1. 2019 Theme
Lights in a Dark World
Philippians 2:15

2. Putting God First in Everything (1)
Seeking First His Kingdom
Matthew 6:33
Putting God First in Everything (1)

3. The Nature of The kingdom
John 18:36
Romans 14:17
Luke 17:20-21
Hebrews 12:28
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 – the nature of our battle

4. The Nature of The kingdom
Jesus is your King
Matthew 28:18
Acts 2:36
Ephesians 1:18-23
Our citizenship – Philippians 3:20 Ephesians 2:19 1 Peter 2:11-12

5. The Nature of The kingdom
Do we struggle with this?
Consider the difficulty the apostles and disciples had understanding the kingdom
Jesus sought to emphasize the nature of the kingdom in teaching and parables
Yet they didn’t get it! Matthew 20:21-22, Acts 1:6
Until Pentecost – Acts 2:30-36

6. Putting God First
Matthew 6:19-34
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught about the kingdom
Matthew 6:19-21 – Where is your treasure?
Earthly or heavenly?
Is it everlasting?

7. Putting God First Matthew 6:19-21 Where is your treasure?
Do we really grasp this? Do we manifest it in our conduct?
Many today view the kingdom of God materialistically (Premillenialism, the health and wealth gospel, etc.)
Are we more concerned about our earthly treasures?
1 Timothy 6:17 Hebrews 13:5

8. Putting God First
Matthew 6:22-23
What are you bringing into your life?
The lamp of the body is the eye?
What types of things are you bringing into your heart?
1 John 2:15-17
Our entertainment, philosophies, associates, etc.
Mark 7:20-23

9. Putting God First
Matthew 6:24
Who is your Master?
You MUST make up your mind who you will serve
There is NO middle ground. Satan owns the line we try to straddle

10. Putting God First
Matthew 6:25-32, 34
Who do you trust?
Jesus addresses worry “Do not worry” – 5 times
A matter of trusting God.
He promises to take care of us if we seek Him first.
Do I trust Him enough? Does it show in my life?

11. Putting God First
Matthew 6:33
Is God your priority?
The point Jesus has been leading up to!
Is He first in EVERYTHING?
Every relationship?
Every activity we engage in?
Every place we go?
Every decision we make?

12. Putting God First
1 Peter 4:1-2 – no longer living the rest of our time in the flesh for the lusts of men
2 Corinthians 5:9 – we make it our aim
Colossians 3:2 – set your mind on things above
Philippians 3:14 – I press…

13. Is God’s will at the center of my life?