The Cross vs The Sword
Preacher: Series: Unexpected: The surprising nature of the Kingdom of God Scripture: John 18:33–36, Matthew 20:25–28, John 3:16
“When the Church tries to advance the purposes of the Kingdom of God using strategies and methods of the kingdom of this world we inevitably lose the unique and compelling essence of the Kingdom of God that we are seeking to advance.” (David Johnson)
We can’t get Kingdom of God results by using ‘kingdom of this world methods.
36Then Jesus answered, “I am not an earthly king. If I were, my followers would have fought when I was arrested by the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” John 18
The Kingdom of God is not about the power of the sword: power over – it’s about the power of the cross: power under.
Laws do not have the power to change the heart.
The heart can only be won, it cannot be forced.
The kingdoms of this world are by definition tribal, national and therefore they are marked by conflict. In the kingdoms of this world it is always us against them (Johnson)
QUESTION FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION: And how about me? How do I want to live according to the Kingdom of God? What will I need to lay down in order to do so?
other sermons in this series
Nov 26
2017
The Dream of the Kingdom
Preacher: Scripture: Revelation 7:16, Amos 9:13, Isaiah 2:4, Isaiah 11:6–9, Revelation 21, Luke 1:17, Matthew 25:31 Series: Unexpected: The surprising nature of the Kingdom of God
Nov 19
2017
How can we share the incarnational love of Jesus with the world?
Preacher: Pastor Jaime Levi Scripture: John 1:1–14 Series: Unexpected: The surprising nature of the Kingdom of God
Nov 12
2017
A Tale of Two Cities
Preacher: Series: Unexpected: The surprising nature of the Kingdom of God