Sunday Jan 8, 2023
Call To Worship:
Matthew 6:9-13
“Our Father in heaven, may your name be revered as holy. May your kingdom come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.”
Songs:
In Christ Alone
Verse 1
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light my strength my song
This Cornerstone this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love what depths of peace
When fears are stilled when strivings cease
My Comforter my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
Verse 2
In Christ alone who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
Verse 3
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
Verse 4
No guilt in life no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand
It is Well
Verse 1
When peace like a river
Attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot
Thou hast taught me to say
It is well
It is well with my soul
Chorus 1
It is well with my soul
It is well
It is well with my soul
Verse 2
My sin O the bliss
Of this glorious tho't
My sin not in part but the whole
Is nailed to the cross
And I bear it no more
Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord O my soul
Verse 3
And Lord haste the day
When the faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll
The trump shall resound
And the Lord shall descend
Even so it is well
With my soul
Jesus Paid It All
Verse 1
I hear the Savior say
Thy strength indeed is small
Child of weakness watch and pray
Find in Me thine all in all
Chorus 1
'Cause Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow
Verse 2
Lord now indeed I find
Thy pow'r and Thine alone
Can change the leper's spots
And melt the heart of stone
Verse 3
And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete
Jesus died my soul to save
My lips shall still repeat
Misc 2
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow
He washed it white as snow
He washed it white as snow
Teaching: “Seeking God’s Kingdom First: The Not Yet Kingdom”
New Theme “Seeking God’s Kingdom First”
Big & ambitious theme
Kings, Kingdoms, Rule & Reign of God is a theme all over scripture
“Christ” means Messiah or Anointed One
Anointed as what? King!
Defining Kingdom of God
Eliminate what it is not
Heaven
Political party
Countries like the United Kingdom
Simply an Internal Reality of God within individuals
Church
Kingdom reaches into all of the above but none of them alone is the definition of the Kingdom of God alone.
My understanding of Kingdom (at least at this point in my life): Both a Spiritual and physical reality where the people of God are living the way of Jesus that shapes and changes everything in its path.
4 Tangible characteristics of any kingdom
There is a King
There is a People
There is Land
There is a Law
The “Already/Not Yet” Kingdom of God
The kingdom is both “already” here right now in our midst but is also something that has “not yet” come to its full reality.
Lots of things in life are both “already but Not Yet”
New Year’s Resolutions
Mission Statements
Relationships
Matthew 6:9-13
“Our Father in heaven, may your name be revered as holy. May your kingdom come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.”
Any mission or vision statement is referring to a future desired reality.
Missio’s Mission is to Love God, Love People, and Awaken A Movement of Jesus.
Have we fully accomplished this mission today?
Jesus tells his disciples to pray for a desired future where God’s Kingdom will reign on earth as it is in Heaven.
But just because that vision is in the “not yet” future does not mean there is no way for us to experience the Kingdom of God today, in Seattle.
3 things we pray for as a part of the Kingdom now, today
Daily provision from God
Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Faithfulness to keep God as King of our lives
Praying these will lead us to the “not yet” future reality of the kingdom.
What is the “Not Yet” Future Kingdom of God?
Revelation 21:3-7: “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and be their God; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away. 5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.”
“I am making all things NEW”
Better than it was before: a New and Better Condition
In the Kingdom now, the “Already” kingdom, we have to pray for provision, forgiveness, and faithfulness
But in the “Not Yet Kingdom” there will be no need for those prayers because the fullness of the kingdom of God will have been accomplished.
We get glimpses of this “Not Yet” kingdom in the ways of Jesus being lived out in the Kingdom now, today.
Next week we will dig a little more into the “Already” kingdom happening right now.
Communion:
What are you looking forward to most this year?
How would you like to pursue Jesus this year?
Benediction:
Our Father in heaven,
May your name be revered as holy.
May your kingdom come.
May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.
May the strength of God pilot us;
May the wisdom of God instruct us,
May the hand of God protect us,
May the word of God direct us.
Be always ours this day and for evermore.
Amen