Sinner's Party, Pt. 1 - Wedding Party
Jesus told a story about the Kingdom being like the best party ever. Wait, party? Can we do that at church?

Jesus told a story about the Kingdom being like the best party ever. Wait, party? Can we do that at church?
Many in the next generation are crying out "I want a real life!" But who is there showing them what a real life looks like? Imagine what can be done with a next generation pursuing a real life with adults leading them!
Our parental goal has become making our kids happy & getting them out of the house by 25. That's not God's goal for us in parenting. We must produce Hear & Follow adults. And that starts by teaching them to find life & honoring God above all else.
Little foxes can run crazy in gardens. Starting small, but ruining everything. Rivals do the same to marriages and lives. We have to recognize and catch the foxes.
Our culture is built upon the twin monsters of comparison and perfection. For ladies, this results in negativity that poisons self and others. How can you flourish in a culture that demands perfection?
Our culture idolizes perfection. And if we're not perfect, we leave it all up to those who are. The only problem is that no one is perfect. The role of a husband isn't to be perfect. It is to set a culture where others flourish.
To every successful mission comes a turning point. A Moment of Truth where the people involved determine if the reward is worth the risk. And they decide to sacrifice. What does this turning point look like in the Kingdom?
It is a tough world out there. We will face difficulty and Jesus just tells us to "shake it off"! How on earth or why would we ever shake it off?
Jesus has laid out the vision and strategy of advancing the Kingdom. Now he moves to the tactics. Which are the everyday things we do to accomplish the mission.
We can feel the need for action, but that isn't action. All mission is about action. How do we move from feeling to action?
Missions start because we feel the need for the mission. Jesus trained his disciples on feeling the need and where to go when you're overwhelmed.
Faith is seeing things the way God sees them, then acting on it. Mary had faith. But it was going to bring difficulty. How was the gift of faith seen in Mary's life?
Life gets out of control at times. But that isn't the way God intended. When the Baby King shows up, he doesn't rescue us from the chaos. He gives calm in the middle of the chaos.
Jesus promised overwhelming joy. But sometimes it is hard to see joy and church go together. How does the Baby King bring overflowing joy?
When God feels far away, it is hard to think God loves you. And it brings fear. When the Baby King brought the Kingdom, he brought God's love.
Authority is the ability to captivate people's allegiance without demanding or bossing. Jesus had amazing authority. How can you live in restored authority?
Hope is certainty the future will be better than our past or present. But disappointment leads to despair...the inability to see the future as better. Jesus shows us that hope leads us to Hear & Follow him, even when everything looks dead.
Dignity is a respect we have for ourself. Jesus encountered a women who had lost her dignity due to a disease. How did he restore her dignity?
Jesus healed on the Sabbath. That was a no-no in religious terms. But Jesus did it to restore religion. How does he want to restore religion in your life?
Woship is broken because we think we are unable to ascribe worth to one who is worthy. But Jesus wants to restore us so we can worship the One who is worthy.
Can I regain credibility now that I've lost it? What happens when our credibility is broken? Jesus restores our credibility.
We are what we do. What happens when our "do" is broken? Jesus restores our soul.
Work is a huge part of our life. And God intended work to be a huge part of our life. And he intended it to be a purposeful part of our life. How does he restore purpose back to our work?
Jesus showed up with a Kingdom declaration. And it is good news... Real Good News.
Now that we've found the treasure, what do we do with the treasure?
Everyone has a "system of justice" inside of us. And that system points to a God of justice. But no one wants to be judged by anyone. Why is judging necessary?
Make a big splash. Overnight success. Internet phenomenon. Go big or go home. Our culture wants it super sized. But how does God view Kingdom growth?
It was never God's intention to make life difficult. But it is. If he and his Kingdom is so good, why then is life so difficult?
We go "all in" with the Kingdom treasures...but our "all in" does grow. How do we grow in the Kingdom of God?
We're talking about making disciples. But how really do you do that? Paul shows us from his ministry among the Ephesians how to make disciples of unreached people groups. No matter if those people are down the street or around the world.