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Sermon Notes

In the Midst of the Kingdom

Passage: Luke 17:20–37 (ESV)
Speaker: Pastor Scott Berglin
Series: God from Luke’s Eyes to Yours
Date: September 20, 2026

“Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.” — Luke 17:33

We often want to know when God will show up, what He's doing, and how everything will turn out. But Jesus redirects our focus. The Kingdom of God is already in our midst. Rather than trying to observe, measure, and control everything, we're invited to experience God and trust Him with what we don't understand.

The Son of Man in His Day Will Be SURPRISING

Luke 17:24, 26–30

The coming of the Son of Man will be unmistakable—but we don't need to spend our lives trying to predict when it will happen. Like Noah and Lot, we're called to walk in faith and obedience today, even when we don't know the outcome.

The Kingdom of God Is EXPERIENCED Rather Than OBSERVED

Luke 17:20–21

The Pharisees wanted to know when the Kingdom would come. Jesus told them it was already in their midst.

We can become so focused on what we can see, measure, and understand that we miss what God is doing.

Instead of asking only:

“What can I see?”

ask:

“How am I experiencing God?”

Seek to EXPERIENCE GOD Rather Than PRESERVE YOURSELF

Luke 17:32–33

Remember Lot's wife.

She looked back. She tried to preserve what she had.

Jesus reminds us that trying to preserve our lives can actually cause us to lose them. Noah and Lot didn't have all the answers—they simply obeyed because God said so.

What are you trying to control or preserve?

What would it look like to surrender it and trust God?

This Week's Challenge

Pastor Scott reminded us:

“There’s no glitch in the Kingdom of God.”

What we see as difficulty, pain, or something that isn't working may actually become an opportunity to experience God.

We don't need all the answers.

We need a pursuit of Him.

You're in the midst of it. Go experience it.

Take It With You

  • Stop obsessing over WHEN and focus on TODAY.
  • Don't just observe God—experience Him.
  • Let go of your need to control the outcome.
  • Follow God even when you don't have all the answers.
  • Ask yourself: “How am I experiencing God?”

One Question for the Week

What am I trying to preserve or control that God is asking me to surrender?

The Kingdom is already in our midst.
Go experience it.