Photo Cred: (1) | Updated: 10/21/2024
Sermon Prep
The sand was beginning to shift at work in April 2023. I had a boss who I liked, but he was always just a temporary leader and the goal was to build out our team to have a more traditional manager at the forefront. Sometime after the new guy became our manager did things change at this job.
It takes a bit to see how someone leads, but this was more-so a personality divide that was there from the start. It was up until this point where I think I saw that I once again needed to change jobs, but couldn’t afford to change given I had just left another job back in December of 2022. So this was the first of many months where I just buckled down and made the most of it.
During this period, I was really into writing my long-gestating book on the Christian faith. You know, the one I’ve teased for years on this blog for several years and have never finished. That same unwritten book.
But at this time I found some new research from Benjamin J. Marcus who is a Fellow of the Freedom Forum and was a Special Advisor for The Religious Literacy Foundation. His religious contributions helped me to dive right back in and keep chipping away at this book. Maybe one day I’ll actually get to self publish it, but this period was a much-needed spark in the creative process.
Beyond that, teen discipleship was becoming very rewarding as the students began to have breakthroughs in their understanding of their faith and that meant the world to me. Also, a newer couple at church began to teach our church’s core team via the Leaders In Training sessions. It was redundant for me since I did this back in high school, so it was more rewarding watching new leaders learn from it.
As far as this message prep, I didn’t expect much from this one. I was reoccupied with other things and to be honest this was prepped out of obligation rather than interest. It was just my turn to preach. On that glum note, here’s my sermon notes.
Sermon Notes
Opening Line
- CFS acting class
- To be an actor I had to behave, believe, and belong as an actor.
Intro
- To be a Christian you have to behave, believe, and belong to Jesus.
- To be is to become something new.
- The 3B Framework by Ben J. Marcus.
Transition To Main Point
- To become something new requires all of you.
- To be the kingdom is the way of Jesus.
Main Point
- Jesus invites the 12 to be the kingdom.
- Luke 9:1-6 | The 12 Sent
- The beginning of Jesus’ third tour.
- First time the 12 are invited to come and be the kingdom of God.
- Commanded to behave differently.
- “Shake off the dust from your feet.”
- Responsible for sharing gospel, but not for people’s reaction to it. Also, unclean land.
- “Shake off the dust from your feet.”
- Luke 9:7-9 | Herod Antipas Perplexed
- Divorced first wife and married his half brother’s wife in secret.
- Intimidated by John the Baptist and his movement due to power struggle after Herod the Great’s death. Called out, so kills John.
- Confused and needs confirmation that John’s dead.
- Luke 9:10-17 | Feeding the 5,000
- The 5,000 only counts men, so way more people.
- Jesus challenges the 12’s belief in him.
- Invites them to do the impossible, then does it.
- Luke 9:18-20 | Peter Confesses Jesus
- Jesus knew the rumors about him.
- Peter knew clearly who Jesus was.
- Luke 9:21-22 | The Crucifixion Foreshadowed
- Jesus had to hide until time was right.
- Continued to slowly tell the 12 what’s next.
- Luke 9:23-27 | Carry Your Cross
- Introduces the deepest level of belonging.
- To be the kingdom requires humility and faith.
Why This Matters
- Before the kingdom of God arrived, Jesus invited the 12 to be the kingdom.
- To behave, believe, and belong to Jesus.
- The kingdom of God isn’t a sacred space, but rather people empowered by God and his grace.
- Now go and be the kingdom of God.
Final Thoughts
The sermon went better than I expected, but the small group at Table Talks was a little lackluster. It frustrates me when people are apathetic and disengaged, which that could be a reflection on my teaching than their interest. Either way, this one was ok but lacked application for the audience I think. With that, Godspeed and Jesus bless.
Footnotes
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