Bulletins - Sunnyside Church of the Nazarene

Whom Shall I Fear
Everlasting God
Jesus
At The Cross (Love Ran Red)
Please open to Luke 19. I’ll be reading from the New Living Translation.
Last week I asked the question, if “they” win - what then. Regardless of which political side you are on, the question remains - if “they” win, what will you do? Are you going to quit? It’s over? Watch TV until Jesus comes back?
Regardless of what happens to the American kingdom, it’s not over for God’s Kingdom.
As followers of Jesus Christ, the primary Kingdom in which we should be concerned and active in is His Kingdom.
Regarding God’s Kingdom, we have this “already but not yet” tension. The Kingdom of God has already arrived in and through Jesus Christ, but not yet in its fullness. The final establishment of God's Kingdom is yet to come. The “already part” is this -
Wherever Christians are active doing Kingdom work, that is where the Kingdom of God is present in this world.
So, if “they” win, what then? There’s still Kingdom work to be done.
Question -
Where should God’s Kingdom be active?
The simple answer is everywhere. But when you look at what Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 28, it takes on a little different nuance. When He said go and make disciples of all nations - all ethnic groups - how many followers of Jesus were in the world? Not many. So in essence
Jesus was saying take the Kingdom to people and places where the Kingdom is not yet present (The Great Commission).
So there is this missionary attitude that every Christian should have.
Taking the Kingdom to people and places where the Kingdom is not yet present means some of those people and places are going to be very dark, immoral, uncomfortable, different political systems and governments, different opinions, religious beliefs - even unfriendly to God and the message of the Gospel. But this missionary attitude says the Kingdom of God needs to be active and present in those places. If that’s true, and it is, then who needs to be active and present in those places?
It is clear that we live in a post-Christian society. It almost feels like we're living in a foreign country - very different from the America that many of us grew up in. So what do we do? Run away and hide because the culture is not Christian? Do we move to a Red state - where people are more friendly to Christianity? Or do we do what Jesus instructed - take the Kingdom where the Kingdom is not yet present?
I think the tendency of the American church has been to withdraw or compromise. But I think Jesus expects differently of His disciples. So let's look at Luke 19 and see what that expectation might be - regardless of who wins.
Luke 19:11 NLT
The crowd was listening to everything Jesus said. And because he was nearing Jerusalem, he told them a story to correct the impression that the Kingdom of God would begin right away.

During the first century ad, many Jews believed that the Messiah would establish His Kingdom on Earth - which meant that Israel would rise up and be a kingdom again. So they were like, “Jesus, it's time! Bring on the Kingdom!” He was like, “It’s not quite the way you think, so let me tell you a story a parable.” A parable is a story that reveals a truth.
Luke 19:12–13 NLT
He said, “A nobleman was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and then return. Before he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, saying, ‘Invest this for me while I am gone.’

Depending on the translation, you get a different nuance, but either way works And it's not worth splitting hairs over. My interpretation is (from the ESV) - this prince goes to a foreign land, becomes king, and before he returns home, he says to his servants, “Go out into this new kingdom, this foreign land and work.” This parable lines up with how Jesus did it. Jesus is in Heaven, comes to earth, sends out His disciples and He goes back home. But before Jesus returned home, He said to His disciples, what? “When my work is finished - I'm going back to my Father. But listen, there’s still a lot of work to do here before I come back.”
So, you see the analogy - right? He’s telling some truths through a story. So what are some of the truths so far, and how do they apply to us in the midst of our current political and post-Christian culture?
Truth #1 - The Expectation of Responsibility.
From the very beginning - Gen. 1,
God expects His people to share in and take ownership of the responsibility of taking His Kingdom to people and places where the Kingdom is not yet present.
God doesn’t always tell us how to do it - that’s part of the joy and journey! God doesn’t always tell us how to do it - but there is the expectation and a trust that we will do it. The king did not tell his servants how or where to invest, he just said do it.
Until Jesus returns, God expects us to take responsibility and do Kingdom work. So, what is Kingdom work? That’s a lengthy answer, but ultimately it connects to the salvation of souls.
And listen, Kingdom work is work. It takes time, energy, money, risk, faith, obedience, sacrifice, prayer …. It is work. It may be joyful at times, or painful. It may be exhausting or invigorating. Sometimes peaceful and relaxing; sometimes dangerous and even deadly. Regardless of what the work is, there is the expectation and trust of responsibility.
Truth # 2- The Distribution of Resources.
Before the king left to go home, what did he do? He gave them resources.
He gave each one what they needed to accomplish what he asked.
No one was left empty handed.
Not only did he give them resources, but he also gave them a purpose. “Take this and do something with it.”
Every servant had a purpose, and every servant had the resources to accomplish their purpose.
Do you hear what Jesus is saying? You have a purpose in this world, and that purpose is connected to Kingdom work. And the resources you need to accomplish your purpose are available to you.
This is Eph. 2:10 - created for good works. This is Ephesians 4:11–12.
Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers have a responsibility to equip the people.
Listen -
The people have a responsibility to be equipped.
We’ll come back to that.
Truth # 3 - The Anticipation of Return.
The king said, “Invest this. I’m giving this to you with the anticipation and the trust that you will do something with what I am giving you so I will receive an increase.” The increase is what? Souls. There is an anticipation and expectation that we will do something with what God has given each one of us.
There is the expectation and trust of responsibility, the distribution of resources and the anticipation of a return. Here are a few questions - perhaps for this week:
1) Do I want to be equipped for Kingdom work?
2) What resources do I have? What has He given me? How has He wired me?
Take some time and make a list. Write down talents, skills, strengths, passions, gifts (don’t forget the Holy Spirit). Include physical, mental, spiritual resources. Maybe include what resources do I need to get there.
3) What am I doing with those resources? What am I doing or not doing with what God has given me? How am I or how am I not using what God has given me to invest in Kingdom work?
4) Why am I here? What is God’s “why” for my life?

Watch this 3-minute video. https://vimeo.com/339345163
My why? Help people reach their potential in Christ. My what? Through coaching.
If you want to have a conversation about any of those questions, then let's talk.
Closing: Today, receive Jesus -
1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
- - Luke 19:11ESV
- - Luke 19:12–13NLT
- - 1 Corinthians 15:58NLT

Luke 19:11ESV

Luke 19:12–13NLT

1 Corinthians 15:58NLT