Sunday, July 13, 2008

15/6/2008: Koramangala Methodist Church (KMC): Speaker: Pastor Grace Methodist Church: Theme: Life in his kingdom

Was unable to get the name of the speaker. Reading was taken from 1 Timothy 1:1-10. And here goes the sermon in 1st person

Paul appreciated timothy and his parents and grandparent of their faith.

1 John 3:1-3: talks about the lavish love for our heavenly father. When God appears we will be like Him.

Scripture talks about various workers working for different amount of time getting the same amount of money as renumeration. The laborers belong to the poorest of the poor. This parable talks about the kingdom of god.

Where is the kingdom of God? When this kingdom will come. We normally believe that this kingdom is up above without any sufferings. New testament has a lot of parables which talk about the kingdom of God. New testament tells that the kingdom of God has come. A place where we obey the will of God. But it also tells that the best is yet to come.

What is life like in God's kingdom. The parables tells a lot about the kingdom. It tells that there is no favoritism in God's kingdom.

Jews disliked gentiles for thinking themselves as favorite to God. But everyone is equal in the sight of God.

God loves all. Irrespective of time or place. his love is for everyone. Some may have accepted Christ at different points in our life, as a child, as a youth, as an old. But in Jesus Christ we have someone who loves us equally. God loves those who come in the morning as well as those who come in the evening.

Thief in the cross asked Jesus to remember him and he accepts him in his kingdom.

Infinite compassion of God. It is so much, we won't be able to measure with our own understanding. In this parable God in His mercy Gave these poor people work ....

Common criticism to church is that to fill various vacancies with the second best candidates. We need to show compassion to other people who need it.

Generosity of God: All these laborers do different amount of work. There is no rank in God's kingdom. Everyone is same in the eyes of God and God gives them liberally and lovingly.

Pastor also raise funds. Some do give liberally and sometimes the generosity could be surprising. The philosophy of work is different in God's kingdom. These workers who came to work can be divided into two groups. One who were under contract and others who were not. In God's kingdom it is the joy of working which is important. Today the money which is abundant and flow has also affected the church. There is no joy of working instead we are working for thw money. In the kingdom of God we work for the joy. Its a joy to do his ministry

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