Three Questions
1. “Do I really belong among the people
of God since I am so
_______________?”
2. “How am I supposed to do life so
intimately with all these different
people?”
3. “How do I continue Jesus’ mission to
love?”
KINGDOM
CLASH!
Luke 8:22 – 10:24
What is a kingdom?
“a state or people ruled over by a king or
queen”
 “a realm or area of activity in which a
particular way dominates”

The identity & nature of the king sets
the course for what way will
dominate the kingdom.
What is a kingdom?
“a state or people ruled over by a king or
queen”
 “a realm or area of activity in which a
particular way dominates”

Everybody wants a
king…
The identity & nature of the king sets
the course for what way will
dominate the kingdom.
1 Samuel 8:1-9
When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as
judges over Israel. 2 His firstborn son’s name was Joel
and his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. 3 However, his sons did not walk in his ways—
they turned toward dishonest gain, took bribes, and
perverted justice. 4 So all the elders of Israel
gathered together and went to Samuel at
Ramah. 5 They said to him, “Look, you are old, and
your sons do not follow your example. Therefore,
appoint a king to judge us the same as all the other
nations have.” 6 When they said, “Give us a king to
1 Samuel 8:1-9
judge us,” Samuel considered their demand sinful, so
he prayed to the Lord. 7 But the Lord told him, “Listen
to the people and everything they say to you. They
have not rejected you; they have rejected Me as their
king. 8 They are doing the same thing to you that they
have done to Me, since the day I brought them out of
Egypt until this day, abandoning Me and worshiping
other gods. 9 Listen to them, but you must solemnly
warn them and tell them about the rights of the king
who will rule over them.”
1 Samuel 8:1-9
judge us,” Samuel considered their demand sinful, so
he prayed to the Lord. 7 But the Lord told him, “Listen
to the people and everything they say to you. They
have not rejected you; they have rejected Me as their
king. 8 They are doing the same thing to you that they
have done to Me, since the day I brought them out of
Egypt until this day, abandoning Me and worshiping
other gods. 9 Listen to them, but you must solemnly
warn them and tell them about the rights of the king
who will rule over them.”
Not us Americans!
Genesis 3:1-7
Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the
wild animals that the Lord God had made. He
said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You
can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The
woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit
from the trees in the garden. 3 But about the fruit
of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said,
‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’”
4 “No! You will not die,” the serpent said to the
woman. 5 “In fact, God knows that when you eat it
Genesis 3:1-7
your eyes will be opened and you will be like
God, knowing good and evil.” 6 Then the woman
saw that the tree was good for food and
delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for
obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit
and ate it; she also gave some to her husband,
who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of
both of them were opened, and they knew they
were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together
and made loincloths for themselves.
Genesis 3:1-7
your eyes will be opened and you will be like
God, knowing good and evil.” 6 Then the woman
saw that the tree was good for food and
delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for
obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit
and ate it; she also gave some to her husband,
who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of
both of them were opened, and they knew they
were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together
and made loincloths for themselves.
There are actually
only TWO kingdoms
The Kingdom of the Kosmos
Ruled by the Devil
 Dominated by self (stuff, status, sensuality)

1 John 2:15-17 -- 15 Do not love the world or the things
that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love
for the Father is not in him. 16 For everything that belongs
to the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the
eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle—is not from the
Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world with its lust
is passing away, but the one who does God’s will remains
forever.
The Kingdom of God (Jesus)
Ruled by God
 Dominated by self-giving love

The Kingdom of God (Jesus)
Ruled by God
 Dominated by self-giving love

Kingdoms take on the identity of
their ruler, & how the ruler uses
power & authority reveals the
ruler’s nature and mission…
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
Demons control a man,
drive him into isolation,
& then destroy a herd of
pigs
Kingdom of Jesus
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
Demons control a man,
drive him into isolation,
& then destroy a herd of
pigs
Kingdom of Jesus
Jesus frees a man, sends
him back to the people
who rejected him, & who
knows how many others
found freedom thru the
man’s story
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
Herod sees Jesus as a
threat & is filled with
paranoia & anxiety over
potential power loss
Kingdom of Jesus
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
Herod sees Jesus as a
threat & is filled with
paranoia & anxiety over
potential power loss
Kingdom of Jesus
Jesus repeatedly seeks to
transfer His power &
authority to His followers
& this is central to His
mission
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
When the food or
resource runs out there
is no hope…better
protect your own
(SCARCITY)
Kingdom of Jesus
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
When the food or
resource runs out there
is no hope…better
protect your own
(SCARCITY)
Kingdom of Jesus
Jesus is unflustered when
the resource runs out &
seems to delight in
empowering His followers
to serve when hope
seems lost (ABUNDANCE)
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
Kosmos rulers seek to
eliminate the opposition
Kingdom of Jesus
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
Kingdom of Jesus
Kosmos rulers seek to
Jesus sets His face to give
eliminate the opposition His life for the opposition
(ALL OF US!)
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
Suffering now is
unacceptable & a sign of
failure or weakness
Kingdom of Jesus
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
Kingdom of Jesus
Suffering now is
Suffering now as a
unacceptable & a sign of follower of Jesus is
failure or weakness
normative, but glory is
coming
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
A demon wounds &
seeks to destroy a
boy…driving him away
from his father
Kingdom of Jesus
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
Kingdom of Jesus
A demon wounds &
Jesus frees a boy from
seeks to destroy a
demonic torture &
boy…driving him away
restores him to his father
from his father
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
Followers of the kosmos
jockey for position &
greatness
Kingdom of Jesus
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
Kingdom of Jesus
Followers of the kosmos Jesus elevates the
jockey for position &
unabashedly dependent
greatness
to a place of greatness;
greatest are the givers
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
Followers of the kosmos
seek to make things
exclusive; keep the
threatening people out
Kingdom of Jesus
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
Followers of the kosmos
seek to make things
exclusive; keep the
threatening people out
Kingdom of Jesus
Jesus’ kingdom is open &
inclusive of any who will
express their need for
Him, but it is closed to
those who still choose
self-rule
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
Followers of the kosmos
defend themselves at all
costs, even if it means
destroying others
Kingdom of Jesus
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
Followers of the kosmos
defend themselves at all
costs, even if it means
destroying others
Kingdom of Jesus
Followers of Jesus follow
Jesus’ model of giving at
all costs, even if it means
suffering & death
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
Followers of the kosmos
view repentance as a
restrictive drag
Kingdom of Jesus
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
Kingdom of Jesus
Followers of the kosmos Followers of Jesus view
view repentance as a
repentance as an urgent
restrictive drag
call to turn from death to
life
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
Followers of the kosmos
root their ultimate joy &
identity in their power &
productivity
Kingdom of Jesus
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
Followers of the kosmos
root their ultimate joy &
identity in their power &
productivity
Kingdom of Jesus
Followers of Jesus root
their ultimate joy &
identity in being God’s
accepted child
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
Has little patience for
the needy &
unproductive (like
infants)
Kingdom of Jesus
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
Kingdom of Jesus
Has little patience for
Redefines what it means
the needy &
to be needy &
unproductive (like
unproductive (selfish)
infants)
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
Competition among
kosmos workers is great,
as people clamor for
stability, safety, & status
Kingdom of Jesus
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
Competition among
kosmos workers is great,
as people clamor for
stability, safety, & status
Kingdom of Jesus
Jesus’ kingdom has a
shortage of workers
because few are willing to
give so much of
themselves with such
seemingly small
immediate returns
Kingdom Clash
Kingdom of the Kosmos
Competition among
kosmos workers is great,
as people clamor for
stability, safety, & status
Kingdom of Jesus
Jesus’ kingdom has a
shortage of workers
because few are willing to
give so much of
themselves with such
seemingly small
immediate returns
Which kingdom do
you belong to?
On the one hand…
Luke 9:18-20 -- 18 While He was praying in
private and His disciples were with Him, He asked
them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 They
answered, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still
others, that one of the ancient prophets has come
back.” 20 “But you,” He asked them, “who do you
say that I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah!”
On the one hand…
Romans 10:9-10 -- 9 If you confess with your
mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your
heart that God raised Him from the dead, you
will be saved. 10 One believes with the heart,
resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with
the mouth, resulting in salvation.
On the one hand…
Ephesians 2:8-9 -- 8 For you are saved by
grace through faith, and this is not from
yourselves; it is God’s gift— 9 not from works, so
that no one can boast.
On the one hand…
Ephesians 2:8-9 -- 8 For you are saved by
grace through faith, and this is not from
yourselves; it is God’s gift— 9 not from works, so
that no one can boast.
Have you called out
to Jesus like a
desperate little child?
On the other hand…
Luke 9:23-25 -- 23 Then He said to them all, “If
anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny
himself, take up his cross daily, and follow
Me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose
it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will
save it. 25 What is a man benefited if he gains the
whole world, yet loses or forfeits himself?
On the other hand…
Luke 14:28-33 -- 28 “For which of you, wanting to build a
tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he
has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, after he has laid the
foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to
make fun of him, 30 saying, ‘This man started to build and
wasn’t able to finish.’ 31 “Or what king, going to war against
another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able
with 10,000 to oppose the one who comes against him with
20,000? 32 If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a
delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 In the same way,
therefore, every one of you who does not say good-bye to all
his possessions cannot be My disciple.
On the other hand…
Luke 14:28-33 -- 28 “For which of you, wanting to build a
tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he
has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, after he has laid the
foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to
make fun of him, 30 saying, ‘This man started to build and
wasn’t able to finish.’ 31 “Or what king, going to war against
another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able
with 10,000 to oppose the one who comes against him with
20,000? 32 If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a
delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 In the same way,
therefore, every one of you who does not say good-bye to all
his possessions cannot be My disciple.
Have you committed
to going all out with
Jesus?
A hidden reality…
Ephesians 2:10 -- For we are His creation,
created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God
prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in
them.
A hidden reality…
Hebrews 5:11-14 -- 11 We have a great deal to say
about this, and it’s difficult to explain, since you have
become too lazy to understand. 12 Although by this
time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to
teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation
again. You need milk, not solid food. 13 Now
everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the
message about righteousness, because he is an
infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature—for those
whose senses have been trained to distinguish
between good and evil.
A hidden reality…
Hebrews 5:11-14 -- 11 We have a great deal to say
about this, and it’s difficult to explain, since you have
become too lazy to understand. 12 Although by this
time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to
teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation
again. You need milk, not solid food. 13 Now
everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the
message about righteousness, because he is an
infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature—for those
whose senses have been trained to distinguish
between good and evil.
Do you realize that many
of the things you long for
are going to be elusive
until you commit?
A Chance to Give to the Cause
Ushers please come forward…