Scripture References: Matthew 10:34-39; Isaiah 9:6; Luke 2:41-52

Intro: Welcome to this sermon featuring Gap Year students Jonathan and Sabrina, exploring Jesus' challenging words in Matthew 10:34-39. Though known as the Prince of Peace, Jesus states He brings a "sword," signaling the division that inevitably arises when allegiance to Him confronts other loyalties.

Key Points:

1. Peace Through Prioritizing God (Jonathan): Jesus' primary mission is establishing vertical peace between humanity and God. While He desires horizontal peace, loyalty to Him sometimes disrupts earthly relationships ("sword" of division) when those relationships are prioritized above Him.
2. Choosing Team Jesus (Jonathan): Jesus demands exclusive allegiance, like joining a sports team. We must find our primary identity in His family, which may require "quitting" or de-prioritizing other "teams" (earthly family identity, career goals, cultural affiliations) where loyalties conflict.
3. Laying Down Even Good Things (Jonathan): Following Christ isn't just about giving up bad things; sometimes it requires surrendering good things—blessings, opportunities, even relationships—if they hinder our primary commitment to Him. (Testimony: Leaving a prestigious job led to God providing something better aligned with His purposes).
4. Loving God Enables Loving Others (Sabrina): Setting family members "against" each other isn't about fostering hostility but reorienting our primary love toward God. Only by loving Him supremely are we freed to love our families rightly, without making them idols. Jesus modeled prioritizing His Heavenly Father while still submitting to earthly parents (Luke 2).
5. The Paradox: Losing to Find (v. 39): The core message: clinging fiercely to our own plans, comforts, and earthly identities ("finding" our life) ultimately leads to losing true, eternal life. Conversely, surrendering everything—our rights, comforts, even cherished relationships—for Christ's sake is the paradoxical path to discovering real, abundant life in Him.

Conclusion: Jesus calls for a radical reordering of our loyalties. Placing Him first may cause painful divisions, but this allegiance is the non-negotiable requirement for discipleship. Trusting Him enough to "lose" our self-defined life is the only way to truly "find" the life He offers.

Call to Action: Identify your primary allegiances. What competes with Christ for first place in your heart (family, career, comfort, self)? What might you need to surrender or hold more loosely to follow Him without reservation? Choose today to prioritize Christ above all, trusting that losing your life for Him leads to finding everything that truly matters.

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The Gospel of Matthew: Jesus & Your Allegiance (Matthew 10:34-39)
with Jonathan Paul & Sabrina Serna

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