This is a link to an old Tony Campolo sermon with a bunch of good stories about the way Jesus often talked about the Kingdom of God, heaven, and what God was up to in the world as a party. I’m preaching on this topic on Sunday, looking at the challenging Matthew 22:1-10 passage. There is a sharp edge to that scripture that doesn’t show up in Tony’s sermon, but nonetheless, this is a great starting place.
When Jesus came into the world, he declared that he had come that his joy might be in us and that our joy might be full. Consequently, it’s not surprising that when people asked him what his kingdom would be like ‐ this world that he wants to create ‐ he said, “My kingdom is likened unto a wedding feast. A wedding feast and I’m the bridegroom and as long as you have a bridegroom around, you party.” That was his word; it was to be a wedding feast.
Read the rest of the sermon here.
Does this idea work for you? Do you feel like your journey with Christ is a celebration? Does going to church feel like being invited to a banquet? Why or why not?
