The Power of a Seed | Til Kingdom Come | Pastor Steve Andres

New City Church

The Power of a Seed | Til Kingdom Come | Pastor Steve Andres

February 5, 2023 • Pastor Steve Andres • 1 Corinthians 4:20, John 12:24, Matthew 13:31–33

How do we understand the kingdom of God? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres began a new series of messages called “Til Kingdom Come."

Matthew 13:31-33

Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

Jesus came announcing that God’s kingdom had arrived. In this passage he tells us its arrival is inconspicuous at first, like a tiny mustard seed.

1. The seed has power for life.

The kingdom of God is not positive thinking or principles for living. It’s not first a system of beliefs or behaviors.

1 Corinthians 4:20

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

When God’s rule and authority are in operation, there is power at work to bring life.

2. The seed brings potential for growth.

It’s not right for us to think about God’s work in us as something fragile and breakable. The work God is doing in you has potential to transform you and your world.

3. The seed creates new purpose and blessing.The work that God is doing in you is not just for you! God’s work is in you SO THAT you can be a blessing to others. Jesus talked about his own life in this way:

John 12:24

I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But it dies [SO THAT] it can produce a plentiful harvest of new lives.

Jesus died a death so we could have life. He wasn’t just buried, he was planted, and he was raised again SO THAT we could have life!

Everything we need is in the seed!

Like A Child | Til Kingdom Come | Pastor Dr. Dick Foth

March 26, 2023 • Pastor Dr. Dick Foth • Mark 10:13–16, Luke 18:15–16

Oh to be a kid again! This weekend, Dr. Dick Foth concluded our TIL KINGDOM COME series with a message about child-like trust in God. Mark 10:15 These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in." The difference between God’s Kingdom and earthly kingdoms is dramatic. In the kingdom of God, the poor are valued, outcasts are recruited, rip-off guys are invited, worn-out traditions are upended and the humble are honored. That’s why children are valued. So what does it look like when we come to God as a child? DELIGHT. The joy of being a child is the delight of first-time experiences. They never tire of what they love to do. DEPENDENCE. The heart of a child is complete, reflexive, unreserved trust. Once a child trusts, they jump into every experience with enthusiasm. "It may be that God has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.” G.K. Chesterton For most of our lives, we are trying so hard to grow up, but then Jesus says, “Be a child again!” When we receive the grace of God, we receive the power to be kids again!

Un-Crowd Your Heart | Til Kingdom Come | Pastor Devin Gough

March 19, 2023 • Pastor Devin Gough • Matthew 6:5–23, Matthew 13:3–23

Is your heart too crowded? This weekend Pastor Devin Gough continued our TIL KINGDOM COME series with a message about Jesus’ Parable of the Sower. Matthew 13:22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. It’s possible for our hearts to have loves that compete with a love for God and His Word. Jesus says there are two main ways that the seed of God’s Word can get choked out and become unfruitful in our lives. 1) THE CARES OF THE WORLD Worry and anxiety are rivals to a trust in God’s promises in our lives. Do we create space in our hearts for them? "Worry, like a rocking chair, will give you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere.” Vance Havner If we want to allow God’s Word to bear fruit in our lives, we have to remember that, “There is nothing that can happen today that the Lord and I can’t handle.” 2) THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES Wealth is deceptive. It promises security and joy, but it never delivers. Matthew 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. God never promises to give us tomorrow’s provision today. But we can trust that he will take care of our every need today!

New Day, New Way | Til Kingdom Come | Pastor Steve Andres

March 12, 2023 • Pastor Steve Andres • Mark 2:21–22

Jesus came to call sinners, not perfect people! This weekend Pastor Steve continued our series, TIL KINGDOM COME, with a message about the NEW WAY of the kingdom of God. Mark 2:21-22 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear results.” Jesus’ ministry began with his announcement of the arrival of the kingdom of God. What did his teaching tell us about it? 1) Its originality. The old religious narrative of self-rescue is not new at all. Christianity is original because it not only acknowledges that we are broken, it begins with that fact. 2) Its exclusivity. Being 85% faithful is not faithfulness. The kingdom of God is an all-in proposition. Jesus is either Lord of all, or he isn’t Lord at all. 3) Its incompatibility. This NEW WAY is incompatible with the old. The gift of NEW LIFE through Jesus means learning a NEW WAY of honoring God. We are not mistake-makers in need of correction, we are sinners in need of a Savior. Sin is not something we can be coached out of, it is something we are rescued from. Thank God today for rescuing us by sending his Son!