{"id":1424,"date":"2025-07-23T21:20:08","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T21:20:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lw-sda.org\/?p=1424"},"modified":"2025-07-23T21:20:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T21:20:08","slug":"we-are-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lw-sda.org\/index.php\/2025\/07\/23\/we-are-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"We Are the World"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Preacher:<\/strong>\u00a0Pr. Jeff Kern<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Date:<\/strong>\u00a0July 19, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Church:<\/strong>&nbsp;Living Word Church<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Main Point<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Though we live in the world, Christians are not of it. Our purpose is to represent and expand the Kingdom of God through transformed lives, compassionate service, and unwavering love for people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Key Scriptures<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>John 17:15<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 \u201cI do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Matthew 6:10<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 \u201cYour kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Luke 4:18-19<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Jesus\u2019 mission: to preach, heal, liberate, and restore.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Matthew 5:13-14<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 \u201cYou are the salt of the earth\u2026 You are the light of the world.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ephesians 5:8<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 \u201cFor you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Supporting Points<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Kingdom of God is\u00a0<strong>transformational, internal, and active<\/strong>, not merely institutional or structural.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>True service to God requires humility, transformation, and prioritizing people over programs or traditions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Being salt and light means\u00a0<strong>personal connection<\/strong>\u00a0with Christ and\u00a0<strong>visible, impactful living<\/strong>\u00a0in the world.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Religious form without heart transformation is empty; the true measure of faith is love in action.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We are called to\u00a0<strong>serve one another<\/strong>\u00a0and especially care for the marginalized, sick, and forgotten.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Our Message<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In what ways do our lives proclaim the presence and values of God\u2019s kingdom in our community?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How can we distinguish between religious appearance and genuine transformation in our personal walk?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are we using truth to uplift others, or are we hoarding it for our own spiritual comfort?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Our Conduct<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Do our daily actions reflect the salt and light Jesus described?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are we engaging with others in a way that points them to Christ?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How do we respond when called to serve inconveniently or sacrificially?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>6. Practical Application<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What simple, consistent acts of service can I begin this week that bring heaven\u2019s reality closer to someone?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How can I practice being \u201cin the world but not of the world\u201d in my work, home, or school?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Who in my community needs to see God\u2019s love through my involvement, prayer, or presence?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>7. Personal Commitment<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Am I willing to \u201ccheck my ego at the door\u201d and unite with others for God\u2019s mission?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What steps can I take to deepen my personal relationship with Christ so that I may reflect His light more clearly?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How can I intentionally create space in my life for others \u2013 to pray, visit, and encourage them in love?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Prayer Points<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>For Transformation<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 \u201cLord, transform my heart to reflect Your kingdom in my words and deeds.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>For Service<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 \u201cJesus, help me to humbly serve others as You did, seeking nothing in return but Your glory.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>For Unity and Compassion<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 \u201cHoly Spirit, unite our church in love and compassion, putting people above structures.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Preacher:\u00a0Pr. Jeff Kern Date:\u00a0July 19, 2025 Church:&nbsp;Living Word Church 1. Main Point Though we live in the world, Christians are not of it. Our purpose is to represent and expand [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1424","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"featured_image_src":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"Jeff Kern","author_link":"https:\/\/lw-sda.org\/index.php\/author\/jkern\/"},"featured_media_urls":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lw-sda.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1424","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lw-sda.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lw-sda.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lw-sda.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lw-sda.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1424"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lw-sda.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1424\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1425,"href":"https:\/\/lw-sda.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1424\/revisions\/1425"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lw-sda.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1424"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lw-sda.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1424"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lw-sda.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1424"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}