01 Apr Build Kingdom #1

Seeking God’S Kingdom Overview

In the first sermon of the ‘Build Kingdom’ series, Pastor William explores how Christians should live without worry, understanding that God has already provided everything we need. Drawing from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:25-33), he emphasizes that unlike the Old Testament law of works, we now live under grace where righteousness is a gift, not earned. Just as Adam was given everything in the Garden of Eden without having to work for it, believers today are blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places. The key is seeking first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, trusting that all other needs will be added. This isn’t about begging God for things, but recognizing what He has already given us through Christ. When we understand our position as God’s children – holy, righteous, and accepted in the Beloved – we can live without the anxiety and striving that characterizes worldly thinking. Faith becomes our natural environment, like water to a fish, rather than something we must struggle to obtain.

Seeking God’S Kingdom Outline

• 0:00 – Opening Remarks & Voting Encouragement: Pastor addresses current political issues and encourages civic engagement.
• 4:30 – Introduction to Build Kingdom Series: Overview of the new sermon series focusing on God’s kingdom principles.
• 6:00 – Review of Previous Series: Recap of righteousness by faith vs. works-based righteousness under the law.
• 10:15 – Adam’s Original Blessing: How God provided everything for Adam before he had to ask or work.
• 15:20 – Ephesians 1:3-6 – Blessed with Everything: Christians are blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places.
• 18:45 – 2 Peter 1:2-4 – All Things Given: God’s divine power has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness.
• 22:30 – Matthew 6:25-33 – Don’t Worry: Jesus teaches about living without anxiety when we seek God’s kingdom first.
• 28:00 – Kingdom Living vs. Religious Works: The difference between Christianity as family relationship vs. religion as work.

Scripture References

Matthew 6:25-33, Ephesians 1:3-6, 2 Peter 1:2-4, Romans 8:32, Romans 5:17

Key Takeaways

• Christians don’t need to worry about basic needs because God has already provided everything we need through Christ.
• Righteousness is a gift from God, not something earned through good works or keeping laws.
• Just as Adam was given everything in Eden without working for it, believers today are blessed with every spiritual blessing.
• Seeking God’s kingdom first means understanding our position as His righteous children, not striving to earn His favor.
• Faith should be our natural environment like water to a fish, not something we struggle to obtain.
• Christianity is about family relationship with God as our Father, not religious performance as servants.
• The Bible is fundamentally a story about a King, His kingdom, and His royal family – which includes every believer.

Seeking God’S Kingdom Notes

Pastor William launches his new ‘Build Kingdom’ series by addressing one of Christianity’s most challenging concepts: living without worry while trusting in God’s provision. He begins by reviewing foundational truths from previous sermon series, particularly the distinction between Old Covenant law-keeping and New Covenant grace. Under the old system, righteousness required perfect adherence to 613 laws – an impossible burden that even the fathers couldn’t bear. However, through Christ, we receive righteousness as a gift, making us ‘as right as God’ regardless of our performance.The pastor uses Adam’s experience in Eden as a powerful illustration of God’s original intent. Unlike the common perception that Adam worked in the garden from the beginning, Scripture reveals that God planted everything first, then placed Adam in a completed paradise spanning thousands of miles. Adam’s role was simply to guard and keep what had already been provided. This reflects how believers today should understand their relationship with God – not as beggars pleading for necessities, but as children receiving from a loving Father who has already provided everything.Drawing from Ephesians 1:3-6, Pastor William emphasizes that Christians are ‘blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places.’ This blessing was determined before the foundation of the world, making believers holy, without blame, and ‘accepted in the Beloved’ – the same word used when the angel told Mary she was ‘highly favored.’ This acceptance isn’t based on performance but on God’s internal working in our lives.The sermon’s centerpiece comes from 2 Peter 1:2-4, which declares that God’s divine power ‘has given’ (past tense) all things pertaining to life and godliness. This knowledge of God transforms our nature, delivering us from the corruption of worldly lust and greed. When we truly understand what God has already provided, we stop striving and start resting in His provision.Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:25-33 provides practical application for this truth. The command ‘do not worry’ isn’t merely positive thinking – it’s based on understanding our position as God’s children. Birds don’t plant crops or build barns, yet they’re fed. Flowers don’t labor or spin, yet they’re clothed more gloriously than Solomon. How much more will our heavenly Father care for us?The key phrase ‘seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness’ doesn’t mean earning God’s favor through religious activity. Instead, it means understanding and accepting the righteousness already given to us as a gift. When we live from this position of acceptance rather than striving for acceptance, everything else is ‘added’ to our lives naturally.Pastor William contrasts this kingdom mindset with religious thinking that focuses on human effort and performance. Christianity isn’t about serving a distant master but living as children in God’s family, with Jesus as our elder brother and God as our loving Father. This relationship is built entirely on gifts – from Adam’s original blessing to salvation by grace through faith to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Understanding this transforms how we pray, how we approach challenges, and how we view our identity in Christ.

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