JANUARY 26, 2025
Sermon by Pastor Alvin Berkley
THE NATURE OF THE KINGDOM
In this scripture Paul was dealing with a particular problem they were having at the church in Rome. The problem had to do with eating certain foods, drinking certain drinks, and worshipping on certain days.
Watch the full sermon: The Nature of the Kingdom
Scripture Reference: Romans 14:11-23 NKJV
“For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.”
So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.
Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.
Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.”
Emergent Themes:
- Problems in the church
- Contention in the fellowship
- The nature and value of the Kingdom of God
Download and print the worksheet.
As you watch the sermon use the Word List to help you fill in the blanks on the worksheet.
Word List:
joy
peace
power
righteousness
spiritual
JANUARY 19, 2025
Sermon by Pastor Alvin Berkley
THE MYSTERY OF KINGDOM GROWTH
One of the truths I have learned about the Christian life is that you cannot remain stagnant. Either you grow in the Lord, or you will begin to regress. There is an expectation of growth and development.
Watch the full sermon: The Mystery of Kingdom Growth
Scripture Reference: Mark 4:26-32 NKJV
“And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.”
Emergent Themes:
- Either you grow in the Lord or you regress
- Parable of the sower
- Growth of the Kingdom of God
Download and print the worksheet. As you watch the sermon use the Word List to help you fill in the blanks on the worksheet.
Word List:
backslide
desire
disobedience
expectation
grow
mystery
purpose
secret
service
JANUARY 12, 2025
Sermon by Pastor Alvin Berkley
KINGDOM MINDED BELIEVERS
When you and I accepted as Jesus Christ as Savior, we were translated into the Kingdom of God’s dear Son. Now that you are in the Kingdom, you must start shingling like a citizen of the Kingdom.
This is what we call being “Kingdom Minded.”
Watch the full sermon: Kingdom-Minded Believers
Scripture Reference: Acts 14:19-23
“Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.’ So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”
Emergent Themes:
- Thinking like a citizen of God’s Kingdom
- Paul conforming the souls of the disciples
- Exhorting disciples to continue in the faith
Download and print the worksheet. As you watch the sermon use the Word List to help you fill in the blanks on the worksheet.
Word List:
encouraging
re-establish
security
seeking
selected/spiritual
suffering
