Preparing for the Lord's Day
Thy Kingdom Come
This Sunday we begin a study through the Gospel of Matthew, in which we will study Christ’s teaching on the coming Kingdom of Heaven. The Kingdom is at the very center of Jesus’ preaching ministry. His ministry is summarized in Matthew 4,
“And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom” (Matthew 4:23 ESV)
And his message was,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17 ESV)
The Kingdom of Heaven is the benevolent reign and rule of God over his people. To be a citizen of the kingdom, therefore, is to be joined to the people among whom the rule of God has begun. Jesus can preach the kingdom and claim the coming of the kingdom because he is the king. Where people submit to Jesus as king and live in accordance with his word the kingdom has arrived.
The coming Kingdom of Heaven was promised in the Old Testament (Isaiah 52:7) and in Jesus Christ, the Kingdom has arrived! In the Gospel of Matthew, we have preserved for us the Kingdom preaching of Jesus. Over the next several months we will learn what it means to submit to his reign and rule and to become a citizen of this coming Kingdom.
In our passage for this Sunday, we come to the purpose of kingdom living. And what we will learn is that every Christian who would seek to live as a member of the kingdom must be salt, they must be light, and they must live for the glory of God alone. To come prepared for the sermon take time this week to read and to meditate upon Matthew 5:1-16, Isaiah 52:7, John 17:14-17, Colossians 1:12-13; 4:6, 1 Peter 2:12, and this article on the Kingdom of God.
We will celebrate the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper during our worship service. As we receive the elements of bread and wine look in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ. For as we physically receive the signs of the Lord’s body and blood, spiritually we feed upon him and all his benefits. Our hymns for this week include “All People That on Earth Do Dwell,” “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us,” and “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken.”
Sermon Information
Text: Matthew 5:13-16
Title: A Kingdom Purpose
Outline:
- Our Kingdom Purpose is to be Salt (v. 13)
- Our Kingdom Purpose is to be Light (vv. 14-15)
- Our Kingdom Purpose is to Glorify God (v. 16)