The Coming of the Kingdom

Thy Kingdom Come 

In what way does the kingdom of God arrive? For those in the first century, the expectation was that the Kingdom of God would arrive in power. The expectation was a harvest of salvation, judgment for the wicked, and then the end. The Jewish people were awaiting a king who would destroy their enemies and establish a kingdom centered in Jerusalem, extending to the ends of the earth.

Yet, Jesus teaches that the Kingdom arrives in a much different manner. The kingdom does not arrive as a harvest but as sowing. That is to say, the kingdom arrives as a seed that must be planted and grow and mature before it is harvested. The expectation was that when the kingdom of God arrived everyone would immediately know its presence. However, Jesus reveals that its presence remains hidden to everyone except those who receive the promise of the kingdom in faith. 

Many of us continue to misunderstand the power of God’s kingdom in our own lives. We believe that it is completely present, and therefore all the problems of the world should be gone. Or we believe that the kingdom is completely future and therefore have no hope for salvation and joy today. But the secret of the kingdom is that it has arrived in Jesus Christ. Salvation is present to all who receive it in faith. However, the fullness of salvation must await the appointed day of harvest. The seed has been planted. Now we must wait for the future harvest. To come prepared for the sermon take time this week to read and to meditate upon Matthew 13:1-23, Isaiah 6:8-10, Psalm 78:2; 126:5, Matthew 11:27, 16:20, John 12:24, 1 Corinthians 15:20-25, and Westminster Confession of Faith 14.1. 

This week we will celebrate that 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 Praise to God, Who Reigns Above,” “Crown Him with Many Crowns,” and “Rejoice, the Lord is King.”

Sermon Information

Text: Matthew 13:1-23 

Title: The Coming of the Kingdom

Outline: 

1. The Kingdom Comes as a Sowing (vv. 1-9)
2. The Kingdom Spreads as a Secret (vv. 10-17)
3. The Kingdom will Come as a Harvest (vv. 18-23)

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