Equipping 2: New Kingdom
Speaker: Steve Little (Pastor)
Date: August 3 2025
Our series is: Equipping the Saints for the Work of the Ministry
Philippians 3:20
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…
Hebrews 13:20-21a: Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will…
In Our Communities We Are
· Known as a people that Jesus is the center of our individual lives and in our gatherings together
· Known as a people of prayer
· Known as a people equipped to do ministry
During the introductory part of this series we looked at the gifts God gave to the church Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers.
• Apostles – One who is sent out
• Prophets – To speak for, to interpret, or to foretell
• Evangelists – Bringer of good tidings or one who announces good news
• Pastors – This Greek word is almost always translated shepherd
• Teachers – To impart knowledge – Teach about God and the duties of man
As we looked at scripture it became really clear that our Lord Jesus exuded each of these functions. He was one who was sent, one that foretold the future, one that brought good tidings, one that shepherded and one that taught about God and the duties of man. These was the essence and rhythm of Jesus’ life.
Titles are not as important as ministry itself. If titles become the focus they have become a form of pride. A title does not make the person or the ministry.
Matthew 20:25-28 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
New Kingdom – New Thinking and Doing
Commitment and Communion
Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…
Hebrews 13:20-21: "Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."
· Commitment:
When I went in to the Army during the Vietnam war, I had no idea what was going to transpire.
The first thing was my commitment. It looked like this:
I, _____, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So, help me God. (Title 10, US Code; Act of 5 May 1960 replacing the wording first adopted in 1789, with amendment effective 5 October 1962).
The thing that I did not really understand is that for years the Army had already made a commitment to those who came into the military. We signed an agreement/a contract, mine was for 3 years. They were obligated to do their part it had already been established. The Army was committed to equip me.
Now it was up to me to do my half of the commitment.
The process began: They changed my thinking, they changed my position in society to soldier, new clothes to wear and they gave me a personal job to do.
When we came in to a relationship with Christ, we came in to a new kingdom with a different life style. God is committed to equipping us for this new kingdom.
God has equipped the saints for ministry – God is already committed to equipping us.
Equip: The Greek word translated as "equip" is katartismos: It can also be translated as "perfecting," "training," or "preparing". This word signifies a process of adjustment that results in complete preparedness for ministry.
New name: Saints (59 times)
The Greek word translated as “saints” is hagios. It is used 235 times in the New Testament: properly, different (unlike) holy;
Set apart for God, to be, as it were, exclusively His.
New work: Ministry: Greek word most directly associated with "ministry" is "diakonia". This word generally means service or ministry, often involving practical help and service to others.
· Communion:
Acts 2:40-45 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine (Committed) and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. (Communion)
Note: They came together for fellowship (koinonia):
The biblical Greek word for communion is koinōnia. It primarily means fellowship, sharing, or participation, and is often used to describe the Lord's Supper.
Before we take communion, I would like to read a parable.
(A Parable A fictional story, not a historical account. It's a narrative designed to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson)
There once was a kingdom that was ruled by a great king. He was both the most powerful man in the Kingdom as well as the kindest and gentlest man in the whole realm. The kingdom was known for its peace, harmony and goodwill. Neighbors cherished one another and years would pass without a single crime being committed.
One day, however, the chief servant of the Merciful King came into the throne room with disturbing news. “There is a thief in the kingdom, Sire”. The king was astonished! “Find that thief! And when you do, bring him to me. He will be punished with 10 lashes!”
A week went by and the servant again made his way into the throne room. “I have bad news for you, Sire”. The thief has not been found and he continues to rob from your people.” In anger, the king raised his voice and said, “Find the thief and when you do he will receive 25 lashes!” The people began to murmur among themselves, “Who could withstand such a punishment?
As time went on, the servant once again came back into the throne room with yet another bad report. “Your Majesty, the thief has not been found. We have searched in vain for him. Your people are still being robbed.” The king was enraged. “Find that wretched thief! And when you do his punishment will be 40 lashes!”
Soon afterward the servant again approached the king in his throne room. His face was pale and his voice timid and hollow.
“Your Highness,” spoke the servant, “the thief has been found.”
“Bring him to me this instant,” cried the king. The crowd that had poured into the throne room slowly parted, revealing the thief who now stood trembling in the middle of the room. To the utter shock and dismay of all, it was the king’s aged mother. There she stood, trembling and crying. Her small and frail body was shaking with fear and shame. She was, perhaps, the very last soul that anyone would have suspected of such a crime. And there stood the king, in shock and deeply wounded.
The crowd began to wonder and murmur among themselves: “What will the Merciful King do? Will he set aside the law and display his love and mercy by forgiving his mother for her crimes? Or will he display His sovereignty and justice by giving her exactly what she deserved. Will he choose mercy or will he choose justice?”
The king raised his hand to quiet the crowd. “Bring the whipping post,” he said.
The old woman was tied to the post. Her garment was rent, exposing her back to the whip-master. “Administer the lashes,” said the king. And not a sound could be heard as the whip was raised.
But just as the whip-master was about to unleash his first stroke, the king cried, “Halt!”
The king stood from his throne. He slowly removed the crown from his head, laying down. As he began to walk down the stairs toward his mother, he laid aside his royal robe and finely woven tunic. Coming to his mother, he wrapped his body around her, completely enveloping her under his frame.
The king spoke: “Now, administer the lashes."
Thus, in one act did the king display pure mercy and perfect justice.
John 19:1-3 Then Pilate had Jesus taken and whipped. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and dressed Him in a purple robe. Over and over they went up to Him and said, “Greetings, king of the Jews!” And they slapped Him in the face.
‘By His stripes you were healed’ Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24
Take Communion
Benediction Scripture
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
