August 25, 2002 - Lesson: Matthew 6.10

Sermon Title: Why should I Care?

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INTRODUCTION:

We were sitting on the platform at a worship service in Morrisville, Vermont.

The pastor propounded his sermon with passionate and eloquence.

At one point he exclaimed, "Isn't that right bother Roscoe!"

Totally lost and recovering from a nap, Brother Lester Roscoe stood up to offer the benediction.

It was all that I could do to keep from laughing.

You see, I worked for Roscoe Printing Company, owned and operated, and managed by Brother Roscoe.

  1. He had his own little empire.
    1. Lester made the rules.
    2. He determined the working conditions.
    3. He decided how each job would be done.
      1. He, and he alone, made all the decisions.
      2. There was little, if any, opportunity for suggestions.
      3. He was so minutely involved that he even decided how the toilet paper would be hung in the toilet.
    4. He was a very difficult person to work for.
      1. What he had was his, all his.
      2. Why should I care?
      3. It was an excellent learning experience.
      4. I left after six months.
      5. It was his kingdom, he could have it.
    5. There was little joy in his life and he was harried and hassled because he wanted to be in total control.
  2. We pray "your kingdom come."
    1. We relate kingdoms to kings or other types of rulers.
      1. Kings have subjects.
      2. We know that we are not the king.
    2. The word "kingdom" contains a lot of baggage.
      1. Baggage is ideas, concepts, stereotypes, conclusions, images, etc.
      2. Perhaps it would be good to unpack this bag and see actually what it contains.
      3. Like unpacking a bag after a trip.

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MAIN BODY:

  1. What part of the nature of the kingdom would you like to talk about this morning.
    1. The ruler of the kingdom.
    2. The principles of the kingdom.
    3. The participants in the kingdom.
    4. The conditions of the kingdom.
    5. The glory of the kingdom.
    6. The actuality of the kingdom.
  2. The ruler of the kingdom.
    1. We do not rule independently, now or in the future.
    2. God rules.
      1. That's true.
      2. God in the Trinity, Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
    3. Those whom God selects to be a part of the kingdom will not be subjects but family members.
  3. The principles of the kingdom.

In a "Charlie Brown" comic strip, Lucy and her brother Linus have just finished a chicken dinner, and Lucy is explaining to Linus how to make a wish on the wishbone:

"This is a wishbone, Linus," she says. "We both make our wishes and then pull it apart. Whoever breaks off the biggest part gets his wish."

Lucy begins the wishing: "Let's see now. I wish for a new doll, a new bicycle, four new sweaters, some new saddle shoes, a wristwatch and about one hundred dollars."

Then Linus gets his turn: "I wish for long life for all my friends. I wish for peace in the world. I wish for great advancements in the fields of science and medicine, and .... "

But by this time, Lucy is throwing away the unbroken wishbone in disgust, grumbling, "You seem to have a knack for spoiling everything."

    1. The call to worship sets forth the basic principles of the kingdom.
    2. We call them the Beatitudes.
      1. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
        1. Humble
      2. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
        1. Sensitive to human condition
      3. "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
        1. Democratic vs monarchical
      4. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
        1. Desire for godlikeness
      5. "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
        1. No need for revenge
      6. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
        1. Those who accept the gift of the grace of God
      7. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
        1. Peacemakers needs no explanation. People who seek peaceful relationships and do nothing to destroy harmony of relationships.
      8. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
        1. Persecution of one kind or another is possible. How it is to be met and resolved
      9. "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
        1. If this ever takes place it requires the development of a kind of temperament and personality which can handle it.
      10. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
        1. Reward is to be in the kingdom.

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  1. The participants in the kingdom

In a recent issue of Sojourners magazine, Stanley Hauerwas gives attention to another of the phrases in this prayer. Speaking of the petition, "Thy kingdom come," he reminds us that unlike earthly kingdoms with borders and boundaries, checkpoints and crossing guards, God's kingdom knows no boundaries.

Nationality? -- It doesn't matter.
Ethnicity? -- It doesn't matter.
Language? -- It doesn't matter.
Skin color? -- It doesn't matter.
Political affiliation? -- It doesn't matter.
Economic status? -- It doesn't matter.
Liberal? Conservative? -- It doesn't matter.
Theological position? -- It doesn't matter.

If this prayer is to be believed, Christians are bound by cords of grace to all persons who profess faith in Jesus as the Christ, for in God's kingdom there are no boundaries.

Society and experience have conditioned us to see the one who is our theological or political mirror image more as an enemy than a kingdom-mate. It is much easier and, quite frankly, much more self-justifying to fight against a theological nemesis than it is to embrace the person as a brother or sister in the kingdom of God. After all, we have our honor to protect and the integrity of the faith to defend. Our theological heritage, no less than our pride, insists that there be no concourse between ourselves and those whose Christian beliefs do not conform to our own.

Yet, along comes this prayer with the petition for the kingdom of God to come on earth -- a boundless and boundaryless kingdom to be established, not just on terra firma, but in our own backyard, no less. A kingdom in which there are no opposing camps. A kingdom in which those differences that would divide are less important than the One whose kingdom it is. A kingdom where disarmament is a prerequisite for entrance. And we are supposed to seriously pray for this? Are we ready for a truce? Are we ready to embrace that one whose differences we find objectionable? Are we really ready to pray this prayer?

    1. Jesus told a lot of parables which deal with the kingdom.
    2. The kingdom of heaven is like.
      1. The parable of the sower and the soils.
      2. The parable of the sower and good seed and darnel.
      3. The parable of mustard seed.
      4. The parable of yeast and meal.
      5. The parable of the net and the separation of fish.
      6. The parable of the wedding garment.
      7. The parable of the great feast.
      8. The parable of the ten maidens.
    3. There is no denomination called for.
    4. There is no particular theological persuasion.
    5. It is those who accept Jesus Christ.

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  1. The conditions of the kingdom.
    1. Peace
    2. Harmony
    3. Unity
    4. Growth
    5. Realized potential
    6. Nothing that hurts or destroys.

CONCLUSION:

  1. Philip Chard writes a column in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Good Morning section.
    1. In one column he wrote of the three primary reasons why people seek psychological counseling:
      1. Because they don't want to change.
      2. Because they want to want to change
      3. Because they want to change
    2. He explains the three reasons in this way:
      1. There are people who talk about change, but do nothing about it.
      2. There are people who do not want to change, but they do want to change many things about them that they blame for their own predicament.
      3. There are people who actually want to change and reduce or eliminate the debilitating or destructive thought patterns or behaviors in their lives.
  2. I would like to suggest that the three primary reasons why people seek psychological counseling are the same three reasons why people engage in a relationship with God and talk about kingdom.
    1. There are people who talk about a relationship with God but who do little or nothing about it.
    2. There are people who do not want a relationship with God, but want to use the concept of kingdom to create a better world in which to live.
    3. There are people who genuinely desire a relationship with God and all that the kingdom provides.
    4. The kingdom is now, but it is also future.
  3. This is why we pray, "Your kingdom come."

Paraphrase of the Lord's Prayer

by St. Francis of Assisi

OUR FATHER most holy,
our Creator and Redeemer,
our Saviour and our Comforter.

WHO ART IN HEAVEN
in the angels and the saints,
giving them light to know you,
since you, Lord, are light;
setting them afire to love you,
since you, Lord, are love;
dwelling in them
and giving them fullness of joy,
since you, Lord,
are the supreme, eternal good,
and all good comes from you.

HALLOWED BE THY NAME,
may we grow to know you better and better
and so appreciate the extent of your favors,
the scope of your promises,
the sublimity of your majesty,
and the profundity of your judgements.

THY KINGDOM COME,
so that you may reign in us by your grace,
and bring us to your kingdom,
where we shall see you clearly,
love you perfectly and,
happy in your company, enjoy you forever.

  1. If this is what you want it is yours. Amen!

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