by Timothy J. Keller
The following sermons are in MP3 format.
The Sower; On Hearing
The Kingdom of God is not like the kingdoms of this world. Ordinary kingdoms come by conquest and therefore they are impossible to miss. However,when Jesus uses the metaphor of a tiny seed in order to describe God's Kingdom,he shows how easy it can be to be oblivious to God's Kingdom. Therefore,it can difficult to know whether one has entered God's Kingdom. Jesus tells the parable of the sower in order to help individuals test whether or not they are truly in this most unlikely kingdom. Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23; Matthew 11:2; Luke 9:57-58; Psalm 86:11
Practicing Faith in a Pagan World 2
A Christian is someone whose primary citizenship is in the Kingdom of God,not the kingdom of this world. Being a Christian is a legal status. One is either a Christian or one is not a Christian; there is no in between. Yet,this does not mean that Christians are so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly good. The very fact that Christians' greatest love is for the world to come means that they are not enslaved to the ordinary things in this world. This freedom from worldly goods is the very thing that allows Christians to sacrificially serve others. Scripture: 1 Peter 2:11-25; Matthew 5:18; John 14:2; Matthew 3:17; John 17:18; John 15:18
The Upside Down Kingdom
Jesus introduces a revolutionary kingdom in the Sermon on the Mount. He contrasts the pattern, power, and product of two kingdoms: the old one which we are currently under, and the new one which is to come. Jesus' teaching goes against every natural instinct, and represents a reversal of the world's values. Scripture:Luke 6:17-26
The Inside Out Kingdom
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus contrasts two groups who appear the same on the outside, but have different motives on the inside. Religious people are superficial, hiding behind the letter of the law; but people who are changed by the gospel are shining in the spirit of the law. Scripture: Matthew 5:11-20; Psalm 1, Matthew 7
The Final Temple
In his triumphant entry to Jerusalem,Jesus juxtaposes power and weakness. In cleansing the temple,he restores God's sanctuary for the benefit of everyone. When he curses the fig tree,he shows how his power should be fruitful in us. Scripture: Mark 11:1-18