Sermon Cloud

 “But seek the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness first, and all these (things) will be provided to you.” Matthew 6:33 (PT)

Intro:  Moby Dick: all that mattered to Ahab was the White Whale.  It was his obsession.

Big Idea: The kingdom of God is the only obsession that will satisfy.

Context: Jesus has been explaining life in the kingdom to his disciples.  He was contrasting it with the common religious view of the Pharisees and other religious leaders.  Jesus arrives at the hinge of the whole sermon.

I. Seek the kingdom of God, not the kingdom of me.

-         The issue is not whether we seek something, but what we will seek.

-         What we seek determines what we think about, study, do etc.  Ill. Ted Williams

-         What we seek will either provide great satisfaction, or lead to our destruction.  Ill. Ahab

-         He commands us to seek, earnestly pursue, the kingdom of God first (2 Cor. 5:15).

-         His kingdom is to be our 1^st priority, greatest ambition.  It will shape the rest of our lives.

-         Jesus’ intent is for our whole lives to be brought under God’s rule & reign (Proverbs).

-         Even as Christians we struggle with the kingdom of me.  Ill. Battle of the Bulge

-         Cultural Christianity allows the kingdom of me to remain even as I go to church (chart).

-         Internal conflict happens when I’m trying to live for 2 kingdoms. Ill. bacon

-         External conflict happens when people around us live for different kingdoms.  Ill. kids

-         Some decisions happen quickly, we don’t have time to check until after the fact.

-         Some decisions are well thought-out, offering time to consider our motives & goals.

-         Warning: Don’t use this assessment on other’s actions!  Ill. 2 meetings

Transition: Seeking the kingdom of God as our first priority rubs against the grain of our lives.

II. Seek righteousness from God, not yourself.

-         Jesus also assumes that the average person has a moral agenda.  Ill. Ocean’s 13

-         They either want to break all the rules they can, or keep all the rules they can.

-         His audience was a basically religious audience. Whose righteousness would they seek?

-         Like Pharisees, we often seek to establish our own righteousness under our own power.

-         Remnants of the kingdom of me create an obsession for my best interest.  Ill. Ahab

-         Jesus calls us to seek righteousness that has its source in God.  It comes from him.

-         We enter God’s righteous kingdom by grace (Col. 1:13-14) received in Christ: faith + r.

-         Obsession w/God’s kingdom => obsession w/obedience & social justice.  Ill. Slavery, etc

Transition: Seeking God’s kingdom transforms our understanding & source of righteousness.

III. God promises to provide for all under His care.

-         Jesus redeemed us from the empty way of life we inherited.  The Spirit empowers us.

-         Seeking God’s kingdom frees us from the self-centeredness that controls us.  Ill. Ted W.

-         Seeking God’s righteousness frees us from sinful habits that enslave us.

-         Citizenship has its benefits.  Though we surrender all, we find all we need.

-         God provides what we need.  Our desires are put in a proper context.  Ill. kids

-         We become satisfied (content) in a way that eludes those who seek self-fulfillment.

-         Seeking stuff quickly controls us, robbing us of true joy.  Ill. A new car or job or kid

-         Jesus offers us rest from the hurried frenzy of seeking our own kingdom & righteousness.