap: The Servant & The Conqueror
Series: A New Understanding of Everything
In a world obsessed with power, might, and winning, Isaiah 42 and Matthew 12 invite us to reconsider what true victory looks like. The victory of God doesn’t come by crushing enemies—it comes through a servant who restores, reconciles, and redeems.
📌 Point 1: A New Old Way to Conquer
“Followers of Jesus, you are going to conquer, but it’s not going to be severed heads.”
The Servant in Isaiah 42 doesn't wage war with shouts or sword. He conquers through gentleness and compassion.
God’s way of conquering has never been rooted in domination.
This isn’t weakness. It’s divine strength—marked by mercy and the power to reconcile enemies to God.
📌 Point 2: The Servant and His Conquest
From Eden to Abraham, from Isaiah to Jesus, God has always worked through a people called and blessed to bless others.
Now the Servant, fully revealed in Jesus, fulfills that mission.
This means every church, every believer, becomes part of this global mission: justice to the ends of the earth.
📌 Point 3: Healed Hands for Conquering
This calling isn't abstract—it’s deeply practical. It shows up in how we serve, pray, forgive, restore, and reach.
We can’t do this on our own, but Jesus heals and equips us.
And when we are near to him, we’ll begin to see it firsthand:
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🙌 Final Encouragement:
This is the good news: victory is already assured. Jesus, the Servant, has conquered through the cross—and now we are invited to join the mission. We don’t fight with weapons of this world but with lives shaped by humility, mercy, and Spirit-empowered justice.
Let’s go into the week with open eyes, ready hands, and hearts aligned with the Servant King. His justice is going to the coastlands. Let’s be close enough to see it.
Sermon Title: “The Way of the Wilderness” (Isaiah 40:1-11)
Series: A New Understanding of Everything
🧭 Sermon Summary:
Isaiah 40 opens with a shocking message to exiled, broken people: “Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. After years of judgment, God speaks with tenderness and hope. This isn’t shallow optimism—it’s a deep, restorative word for weary hearts. The message is clear: only God can truly comfort exiles.
We live in a modern wilderness—surrounded by distractions, discomfort, and false comforts. Our culture promises safety and ease, but in the end, these things leave us empty. Isaiah’s vision shows us a God who enters the wilderness, walks with us, and reshapes us through hardship.
God doesn’t abandon his people. He doesn’t ignore sin—but He doesn’t let it have the last word either. His comfort is not mere relief; it’s restoration. He disciplines not to destroy but to transform. And He does this as a Shepherd King—with power and gentleness.
💡 Key Themes:
🔥 Key Quotes:
📜 Scripture References (NIV):
Isaiah 40:1–2 – “Comfort, comfort my people... her sin has been paid for.”
Isaiah 40:3–5 – “Prepare the way for the Lord... the glory of the Lord will be revealed.”
Isaiah 40:10–11 – “He tends his flock like a shepherd... He gently leads those that have young.”
2 Corinthians 1:3–4 – “He comforts us... so that we can comfort those in any trouble.”
Ephesians 2:10 – “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works…”
Matthew 28:18–20 – “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
🙏 Closing Reflection:
Comfort in the wilderness is not about escaping the hardship—it’s about experiencing the presence of the Shepherd who walks with us. And as we receive His comfort, we are sent into the world to extend it.
🌿 Sermon Recap
Series Title: Isaiah: A New Understanding of Everything
Sermon Title: Eden in Unlikely Places
Text: Isaiah 35
Structure:
🌟 1. The Wonder of the Lord
Isaiah 35 opens with a shocking reversal of reality: “The desert and the parched land will be glad. The wilderness will rejoice and blossom like the crocus.” This is not sentimental optimism—it’s a revelation of who God is and how He works.
God shows up in the least likely of places. “God makes a garden in the most unlikely of places.” That’s because “God is full of wonder. He is sublime. Exalted in every way.” But we don’t always see it. That’s why “to see what Isaiah saw and to hear what Isaiah heard, we need the miracle of opening our eyes and ears.”
This is the kind of God who can make beauty from ashes, and glory from crucifixion: “Only a God who can create glory in a waterless desert… can say blessed are the poor in spirit.” The cross becomes the crown. And “a new way of understanding everything is to do so by the wisdom of the cross.”
💧 2. The Water of the Lord
God’s wonder doesn’t just sit on display—it flows. “Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.” This water is not merely natural, but spiritual: “The water may be Spirit, but its effects are total.”
Isaiah 35 isn’t just poetic—it’s prophetic. It points toward a Spirit-outpouring that reshapes the landscape of our lives: “Do you expect the water of the Spirit to be poured on the dry ground of our community?”
And even when our faith feels frail, God invites us forward: “We don’t need a lot of faith. A mustard seed will do.” In fact, “He can work with fearful hearts, feeble hands, and weak knees.”
The key is stepping into it—even before we feel ready. “When we walk in his ways, water will gush forth in our waterless lives.”
🛤️ 3. The Way of the Lord
But Isaiah 35 isn’t just about transformation—it’s about movement. “And a highway will be there. It will be called the Highway of Holiness.” The journey to Eden doesn’t go backward—it goes forward. “Something radically different is what Isaiah shows us, and the only way back is through the parched land.”
This path isn’t paved with comfort but with Christlikeness: “Walk this way. Follow me.” It’s a way shaped by the cross, by love for enemies, and by peace. “The way of holiness is a way of peace.”
The life of following Jesus is not escape—it’s transformation: “Our hope is of his return to complete the glorious work of the Kingdom.”
And we follow not in isolation, but as a people: “Every time we gather, we enter Zion in a joyful assembly.”
💖 4. The Wanted of the Lord
Perhaps the most beautiful truth of Isaiah 35 is that we are not just redeemed—we are wanted. “The Lord redeemed and ransomed us, not to dehumanize us, but to rehumanize us.”
You were not an obligation to God. You were His desire: “He redeemed us not because he needed us, but because he wanted us.” Our salvation was not transactional—it was relational.
And because of this, “we are not just going somewhere; we are going home.” Our exile is not the end of the story. “This new exodus is really about our return to Eden.”
So as we walk through the wilderness, we do so not in fear, but with singing. “They will enter Zion with singing everlasting joy will crown their heads.”
🎶 Closing Invitation
Isaiah 35 calls us to a life of faith—not flashy, but faithful. Not perfect, but pointed toward God.
So how do we get back to Eden?
“Not by going backward. But by going forward on the way of the Lord through the wilderness with eyes opened by the wisdom of the cross.”
The path is not for the strong—but for the willing. “A mustard seed will do.”
And best of all? “God makes a garden in the most unlikely of places.”
Series: A New Understanding of Everything
Sermon Recap: “Can You See the Lord” (Isaiah 6:1–13)
Theme: Encountering God's glory redefines our wisdom, holiness, and mission.
🌟 Isaiah: A New Understanding of Everything
“Can You See the Lord?”
Isaiah 6 takes us into the temple on a day the world felt like it was falling apart. King Uzziah had died, and the stability of a half-century reign had vanished. In this moment of disorientation, Isaiah encountered the Lord—and everything changed. The vision he received transformed his understanding of wisdom, holiness, and mission.
🧠 Wisdom Impossible
Isaiah's encounter begins with a radical confrontation of human understanding. God reveals Himself in glory—but Isaiah's first realization is how utterly incapable he and his people are of perceiving it.
In this divine wisdom, Isaiah saw something unexpected—a suffering King.
And so the question presses on us:
The vision upends everything we thought we knew—especially our assumptions about power, success, and what it means for God to rule.
🔥 Holy Impossible
Standing before the Holy One, Isaiah doesn’t feel inspired—he feels undone.
"When anyone’s eyes are opened and they have a revelation of the Lord, there is a sense in which they are ruined and undone."
He sees his own unclean lips, not because he swore, but because his very life was out of sync with God's holy love.
But God doesn’t leave him ruined. A coal from the altar is brought to his lips:
"This coal… is pointing us to that future sacrifice."
And in that burning grace, Isaiah is cleansed and commissioned.
✉️ Mission Impossible
The call comes: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Isaiah answers, “Here am I. Send me.” But the mission is not what anyone would expect.
"Isaiah’s mission is hard to swallow. Much like our own mission."
He is told to preach to people who will not see, will not hear, and will not respond. The world will get darker before it gets brighter. But still—he is sent.
"The goal of his mission is the healing of God’s people."
Even when everything appears destroyed, hope remains.
Isaiah saw a vision of a world transformed—not through domination, but through self-giving love. A world where even the fiercest are changed:
This isn't just about how we’re saved. It’s how we live.
"The cross isn’t just how we are saved, it’s how we live."
So, we end where Isaiah began—with the question that still echoes from that temple vision:
Series: The King and His Kingdom: If Jesus really is Lord… Then What?
Sermon Recap: "Seeing the Kingdom Clearly” (Matt. 16:28 - 17:27)
In this Sunday's sermon, we explored what it means to live fully in the reality of Jesus' Kingdom, drawing from Matthew 16:28 through chapter 17. The message was structured around three key points:
1. Right Vision in the New Reality 👓
2. Right Reliance in the New Reality 🙏
3. Right Respect in the New Reality 💡
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👓 Right Vision in the New Reality
"The disciples are with Jesus...watching the Kingdom of God as it is being established in this world by the king himself." And yet, even though they walked beside Jesus, they struggled to grasp the significance of what they were witnessing. Just like them, "we simply must learn to see the world differently." The sermon challenged us to recognize that "the Kingdom of God is flipping everything back right side up, but it demands a renewed worldview."
Indeed, "make no mistake that the message of Christ Kingdom demands a radical rejection of the old order." The old ways of power, control, and domination are passing away, because in Christ's Kingdom, "the evil doers and the wicked are destroyed...not by fire, but by redemption."
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🙏 Right Reliance in the New Reality
Following Christ requires more than just knowing about Him—it requires trusting in His active presence within us. "Critically, it is not an orphaned faith. It requires the Lord's presence to be an effective faith." As believers, we are reminded that "the spirit within us testifies to the Lordship of Jesus, which informs our faith."
The incredible reality is that "Jesus doesn't need a tent because he is about to make tabernacles of you." Christ Himself chooses to dwell among us and within us. Thus, "we are reliant on the King's personal presence. In us, with us, through us."
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💡 Right Respect in the New Reality
Finally, we considered what it means to engage the culture around us from a Kingdom perspective.
"Many American Christians...might be investing far too much worry...in politics and leaders...instead of the ways of the Kingdom." The sermon pressed us to reconsider our priorities: "What if we identified ourselves more closely with Christ Kingdom than a political tribe?" "What if we sought to be peacemakers before we sought to win an argument?"
We were reminded of Jesus' example: "Jesus sought not to cause offense. Out of his grace for their benefit, not for his." True respect in Christ’s new reality may mean giving earthly power structures exactly what they're due—no more, no less.
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🔥 Conclusion: Called to Kingdom Living
Ultimately, "the word this morning...has pointed us back to the Sermon on the Mount...to a radical new way of looking at the world." We don't have to live in fear or confusion, because "Jesus lifts them up from the ground, Jesus lifts them out of their fear," and "God touched them. This is a new thing that is happening."
May we step fully into this new Kingdom reality, transformed by His presence and empowered to live out His grace. 🌿
Series: The King and His Kingdom: If Jesus really is Lord… Then What?
Sermon Recap: "The King and His Kingdom: Follow the Breadcrumbs"
In our recent exploration of Matthew 14–16, we discovered how Jesus invites us to see His kingdom clearly and follow Him deeply. Jesus calls us not only to believe in who He is, but also to trust His ways—even when they're challenging or unexpected.
Here's the journey we took together, captured in three key insights from the sermon:
1️⃣ Clashing Kings and Kingdoms
We began by contrasting two kingdoms at war. "Herod wields power and fear. Jesus wields bread and healing. One takes life. One gives life." In the wake of John the Baptist’s death, Jesus’ response was profoundly different from Herod’s violent attack. Instead of fighting back with force, "Jesus not only goes on a feeding spree, he goes on a healing spree." He relentlessly pursued compassion.
The battlefield of Jesus’ kingdom isn’t political power or fear—it's compassionate action. Jesus made it clear: "He's unwilling to send the crowd away hungry." And still today, He calls His followers to join in: "Today, Jesus is still telling us to give them something to eat."
What kind of kingdom army does Jesus build? "You're going to bring bread to the hungry and healing to the sick. It's exactly the kind of army Jesus is forming." In this clash, the score is clear: "One dead John the Baptist, thousands upon thousands fed and healed. That's the stats of this war."
Jesus’ kingdom advances through generosity, not greed; love, not fear.
"Herod's kingdom functions on fear; Jesus' kingdom is motivated by compassion, love, gratitude, giving, and ministry to the sick."
2️⃣ Pure or Defiled Worship?
In our second point, we grappled with the condition of our hearts in worship. Pure worship is more than just religious activity—it's about genuine obedience to God’s will. The sermon challenged us deeply: "We cannot have pure worship when it is defiled by our greed."
Jesus confronts our tendency to justify selfishness spiritually, reminding us clearly: "We can't gloss over our greed with religious talk that justifies our stinginess." True worship is costly because it aligns our hearts with God’s mission: "God's mission for his church is for the whole church to bring the whole gospel to the whole world for the whole person."
Indeed, the call of His kingdom changes our priorities drastically. "There are a lot of things we could do if we weren't living sacrificially, aren't there? But we live differently because of the Kingdom." Pure worship seeks God’s glory over our comfort: "Pure and undefiled worship seeks to love God by doing what he said, not pretending to love God by seeking our own kingdoms."
3️⃣ Soaring and Sinking Faith
Finally, we acknowledged the reality of our human struggle in faith. Like Peter stepping onto stormy waters, we often start boldly but soon waver. "We too often step out of the boat after seeing who Jesus is but sink because we are disillusioned by how he works in the world."
Life with Jesus involves moments of incredible clarity followed by seasons of doubt. It's true for every believer that "our lives are often caught in the ebb and flow of soaring and sinking faith."
Yet the good news remains constant: even when our faith falters, Jesus is there. "Thank God for a savior who is right there to grab us by the hand and put us back on top of the water again."
💡 Final Thought: Jesus guides us by continually pointing us to Himself through small revelations: "Jesus is dropping bread crumbs. If we seek to understand them, they won't get carried away by the birds of the air." Let's follow those breadcrumbs carefully and courageously.
Series: The King and His Kingdom: If Jesus really is Lord… Then What?
Sermon Recap: A Severed Head and Abundant Bread
🌀 Introduction:
"Fear seems to run the world. It controls us, and it's our culture." The sermon "A Severed Head and Abundant Bread" from Matthew 14 challenges this mindset and reveals the stark contrast between the anxious kingdom of the world and the abundant Kingdom of God.
🌩️ Point 1: The Anxious Kingdom - "I won't have enough."
Our culture is dominated by anxiety and fear. This fear causes us to cling tightly to our possessions and personal security. "Holding onto our own comforts, our security, our dreams of how we think our Kingdom should be built can cause us to withhold stepping into the mess." When fear rules our hearts, we become hesitant to love generously or enter into the challenges others face.
🌿 Point 2: The Abundant Kingdom - "All I have has been given to me."
"Jesus shows his disciples and us how we're to live in his Kingdom without fear in a world that is filled with violence and greed." Unlike the fearful, anxious kingdom, "the abundant Kingdom is led by a king who gives abundantly." Jesus demonstrates this by feeding the five thousand, teaching us that true Kingdom living involves trusting God completely. "Jesus didn't just perform miracles, he was showing us how to live."
🙌 Point 3: Living in God's Kingdom
Jesus challenges his disciples and us to move beyond our perceived scarcity. "The disciples thought they needed more before they could give, but Jesus says give what you have." This is a powerful call to action: to trust God's limitless provision. "Jesus is challenging them to trust God's provision rather than their own limitations."
"Citizens of God's Kingdom enter the suffering of this world alongside others." Living in God's Kingdom means willingly stepping into the mess and pain of the world around us, confident that "God has given us everything we need. We don't need to fear anything in this life or even death itself."
🚀 Conclusion & Application
We are invited into a lifestyle of generosity and trust right now. "Let's not wait to have more before we start giving." By embracing generosity, compassion, and faith today, we demonstrate the abundant Kingdom of God to the world.
May this sermon challenge us to move from anxiety-driven scarcity to joyful generosity in the abundant Kingdom of Jesus 😊
Series: The King and His Kingdom: If Jesus really is Lord… Then What?
Sermon Recap: Good Wheat, Bad Wheat; Good Fish, Bad Fish ✨
1. The Ways of the Kingdom
In the Kingdom of God, greatness is often hidden in simplicity and humility. The sermon reflects on how Jesus calls us to serve quietly and diligently, often without earthly recognition.
"To be fruitful as sons of the Kingdom, we must be willing to wait for our reward, and meanwhile, we must be willing to appear small, hidden and insignificant, often until we die." This challenges us to pursue a life of quiet service, mirroring the way Jesus lived and taught.
📖 Matthew 20:26-28 (NIV): "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
2. The Worth of the Kingdom
The value of the Kingdom of Heaven surpasses all earthly treasures. The sermon calls us to realign our priorities and place God's Kingdom at the forefront of our lives.
"We must value the Kingdom of heaven as of greatest worth." This profound statement urges us to prioritize our spiritual commitments over worldly desires, recognizing the eternal significance of our choices.
📖 Matthew 13:44 (NIV): "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field."
3. The Wait for the Kingdom
The sermon emphasizes patience and faithfulness in our Kingdom work, highlighting that much of our efforts may remain unseen until the time God chooses to reveal their full impact.
"The Kingdom of Christ works through small hands. Small deeds. Small seeds planted under the ground where nobody can see them." This serves as a reminder that our daily, often unnoticed, acts of kindness and obedience are significant in God's eyes.
📖 James 5:7 (NIV): "Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains."
Here’s a summary of what the sermon said about Kingdom citizens:
Citizenship Defined by Action and Identity:
Kingdom citizens are described as those who not only hear the word of God but act on it, bearing fruit. They embody the parable of the good soil, receiving the word and producing a yield (Matthew 13:23). Their actions and lives reflect the values and teachings of the Kingdom of God.
Characteristics of Kingdom Citizens:
The sermon emphasizes that Kingdom citizens may often appear indistinguishable from others in the world, like the wheat and the darnel (weeds) that look alike until harvest. This metaphor underscores that true Kingdom citizens are recognized by their fruits—their actions and the outcomes of their lives (Matthew 13:24-30).
Role and Mission:
The mission of Kingdom citizens is to grow and produce the fruit of the Kingdom. This is tied to the idea of being faithful in small, often unseen acts ("The Kingdom of Christ works through small hands. Small deeds. Small seeds planted under the ground where nobody can see them"). This highlights that the significance of their role often lies beyond human visibility and acclaim.
Obedience and Faithfulness:
Kingdom citizens are called to be obedient and faithful. The sermon points out that Jesus didn’t instruct His followers to seek grandeur or worldly success but to remain faithful and obedient to God's teachings and commands ("Jesus doesn't tell the disciples to build big churches to become attractive to the world. He tells us to be faithful and obedient").
Value System:
The ultimate value and worth of the Kingdom of Heaven shape the life and priorities of Kingdom citizens. They are expected to value the Kingdom above all earthly possessions and achievements, illustrated by the parable of the treasure hidden in a field (Matthew 13:44), emphasizing the readiness to give up everything for the sake of the Kingdom.
Patience and Long-Term Perspective:
The sermon discusses the need for patience and a long-term perspective among Kingdom citizens. They are encouraged to endure and remain steadfast in their mission, even if it means they will not see immediate results or recognition ("To be fruitful as sons of the Kingdom, we must be willing to wait for our reward, and meanwhile, we must be willing to appear small, hidden and insignificant, often until we die").
Conclusion
"Jesus doesn't tell the disciples to build big churches to become attractive to the world. He tells us to be faithful and obedient." This directive focuses our mission on faithfulness rather than success by worldly standards, encouraging us to persist in our devotion regardless of the immediate outcomes.
"It all starts in Eden. Eden is that place where we had life on Earth as it was in heaven, so to speak, and we rejected God's rule." Reflecting on this, we are reminded of our original purpose and the perfect fellowship with God that we are called to restore through our obedience and pursuit of His Kingdom.
Let us continue to seek the Kingdom of God above all, striving to embody the virtues of patience, humility, and faithfulness in our daily lives.
Series: The King and His Kingdom: If Jesus really is Lord… Then What?
Sermon Recap: The Parable of the Silly Sermon ✨
Today's message, "The Parable of the Silly Sermon," explored what it truly means to embrace the Kingdom of Heaven and challenged us to rethink how we live as followers of Jesus. Our main scripture text was Matthew 13:1-23, known as the Parable of the Sower:
“That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: 'A farmer went out to sow his seed...’” (Matthew 13:1-3, NIV)
🌱 1. The Foolishness of the Farmer
We considered how God’s ways often appear unusual or impractical to our human understanding. The very essence of the gospel highlights this paradox:
"The idea that God would conquer death by dying in short, seems foolish."
“For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:21, NIV)
📖 2. The Foolishness of the Message
Jesus calls us into a Kingdom reality that we enter by fully submitting ourselves to Him:
"It's the message about how the Kingdom of heaven can be entered into right here, right now by submitting to a new King, Jesus."
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matthew 4:17, NIV)
This Kingdom message isn't about efficiency or worldly success. Instead:
"It is not a model for efficiency, but a model for displaying the character of the Kingdom."
🍇 3. The Foolishness of the Fruitful
The true challenge we face is living out the Kingdom message faithfully, even when it looks foolish to the world. We were asked a crucial question:
"Are you willing to live foolishly and be considered foolish by the world in order to be fruitful for Christ?"
“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:27, NIV)
Ultimately, the sermon reminded us that hearing the message isn't enough. We must allow it to shape our lives profoundly, or it serves no purpose:
"If it doesn't form us, we're wasting our time."
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22, NIV)
May we courageously embody the Kingdom and display its transformative power in our daily lives.
Series: The King and His Kingdom: If Jesus really is Lord… Then What?
Sermon Recap: The King’s Restoration Mission ✨
The call of Jesus is not one of comfort or isolation but one that sends his followers into the world with purpose. "Jesus isn’t building a private social club, but he thrusts his followers into a broken world in desperate need of restoration and calls them to begin that work, even at great risk to themselves." His mission is not about self-preservation but about sacrificial love, stepping into the needs of others with humility and compassion.
1️⃣ Restoring the Lowly
Sent with a Purpose 🚶♂️➡️🌍
When Jesus set out to change the world, he didn’t rely on power as the world defines it. He didn’t establish an army or political force. Instead, "When Jesus wanted something to take the world, he didn’t send in the tanks, he sent in the meek, the lowly, the humble." His strategy remains the same today. He calls his people to engage with the world through love, service, and humility rather than domination.
The Church: A Place of Healing 🏥
The church was never meant to be an exclusive gathering of the already well and strong. Rather, it is a place of transformation, where those in need of healing become healers themselves. "The church is the only hospital in which the patients are trained to be doctors, nurses, orderlies, even janitors and kitchen staff needed for the restoration mission." Every believer, no matter their background, is called to be a part of God’s restorative work.
2️⃣ Restorative Lambs
Sustained by the Lord of the Harvest 🌾
The mission is not easy. It is costly, tiring, and demands everything from those who follow Jesus. Yet, we are not called to carry this burden alone. "To survive the mission, we have to accept Jesus' summons to come to him, the Lord of the Harvest and the Lord of the Sabbath, so that he can rest us, renew us." True strength for the journey comes from being renewed in Christ, finding rest in his presence even as we continue his work.
Love at the Center ❤️
The methods of Jesus never change. They are not about overpowering or forcing change through might but about radical love and sacrificial service. "Jesus’ methods remain the same: love your enemies, even when it costs you everything." This love is not passive but actively seeks to restore and bring justice, even when it means suffering in the process.
3️⃣ The Restorative Lord
Living as Sacrificial Witnesses ✝️
The disciples were not merely messengers of the gospel; they were to reflect its very essence in how they lived. "Not only were they going to go and tell people about a king who gave himself up for them, they were to embody that same sacrificial spirit in how they approached the mission." The same is true for us today. The mission of Christ is not just about what we say but about how we live, serve, and love.
A Mission of Restoration 🌎✨
The gospel is not just about individual salvation—it is about God reclaiming and restoring all of creation under his rule. "If this is true, if the gospel is more than an individual experience and is really about God reclaiming his rule over creation, the church then is God’s newly restored people sent to bring that same renewal to all humanity, even to creation itself."
This is the high calling of every believer: to be a part of God’s mission to restore, heal, and bring his kingdom to bear on earth as it is in heaven. The question we must ask ourselves is—how will we respond? 💭
Quotes:
Sermon Recap: Messiah's Mission, Methods, and Message
Jerry Cisar — February 23, 2025
Text: Matthew 3:13-17; 4:1-11; 5 - 7
Living Out the King’s Message: Following Jesus in His Mission, Methods, and Message
“If Jesus really is King, then what?” This question challenges us to examine not just what we believe but how we live. The mission, methods, and message of Jesus set Him apart as a leader unlike any other. Unlike worldly rulers who seek power, prestige, or popularity, Jesus came in humility, bringing justice and restoration through obedience to the Father.
The Mission: Bringing True Justice ✨
“Justice was Jesus’ mission then, and it hasn’t changed now.”
Jesus came to restore what was broken. His baptism marked the beginning of His mission, where God declared, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Unlike worldly leaders who seek dominance, Jesus brought justice by healing, forgiving, and serving the least of these. This is a reminder that biblical justice is not about fairness alone—it is about restoration.
📖 Isaiah 42:1 – “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.”
💡 Reflection Question: Where in your life or community do you see injustice? How can you be part of God’s restoring work?
The Methods: Resisting Worldly Shortcuts 🛤️
“Jesus rejected the ‘live by bread alone’ option.”
Jesus was tempted with economic power (turning stones into bread), political power (ruling the kingdoms of the world), and religious power (performing miracles for recognition). Each time, He refused to take the shortcut. He chose the way of faithfulness, humility, and trust in God’s provision over worldly influence.
📖 Matthew 4:4 – “Jesus answered, ‘It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
📖 Deuteronomy 8:3 – “He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”
💡 Reflection Question: What are some ways we are tempted to seek influence, power, or comfort over faithfulness?
The Message: The Upside-Down Kingdom 🏡
“The message tells us the methods to accomplish the mission.”
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount gives us a radical way to live—love our enemies, be peacemakers, and trust God instead of seeking status. Building our lives on His words is like building on a firm foundation. Kingdom values are not about gaining power but about surrendering to God’s ways.
📖 Matthew 7:24-25 – “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”
📖 Matthew 5:44-45 – “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
💡 Reflection Question: How does the Sermon on the Mount challenge the way we live out our faith?
Practical Application: Walking in Jesus’ Ways 🛠️
“Anything to get a following—shortcuts to success—has never been the mission.”
Jesus’ way is not the easy way, but it is the right way. We are called to follow His methods, resisting the temptation to chase after power or popularity. Instead, we are to live out the upside-down values of the Kingdom in our daily lives.
📖 Romans 12:2 – “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
📖 Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
✅ Ways to Apply This Week:
Serve Together: Find a local need and commit to meeting it as a group or family.
Encourage One Another: Partner with someone to hold each other accountable in Kingdom living.
Pray for Justice: Identify an area of injustice and pray for God’s guidance on how to respond.
Study the Word: Read and reflect on a passage from the Sermon on the Mount.
Final Challenge: Who Gets Your Allegiance? 💡
“We know from His baptism to whom God the Father gives His rose. Who gets yours?”
Following Jesus is a daily commitment. The world tempts us with alternative paths to success and influence, but Jesus calls us to something greater. His justice, His methods, and His message are the only way to true life.
📖 Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
🙏 Prayer: Lord, transform our hearts to follow Jesus in His mission, methods, and message. Teach us to seek Your justice, to trust Your ways, and to build our lives on Your Word. Amen.
Quotes from the sermon...
1. “The problem isn’t that the devil offered Jesus a kingdom—it’s the kind of kingdom he was offering.”
2. “God’s justice isn’t just about fixing broken systems; it’s about healing broken people.”
3. “The world clamors for signs and wonders, but Jesus calls for faith and obedience.”
4. “If we are to follow Jesus, we must embrace His methods, not just His mission.”
5. “True power in the Kingdom comes from surrender, not dominance.”
6. “Jesus does not build His Kingdom the way the world builds kingdoms.”
7. “Satan wasn’t trying to keep Jesus from the kingdom; he was trying to redefine it.”
8. “The Kingdom of God grows not through force, but through faithfulness.”
9. “Who gets your allegiance? There are many options, but only one true King.”
10. “The world clamors for signs and wonders, but Jesus calls for faith and obedience.”
11. “God’s justice isn’t just about fixing broken systems; it’s about healing broken people.”
12. “The cross is the way, not just for salvation, but for how we live.”
13. “Jesus is not bringing justice by force but by self-sacrificing love.”
14. “We must be careful not to replace Jesus’ methods with the world’s shortcuts."
15. "Jesus is building his kingdom not by taking power, but by giving his life."
16. “Jesus’ reliance on Scripture in the wilderness shows us where our strength comes from.”
17. “The temptations were not just about Jesus proving He was the Son of God; they were about what kind of Son He would be.”
18. “If we are to follow Jesus, we must embrace His methods, not just His mission.”
19. “The temptation to take shortcuts to glory is as real today as it was for Jesus.”
Sermon Recap: The Generous Economy of the Kingdom
Jerry Cisar — February 16, 2025
Text: Matthew 6:25—7:6
This week's sermon took us on a deep dive into Matthew Chapter 6, exploring the profound implications of Jesus' teachings on how we are to live under His reign with trust, generosity, and wisdom.
Trust and Provision
The sermon began with a focus on trust, specifically concerning our daily necessities. The message emphasized the futility of worry about material needs, drawing attention to Matthew 6:25-34. We were reminded, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life," highlighting the unnecessary nature of worry when we consider God’s faithfulness in providing for all creation.
Key Quote:
"Do not worry about tomorrow; God's provision is always sufficient for today."
The Generosity of the Kingdom
Moving into the generous economy of God’s kingdom, the sermon explored the call to live with open hands, freely giving as we have freely received. This section was grounded in the vivid illustrations of Matthew 6:28-30, where the lilies of the field and birds of the air exemplify God's care for the smallest details of creation.
Key Quote:
"Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap, yet God feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"
The Problem of Worry
Addressing the problem of worry, the sermon urged us to consider our priorities and where we place our trust. Referencing Matthew 6:31-34, the call to "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness" was presented as the antidote to anxiety and fear.
Key Quote:
"Seek first His kingdom, and all these things will be added to you. Let faith replace your fears."
Judgment and Discernment
The sermon then tackled the challenging topic of judgment, based on Matthew 7:1-5. We were encouraged to look inward before casting judgment outward, considering our flaws and failures first before addressing the faults of others.
Key Quote:
"Why worry about a speck in your brother’s eye when you have a plank in your own?"
Sacred Generosity and Discernment
Concluding with the principles of sacred generosity and discernment, the sermon drew from Matthew 7:6, urging us to give wisely and well. This call to thoughtful, discerning generosity was tied into the broader theme of living in a manner worthy of the kingdom of God.
Key Quote:
"Do not throw your pearls before swine. Evaluate the sacredness of your gifts and give with discernment."
Scripture References
Matthew 6:25-34
Matthew 7:1-6
Conclusion
The sermon closed with a powerful call to embody the teachings of Jesus in our daily lives. By trusting in God’s provision, embracing kingdom-minded generosity, exercising wise judgment, and living out our faith with intentionality, we are invited to experience the fullness of life in God’s kingdom here and now.
Quotes
Sermon Recap: The Generous Economy of the Kingdom
Introduction
In this sermon, we explored Jesus' teaching on generosity and the Kingdom economy. The main passage, Matthew 6:19-24, challenges us to consider where we are storing our treasures, how we perceive wealth, and whom we truly serve.
Key Themes from the Sermon
1. Where Are You Storing?
Jesus warns us against storing treasures on earth where they can decay or be stolen. Instead, He calls us to invest in eternal treasures:
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven." (Matthew 6:19-20)
We don’t hoard treasure for no reason; we store it so we can access it when needed. Jesus is challenging us to rethink where we invest our resources and to trust that storing treasure in heaven has lasting value.
2. How Are You Seeing?
Jesus describes the eye as the lamp of the body, emphasizing the way we see the world:
"If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness." (Matthew 6:22-23)
A “healthy eye” is one that sees with generosity, recognizing God’s abundance and sharing freely. A “greedy eye” sees life through scarcity and fear, leading to selfishness and hoarding.
3. Who Are You Serving?
Jesus makes it clear that we cannot serve both God and money:
"No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve both God and money." (Matthew 6:24)
Money is a tool, but when it becomes our master, we become enslaved to its demands. Jesus calls us to break free from this bondage and serve God with all we have.
Quotes from the Sermon
Action Steps
➡️ Examine Your Treasure – Take time to reflect on where you are storing your resources. Are they invested in temporary things or in God’s eternal Kingdom?
➡️Practice Generosity – This week, give intentionally. Whether it's supporting a mission, helping someone in need, or giving to your church, let generosity shape your actions.
➡️Shift Your Perspective – Ask God to help you see with a “healthy eye,” viewing wealth and possessions as tools for His Kingdom rather than personal security.
➡️Choose Your Master – Make a conscious decision to serve God rather than money. Pray for a heart that trusts in His provision rather than the world's financial systems.
Closing Encouragement
Jesus invites us into a different way of living—one where generosity is the norm and faith in God’s provision is the foundation. Let’s step into this Kingdom economy with confidence, knowing that as we give, we are storing treasures in heaven. 🙏
QUOTES FROM THE SERMON
Introduction: What is Your Why?
The sermon begins by posing a crucial question: What is your why? Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:13-20 reveals why we exist as His followers. The message is part of the broader series, The King and His Kingdom, which explores what it truly means to live under Christ’s reign here and now—not just waiting for heaven after death but embodying the Kingdom on earth.
In today’s message, we focus on Jesus’ famous metaphors of salt and light, but not in the way we typically hear them. This passage is not just about being morally good; it’s about a radical, subversive way of life that challenges the corrupt systems of the world.
Jesus wasn’t inviting His disciples to overthrow governments or seize power. Instead, He was calling them to resist the decay of the world through love, service, and generosity—a different kind of power than the world offers.
Part 1: Understanding Salt – A Subversive Resistance
“You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?” (Matthew 5:13)
1. What Salt Represented in Jesus’ Time
2. Jesus’ Radical Redefinition of Salt
3. Salt as a Nonviolent, Loving Resistance
“When the church takes our calling to be salt seriously, the world will see that true power belongs to a people willing to live the way Jesus lived.”
Part 2: Understanding Light – A Visible Kingdom
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14)
1. Rome Claimed to Be the Light
2. Jesus’ Alternative Light
“The world’s way says seek power—Jesus’ way says serve others.”
Part 3: The Purpose of Good Works – How We Shine
“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
1. Why Good Works Matter
Good works aren’t about earning salvation, but about revealing the nature of God.
The early church turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6)—not by elections, protests, or military strength, but by generosity, love, and self-sacrifice.
2. The Power of Transformative Generosity
3. What Happens When We Lose Our Saltiness?
Part 4: How Do We Live This Out?
“Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees… you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 5:20)
📌 To live as salt and light, we must:
✅ Be different—don’t conform to the world’s ways.
✅ Seek transformation—not just maintaining culture, but renewing it.
✅ Trust God’s power—love is stronger than fear.
🛤️ Practical Steps to Live as Salt and Light
🙌 Resist worldly power—not through control, but through serving.
💖 Live generously—even when it costs you.
🕊️ Be a peacemaker—even when others seek revenge.
🌍 Trust in God’s Kingdom—not in human systems.
“We must believe that mere deeds of love, generosity, forgiveness, and humility in Christ’s name are enough to overcome the corruption of this world.”
Conclusion: The Call to Be a Different Kind of People
Jesus’ message of salt and light is a call to a radical, counter-cultural way of living.
The question is: Will we believe Him?
🔹 Do we really believe love is stronger than hate?
🔹 Do we believe serving others is true power?
🔹 Do we believe good works can change the world?
✨ “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
This is how God’s name is glorified—not through military strength, not through political influence, but through a people who love and serve in a way that defies the world’s expectations.
Are you ready to live as salt and light?
Final Reflection Questions
⭐Share your comments, questions, and thought below in the comments!⭐