Seeds of the Kingdom
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Learning Kingdom principles from Jesus' early ministry and those who gave up all to follow Him.
Text: Luke 8:1-3
Date: 09/04/2022, the Combined service.
Series: "Luke: Thy Kingdom Come" Part 75
Description:
Sandwiched in between the story of the woman of ill repute and the parable of the four soils, Luke provides us with one of his signature summarizing paragraphs. Throughout his Gospel as well as the book of Acts, Luke continually gives his readers "snapshots" of the state of things, whether it be the ministry of Jesus, the progress of the Kingdom of God, or the growth of the germinal church-- we are given valuable insight into the way ministry was conducted in the earliest times. As Jesus launches His second preaching tour, Luke shares with us the nature of His ministry and some of the seeds of the Kingdom, who will one day germinate to become the church. We will analyze the centrality of Christ's preaching ministry, and discuss those who accompanied Him. Particular attention will be given to the extraordinary fact that women were among those who went with Him on the road and ministered to His needs. Ultimately we will compare our own ministry focus and see how closely it aligns to the work and lives of the seeds of the Kingdom.
View:
Options:
I. Introduction, Acts 2:42-47.
II. Exposition of the text, Luke 8:1-3.
A. Context
1. Looking forwards, Luke 4:42-44.
2. Looking backwards.
B. On the road again.
1. Another preaching tour, vs. 1.
a. The time-setting of the tour, Luke 9:51.
b. The geography of the tour.
i. The expansive scope of the tour.
ii. Probing the purpose.
1) The "modus operandi" of the Kingdom of God.
2) Soli Deo Gloria.
iii. A Kingdom set apart.
c. The message of the preaching tour.
i. Looking at the grammar.
1) Proclaiming the message.
2) The evangelistic message.
3) The Kingdom message.
ii. The centrality of the message.
1) The message then, Luke 4:43, Matt. 4:17, 24:14.
2) And the message now.
d. The pupils of the preaching tour.
i. Not the brightest and best, 1Cor. 1:26.
ii. The methodology of discipleship, 2Tim. 2:1,2.
iii. Maintaining our perspective.
2. The women of the Kingdom, vs. 2-3a.
a. The nature of the women, vs. 2a.
b. Introducing the women, vs. 2b-3a.
i. Mary of Magdala.
1) Mary's demons.
2) Mary's significance.
ii. Joanna, wife of Chuza.
iii. Susanna, and many others.
c. The importance of women to Luke's Gospel.
i. Luke's handling of women.
ii. Appreciating the radical nature of these women.
d. The modern perspective.
3. The providers of the church, vs. 3b.
a. The natural outflow of the redeemed, Acts. 2:44-45, 4:34-35.
b. The modern "disconnect".
III. Application
A. The centrality of the ministry of the Word.
B. The importance of discipling "the few".
C. Supporting the ministries of your church.
IV. Conclusion
