MAIN POINT:

There is a battle for the throne over our hearts, and the only right choice is to surrender it to the Lord Jesus.

ICEBREAKER:

Who is your favorite king or ruler from history or pop culture? What about them appeals to you?

INTRODUCTION:

This weekend, Micah continued in our series, “Kingdom Come” by addressing the throne over our heart. Thrones in history were taken suddenly and forcefully, but Jesus took His rightful place on the throne of the Kingdom of God only after he suffered a humiliating death on the cross and was resurrected. He established His reign through His service and sacrifice. Many missed the King over 2000 years ago because He was not who they expected Him to be – He did not rule in the manner that best served them. He was a servant King not a conquering King. Although, we do not have kings in our country, we do have a throne and lordship over our lives. We all must make a choice of whom to place on the throne- ourselves or Jesus. Today is the day to get out the torches and the pitchforks and storm the corrupt gates of our hearts! The throne of your heart will not be surrendered without a fight. As a Christ follower, we must surrender the throne to the King of kings and Lord of lords, and a great way to surrender lordship in our lives is to be in a mob (small group). Together, we can encourage each other in the Lord day in and day out. The Kingdom of God is here and now, and we need to give Jesus absolute sovereignty.

ENCOUNTERING GOD THROUGH BIBLE STUDY:

Read Psalm 103:19.

1. This verse states the Kingdom of God is established, and it is now. God’s firm and universal dominion is a pledge that He will keep His promises. Does God have dominion in your life? How does knowing He is the Promise keeper affect you?

Read Psalm 145:11-13.

2. This passage speaks to His kingdom being before, now and forever. Why and in what ways do people put off the Kingdom for later? Discuss how you can fall into the trap of drifting away from Jesus’ lordship over your life. How can you guard against this?

Read Mark 10:35-37 and Matthew 18:1

3. What were the disciples seeking in these verses? How does this contradict our true calling according to Jesus? With regard to your service for the Kingdom, are there any areas you may be serving from a position of pride rather than from a position of humility?

Read Philippians 2:8-9

4. Most Kings are not given the Throne, they seize it. Jesus Christ seized the Throne when He humbled Himself walking among the people, and became obedient to the point of a humiliating death on the cross. This was when His name became above all names and when he became the Lord of the Kingdom of God. He endured and suffered for our sake as He modeled what Christian love is all about. This sacrifice demands that the we respond by living faithful lives in reverence to Christ’s work, showing humility toward one another and not grumbling. Consider a current situation in your life where you need to quietly and openly humble yourself towards another for the sake of God’s Kingdom. How can your group pray for you in this regard?

Read Luke 19:11-27

5. Jesus declared the kingdom of God as a present reality that could be experienced by those He ministered to and taught. He also taught in a way that assumed the kingdom was a future reality. This parable teaches us about a ruler who had to leave before he could return to his kingdom in order to change their expectations. Jesus described what “good and faithful servants” could do in the meantime. What are you doing in the meantime for the Kingdom as we await Jesus’ return? Consider as a group ways you could address the needs of the community so as to “be about Our Father’s business” as we await His Coming.

Read Matthew 6:9-13.

6. These verses include the Lord’s Prayer, and Micah emphasized the utmost importance of us acknowledging and accepting the Kingdom of God and His rule and reign in our hearts, both in this Age and the Age to Come. Are there friends, family members or acquaintances in your life that need to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ so that they can place Him on the throne of their life? How will you share the Truth with them?

Read Mark 10:15, 23-25.

7. How are we to receive the Kingdom of God? Why? Discuss what it means when Jesus said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. What things are possible with God?

Read Jeremiah 17:9

8. This verse talks about the heart being deceitful. Discuss what kinds of things in us can deceive us? So, who is it that can completely understand us and why? Can we fight back against our fleshly desires by sheer willpower? What lasting change must be made and what practical steps can you take to wage a successful war against your will and the corrupt gate of your heart?

LEADER NOTES:

1. He is Sovereign over all. Nothing happens to us that has not been filtered through His hands first. He knows, and He cares.
2. They put their wants and needs first. They put things off for “a better time” or for when they are in trouble and need God. They live their life according to their plans, and once their life is “in order” according to their desires, they may consider Jesus at that point. Guard against falling into this trap by putting Jesus on the throne daily and dying to self.
3. They pridefully sought to be great in the Kingdom of God- to have high status positions. We are to seek and serve His Kingdom in humility not out of pride. Each of us battles pride. Do not be discouraged when the Spirit convicts of pride. Remember, if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness (1 John 1:9.)
4. Answers may vary.
5. Answers may vary. We need to remain alert and vigilant. Consider a community service project!
6. We need to share the gospel with others! We must tell them the truth about God, the truth about man’s sinful nature, and the good news that Christ came to save us from what we deserve. We all have to make a decision of whether or not we will place Jesus on the throne of our lives. This is the most important question that is before all of humanity.
7. Like a little child, we are to humbly approach the Kingdom. A rich man cannot buy his way into the Kingdom. If he relies on his accumulated wealth, it will be impossible for him to enter just as it is impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. Nothing we do outside the decision to surrender fully to Him will make us right before the Lord. We cannot work for it; we cannot buy it. All things are possible with God. It is impossible for us to enter His Kingdom on our own, but if we confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9). Jesus + Nothing = Everything.
8. Our thoughts, feelings, will, motivations, and emotions. Only God can understand these things in us because He created us. He knows our weaknesses. Willpower alone cannot protect us from our fleshly desires and temptations. Only by surrendering to Jesus and dying to self can we be successful, and we can do this only in the power of the Holy Spirit. Practical steps: pray, be in His Word, surround yourself with other believers that can encourage you and hold you accountable (be in a small group), be sensitive to His Holy Spirit.