Next Step Christian Church
Worship 4/13/2024
  • We're Here To Worship
  • Open The Eyes Of My Heart
  • A Mighty Fortress
  • I Will Lift My Eyes
  • Jesus doesn't just say "don't worry"... he gives us another thought to think: seek first the Kingdom. This is the right prioritization of life, this is good treasuring, this is One Master. We direct all our attention and energy into what will strengthen and expand the Dominion of the King at any given time, trusting that our food, drink and clothes will be taken care of exactly as appropriate. This will often look and feel reckless and foolish... but if it isn't "Kingdom" I'm not seeking it. Where are we seeing and seeking God's Domain? Is Next Step church a group of Kingdom Seekers? What would change in each of our lives if we took this seriously?
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    Taxes

    Yearly announcement: the tax man cometh! Monday is tax day. I’m not “quite” ready.
    USA - the stuff the government owns. The stuff they have control over.
    My Kingdom - the stuff I own. The stuff I have control over.
    ​
    Now you might think these should fully overlap because I live in the US… but they don’t own and control everything I own and control. That’s what liberty and freedom and all those things are about… my rights mean the government has limited control and ownership over me and mine.
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    My Kingdom vs. USA - Kingdom.
    There is a percentage of “my kingdom” that I turn over to the Kingdom of USA… because I get benefits - military and police protect, roads and infrastructure, public education, social programs, etc… We can fight over what we should and shouldn’t do, and how high those taxes should be… but the basic principle is there.
    I seek to enlarge my Kingdom and stay ahead all the taxes and draws and expenses so that my Kingdom gets larger.
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    Is that the way with us and God?
    Pay your tithe… and hope you have enough left over to pay groceries and cover rent?
    Give your time, serve, volunteer… and hope you have enough left over to live your life?
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    We are in fact very like honest but reluctant taxpayers. We approve of an income tax in principle. We make our returns truthfully. But we dread a rise in the tax. We are very careful to pay no more than is necessary. And we hope – we very ardently hope – that after we have paid it there will still be enough left to live on.
    C.S. Lewis “The Weight of Glory”
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    Seek first the Kingdom

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    Seek first the Kingdom...
    This is a verse you should memorize. It’s good. It’s important. It’s short… and so very good. There’s a song. “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God...” Hallelujah!
    ​
    Okay… then what do we seek second?
    So… easy, seek first the Kingdom.
    That means that you give your tithe to the church… and then God is going to give you ALL the other things!
    Send $19.99 now, cash or check… and then God will bless you.
    God wants you to give, join at our Premium level, and for $99/month you unlock the Deluxe Blessing Package!
    Is that what Jesus is saying here?
    No. Gross.
    ​
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    Kingdom

    First of all, what’s the Kingdom of God?
    The domain where God’s will is done. On earth as it is in heaven.
    God says it… it happens. That is not just future coming of Christ… in fact this verse makes little sense if it is talking about the second coming of Jesus or a millennial reign. Go… seek it! Go find it! It hasn’t come for 2000 years… don’t care, go find it!
    The Kingdom is HERE! The King is alive and well, present and active… and YOU are in the Kingdom of God… and when and where you obey the Kingdom is present and active and growing. That’s the Kingdom.
    What do you do with it?

    Seek

    Seek: look for, desire, consider, investigate, search out, deliberate, strive for, aim at...
    All of those! Love this word.
    The kids LOVE playing hide and seek here in the church. Go, search it out, find it. We turn out the lights… now you have to search hard, sometimes.
    Deliberate… where could it be? That takes thought? Where would Sam hide?
    Strive for it, aim for it… it has purpose, direction, action, thought, intention… all of that. Seek it!
    What are seeking? The Kingdom of God.
    AND his righteousness?
    What is righteousness? Right relationship which leads to right living which leads to right relationship which leads to right living with God. Beautiful cycle.
    What does it look like? See all of the Sermon on the Mount. See the life of Jesus. See the righteousness of God purchased for you in the blood of Jesus… given to you and empowered to be made full and real in you by the Holy Spirit at work in you right now. But it isn’t passive, it’s active. Seek it!
    Why?
    And then… all these things will be added unto you.
    Note: here is the death of the prosperity gospel.
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    Matthew 6:33 ESV
    33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
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    Not All the Things, But All These Things

    What things is Jesus talking about here?
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    Remember our context, remember our passage. Let’s read it:
    Matthew 6:25–33 ESV
    25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
    What are the “these things?”
    Not so much leer jets and diamond encrusted Rolex watches.
    Food. Drink. Clothes. Your Father knows your needs. He knows what is good for you and what is not. He knows what “excess” is… he knows what “necessity” is… It doesn’t mean the bare minimum, it is a loving Father providing perfectly and completely.
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    What about the folks who did this quite literally?
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    Jesus : Mark 10:29-30.
    RIght after he told the rich man to give away all his money… and how hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom, easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.
    Mark 10:28–30 ESV
    28 Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.
    A HUNDRED houses? Nice. A hundred brothers and sisters??? Confusing. Oh… hello family. Brothers and sisters, mothers and children in Christ. ‘Sup?
    A Hundred lands?! Awesome.
    Wait… a hundred-fold persecutions??? Hold-up Jesus! Snuck that one in there! Right between Lands and Eternal Life… at least he is consistent. It’s a mixed bag.
    God will provide for your needs… and also there will be trouble. Food and drink and clothing… and persecution… and eternal life!
    But jostling for position, not going to work! Next verse:
    Mark 10:31 ESV
    31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
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    Leave literally everything and follow Jesus. A bit extreme isn’t that?
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    Matthew 13:44 ESV
    44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
    All that he has? Dang.
    Worth it? Absolutely. Not even close.
    Matthew 13:45–46 ESV
    45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
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    The man knew the treasure was worth WAY more than the price of the field.
    The merchant knew the pearl was worth WAY more than all that he had. It was of “surpassing” value.
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    Seek first the Kingdom...

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    How do we actually do that?
    Remember this…
    Worry and anxiety are a fear response when something important are out of our control.
    It is a relational flag. We aren’t trusting in God’s provision. The emotions are going to come… it’s just a signal. What do we do with that? Jesus gives us a direction to turn. We turn to God.
    Jesus seems to have felt some of these emotions. He didn’t “worry”… that’s to fruitlessly turn the thing over and over again. To no end.
    He presumably wasn’t “anxious...” but I think he was feeling the emotion.
    Luke 22:43–44 ESV
    43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
    Note… the agony (Greek agonia) and intensity of prayer comes AFTER the angel comes to strengthen! The angel gave him strength for MORE prayer, not eliminated the need to pray. What was that prayer. I think it’s the same prayer, the same words perhaps as what he just prayed.
    Luke 22:42 ESV
    42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
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    What are the words of Kingdom seeking? Seeking the domain of the King? The place, the sphere, the time where God’s word and will are done?
    “Not my will… Yours be done.”
    This is Jesus’ response. Always. Every time. Not my will… yours be done. Not my Kingdom… Yours.
    Anxiety? Worry? Not my will… yours be done.
    Trusting in God’s provision, yes, that’s why your anxiety and worry are irrational and unhelpful. But… much of the time we know that, actually. I know my anxiety and worry are irrational and unhelpful… what do I do?
    God give me the strength, send the angel, help me do this… turn my attention, my focus, my will, my energy… not my will but yours be done.
    It is our regular secret prayer “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done.”
    It is our daily obedience. Where, oh God, can I do Your will? What can I serve? Where can I love? Where can I follow? How and where can I give greater glory to you?
    That is ABSOLUTE defeat to the green monster! That is the anti-thesis of growing your own Kingdom.
    The rest of that quote from C.S. Lewis and the Weight of Glory:
    For it is not so much of our time and so much of our attention that God demands; it is not even all our time and all our attention; it is ourselves… For He claims all, because He is love and must bless. He cannot bless us unless He has us. When we try to keep within us an area that is our own, we try to keep an area of death. Therefore, in love, He claims all.
    C.S. Lewis “The Weight of Glory”
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    A Guide to Seeking First

    Seek first. Seek Only. Seek Always.
    How do we actually do that?
    I am lying in bed at night, and that conversation is going through my head… I’m replaying what I said, what they said, what I should have said… It isn’t fruitful, it isn’t helpful, it is currently entirely out of my control. This is worry. This is anxious.
    I take this to the Lord. Why is this on my mind, God? I don’t want my will here, your will be done. Where is the Kingdom in this encounter? Where’s Jesus?
    Is there sin in myself I need to repent of? Am I called to pray for this other person? Are you growing my love and compassion for them? Am I called to forgive them? What can give God greatest glory right here and now?
    Where’s the Kingdom? Find it.
    That’s the right question. Where’s the Kingdom? Pursue it, consider it, search it out, find it. Seek it.
    Once you have spotted it, the rest is kind of obvious, isn’t it?
    The hard part is the seeking… and the waiting while you seek. But it is in the Seeking that God shapes us. He molds our mind to think as He thinks, our heart to feel what He feels. It is in the following.
    I am worried about my kiddo. Are they going to be “okay?” Safe? Happy? Successful in whatever way I define “success” at the moment?
    Where’s the Kingdom? Find it.
    When is the last time I had a Jesus conversation with them? What the Holy Spirit doing in them? Is that crisis drawing them to the throne? Am I maybe called to be the love of Jesus to them in this season… or to get out of the way, maybe?
    Where’s the Kingdom? Find it.
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    This isn’t a time saver. If you are a worrier, this may translate to a LOT more time in prayer. Good. WAY more fruitful than what you were doing!
    It isn’t always a call to pray, that’s also a reflection of when I usually worry, in my bed at night. Can’t take a lot of action.
    But when you are awake, out and about, at work, at lunch… eyes wide open. Where’s the Kingdom? Find it. Chase it.
    If you are free from having to worry about maintaining and managing your Kingdom… you are SO FREE, so available mentally and emotionally to Serve Him!
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    I’ll testify. I am a Pastor because questions like “Where is the Kingdom?” and “What does God will?” wouldn’t leave me alone. But… I’m also in Colorado because of that. My day job, I work every day where I work because of those questions. I am here in this church because of those questions.
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    Those questions shape who we are and what we do as a church… and they need to shape us more.
    He’s not done with us. Thank God!
    It’s in the Name. “Next Step.” Where’s God at work? Where’s the Kingdom? What’s going to give Him greater glory? What’s his next favorite thing in me, through me, for us? Take that next step.
    And then… where’s the Kingdom? I’m seeking it!!! I’m after it!!! Forget everything else, it’s garbage.
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    All the Way

    Let’s Close with Jesus’ Words, this time from the Message:
    Matthew 6:25–34 MSG
    25 “If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. 26 Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. 27 “Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? 28 All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, 29 but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. 30 “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? 31 What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. 32 People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. 33 Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. 34 “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
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    Can we do that, family? Can we give our “entire attention” to what God is doing?
    Can we be all in, get all in?
    That’s what I want to be, as a church, as a people called-out by God. Whether there are 100 of us or 10 of us.
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      • Matthew 6:33NIV

      • Matthew 6:25–34NIV

      • Matthew 13:44–46ESV

      • Mark 10:28–30NIV

      • Mark 10:31NIV

      • Matthew 13:44NIV

      • Matthew 13:45–46NIV

      • Luke 22:43–44ESV

      • Luke 22:43–44ESV

      • Luke 22:42ESV

      • Luke 22:42NIV

      • Matthew 6:25–34NIV

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Next Step Christian Church
pastordusty@nextstepchurch.org
(720) 663-9085
https://www.nextstepchurch.org
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