Sermon Tone Analysis

Thesis: To join one kingdom you must leave the other

For kids: Sing Better is One Day

Everyone has a crazy uncle.

Everyone has a crazy uncle.

I have 3

Uncle Calvin scavenges of the land.

Barn painted from used paint.

Frankenstein Ford Escort / Dodge Dakota Pickup for farm vehicle

Uncle Fulvio, most conservative Republican I know - Wasn't even born here.

Basement full of wine in case the end of the world comes.

Uncle Charlie (by marriage) has had bags packed for Canada for years.

No particular loyalty to the United States.

They all have very different ideas about what patriotism and freedom mean.

We:

So do we.

For some it means knowing you have voice and vote - political power

For others it means the government stays away from you.

Some people want to know the police and firefighters on a first name basis, in case they need something.

Others never want to see the police or firefighters anywhere near them.

We, as a nation were started by disloyal dissenters - the reason we are the United States of America and not the United Kingdom of America.

Whether our roots go back to the 1700's or just last week, our families have all left home - dissented - in order to find something new in the name of Freedom.

Leaving loyalty behind is in our DNA.

What would it take for you to defect and leave this country for good?

What would it cost you?

Our Problems with Kings.

We don't trust them.

We want a vote.

We want self-rule.

Self-rule is not biblical.

Well it is... just not in a good way.

and 21:25 - exactly the same.

“In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did what was right in their own eyes.”

Self-rule = Sin rule.

God has another way.

Jesus our King.

Not Tyrant-King, Shepherd-King

1. Feeding

2. Protecting

3. Guiding / Ruling

We like feeding and protecting but often we want to skip the ruling part

Just give me my coffee when I want it and when I burn myself spilling it on me because I'm trying to do too many things at once.., and then I'll complain that the coffee way too hot or that the cup was too flimsy.

Anyone's fault but mine.

Pslam 23:1-3

The trouble is, if you live by your own law and life doesn't work out you really have no one to blame but yourself.

1. Feeding

A Psalm of David.

1The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

2He makes me lie down in green pastures;

he leads me beside still waters;a

3he restores my soul.b

He leads me in right pathsc

for his name’s sake.

1. Feeding

3. Guiding / Ruling

We like feeding and protecting but often we want to skip the ruling part

Just give me my coffee when I want it and when I burn myself spilling it on me because I'm trying to do too many things at once.., and then I'll complain that the coffee way too hot or that the cup was too flimsy.

Anyone's fault but mine.

The trouble is, if you live by your own law and life doesn't work out you really have no one to blame but yourself.

:3-4

4Even though I walk through the darkest valley,d

I fear no evil;

2. Protecting

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff—

they comfort me.

2. Protecting

We like feeding and protecting but often we want to skip the ruling part

Just give me my coffee when I want it and when I burn myself spilling it on me because I'm trying to do too many things at once.., and then I'll complain that the coffee way too hot or that the cup was too flimsy.

Anyone's fault but mine.

The trouble is, if you live by your own law and life doesn't work out you really have no one to blame but yourself.

5You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6Surelye goodness and mercyf shall follow me

all the days of my life,

3. Guiding / Ruling

We like feeding and protecting but often we want to skip the ruling part

and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD

Just give me my coffee when I want it and when I burn myself spilling it on me because I'm trying to do too many things at once.., and then I'll complain that the coffee way too hot or that the cup was too flimsy.

Anyone's fault but mine.

my whole life long.

The trouble is, if you live by your own law and life doesn't work out you really have no one to blame but yourself.

The message of the gospel is not just about freedom, it is about transferring from one kingdom to another.

How do you join a new kingdom?

You pledge allegiance to the King

Colossians 1:15

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him.

17 He himself is before all things, and ini him all things hold together.

18 He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.

19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

It’s not a flag, a cross, a church, it’s not the Bible itself we give our loyalty to - it is Jesus Christ Himself.

21 And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciledj in his fleshly bodyk through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him— 23 provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven.

I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel.

When we make Jesus our King though, we give up self-rule.

We give up letting our old life rule.

We give up letting other relationships rule.

But this only holds together if you let Jesus rule.

You:

Will you let Jesus be your King today?

What will it cost you to leave your home citizenship and become a citizen of the Kingdom of God?