Lakeshore Bible Church Sermons

This exposition of the Lord's Prayer takes us deep into the petition 'Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.' We're challenged to wrestle with a profound tension: Jesus Christ reigns as King right now with all authority in heaven and on earth, yet we still pray for His kingdom to come. This isn't a contradiction but an invitation into the beautiful mystery of 'already but not yet.' We live as citizens of a kingdom that is both present and future, called to be flickering lights in darkness, bringing the reality of Christ's reign into our everyday lives. The message confronts us with urgent questions: Are we living as if Christ is King today? Do our words and actions honor His name, or do they cause others to despise it? We're reminded that taking the name Christian upon ourselves means our lives become reflections of the King we serve. This isn't passive waiting for a distant future kingdom—it's active engagement in spiritual warfare, laboring for peace where there's conflict, bringing order where there's chaos, and making disciples of all nations. The call is clear: we must pick up our crosses and engage in the battle for all that is good, holy, and beautiful in the kingdom of heaven.

The radical invitation to call God "Father" was revolutionary in Jesus' time. The Jews knew God as transcendent and holy, but Jesus invites us into intimate relationship—to approach the Creator of the universe as "Father." Yet this intimacy never diminishes His holiness. Like Isaiah, who encountered God's glory and was undone by his own sinfulness, we must hold both truths: God is intimately near and awesomely holy. Today, reflect on the privilege you have through Christ to approach God as Father. How does knowing Him as both loving Dad and holy King change how you pray? Spend time thanking Him for bridging the gap between His transcendence and your need through Jesus Christ.