Their jaws dropped in astonishment at what Jesus said! They were blown away by what they were hearing because it rang so true and was said with the Power of Heaven behind it…There truly was another way to live life here on earth. The initial response to Jesus’ Kingdom Manifesto on the Mount was a crowd of people astonished at its powerful truth that was going to set them free.
"Kingdom of God" Tagged Sermons
Jesus said that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Treasure is a part of every humans experience. It is important that we treasure God Himself above all things so that our hearts will be invested in Him and His Kingdom! As our heart is invested in him, we will be transformed and live transformed lives.
With the start of a New Year we are reminded how we all long for both continuity and renewal: our same bodies and new diets, our same responsibilities and more sleep, our same needs and improved budgets. Where does this hunger to see our present condition made better come from? Could it be evidence that we are a part of a larger narrative? When God came to earth He started a new era called the Kingdom of Heaven. Today we consider how our longings for new beginnings is evidence of the present and coming Kingdom. And we are reminded to pray and live so that it may come on earth as it is in Heaven.
The teacher is in a boat, the students are on a shore and the lesson is about a farmer. Before the story begins the crowd hears a one-word summons, “Listen!”, and after the story is over they receive a one sentence appeal, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” We were created with ears to hear. Yet, with our world’s increasing level of noise and expanding access to so many voices, it can be hard to actually listen. In His training from the boat, Jesus acknowledges the reality of distractions and He declares to those attentive enough to listen that there is great reward for those who engage their ears to hear His voice.