February 8, 2026

This sermon explores Jesus' parables about the kingdom of heaven from Matthew 13, emphasizing that being more like Jesus means becoming more kingdom-minded. The message challenges believers to move beyond merely seeking ethical perfection to prioritizing God's kingdom in their daily lives. The sermon traces how the kingdom of God started small like a mustard seed but has grown to over 2 billion Christians today, and will be fully consummated at Christ's second coming. Christians are called to live in the "time between the times"—between Jesus' first and second advent—recognizing that both the righteous and the wicked coexist in the world until the final harvest. The core application centers on three responses: treasuring the kingdom above all earthly possessions, living with purpose as light in darkness, and intentionally growing in faith to share with others.