"Seek First the Kingdom of God Seeking God's Kingdom First: A Daily Surrender " Matthew 24:36-44
Sermon Resources
Title: Seeking God's Kingdom First: A Daily Surrender Sermon Summary: This sermon explores the radical command of Jesus in Matthew 6:33 to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." The pastor emphasizes that seeking God's kingdom is not a one-time decision or seasonal practice, but a continuous, moment-by-moment surrender throughout each day. Drawing from the context of the Sermon on the Mount, the message challenges the natural human tendency to prioritize material needs and self-sufficiency. Instead, it calls believers to a fundamental heart transformation where God rules as King over every aspect of life—finances, relationships, health, and daily decisions. This seeking requires humility, acknowledging that only God can change our hearts, and trusting His timing, wisdom, and ways even when they differ from our own plans. The sermon emphasizes that true fulfillment comes not from achieving our goals first and then seeking God, but from surrendering control and allowing God's kingdom to take priority, trusting that He will provide what we truly need in His perfect timing.
Key Points:
Seeking God's kingdom means everything else loses priority; it requires a total change in perspective and lifestyle
The kingdom of God refers to wherever God rules—inviting His rule over every area of our lives
This is primarily a heart issue, not merely about doing more religious activities like Bible study or prayer
Only God can change our hearts, and He does so only when we humbly ask and surrender control
Jesus spoke this radical message to common people who had a strong work ethic and were focused on acquiring material security
Seeking God's kingdom requires humility—coming to God as "poor in spirit" acknowledging we cannot change ourselves
God's timing is crucial; delays in answered prayer often indicate God is preparing us or teaching us faith
Biblical examples like Abraham (waiting 25 years for a son) and Joseph (slavery and imprisonment before leadership) show God's preparation process
Practical application involves breath prayers throughout the day, surrendering plans before getting out of bed, and relaxing into God's provision during moments of stress or forgetfulness
The Beatitudes provide the framework for understanding what it means to seek God's righteousness—right relationship with God, ourselves, and others
5-Day Devotional: Seeking First the Kingdom Day 1: The Priority of Surrender Reading: Matthew 6:25-34
Devotional: Jesus commands us to "seek first the kingdom of God," which means everything else takes second place. Like searching for that lost phone in the car, when we truly seek God's kingdom, everything else stops until we find Him. This isn't a one-time decision but a daily, moment-by-moment reorientation of our hearts. God's kingdom represents His rule over every area of our lives—finances, relationships, health, and plans. The question isn't whether we'll seek something; we're always seeking. The question is what comes first. When God rules our hearts, He promises to provide what we truly need. Today, ask yourself: What am I seeking first? Where does God's rule fit in my daily priorities?
Day 2: Humble Dependence Reading: Matthew 5:1-12 (The Beatitudes)
Devotional: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." The kingdom belongs to those who come with empty hands, recognizing they cannot change their own hearts. Only God can transform us from the inside out. This requires profound humility—admitting we're powerless over our anger, our fears, our broken relationships, and our stubborn wills. The pastor's memory struggles illustrate this beautifully: instead of panicking, he learned to pause, pray, and trust God in that moment of need. Dependence isn't weakness; it's the posture that opens heaven's doors. When we mourn over our inadequacies and hunger for righteousness, God fills us. Today, identify one area where you're trying to fix yourself. Surrender it to God and ask Him to do what only He can do.
Day 3: God's Timing, Not Ours Reading: Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-7
Devotional: Abraham waited twenty-five years for God's promise of a son. Why the delay? Because Abraham needed to learn faith, trust, and obedience. God's timing is never about withholding good things but about preparing us for what He's promised. When our prayers seem unanswered, it's not because God won't provide—it's because He's working something deeper within us first. Joseph received his dream as a teenager but spent years in slavery and prison before ruling Egypt. The delay prepared him for the purpose. When we seek God's kingdom first, we learn to trust His perfect timing. We discover that what we thought we needed immediately, God knows we need something else first—usually a change of heart, deeper faith, or refined character. Can you trust God's timing today, even when you don't see the blessing yet?
Day 4: Meekness in the Storm Reading: Philippians 4:4-13
Devotional: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Meekness isn't weakness—it's being "debonair," at peace with God's way, God's timing, and God's will. Like the birds and flowers Jesus described, meek people don't panic when storms come. They remain calm, trusting God's provision through the difficulty. Paul learned this secret: "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." This contentment comes from seeking God's kingdom first, not from controlling outcomes. When we can't remember a name, face an unexpected bill, or navigate a difficult relationship, we can either panic or pause. We can either demand our way immediately or trust God's way eventually. The practice of praying through moments of stress—like the Lord's Prayer during memory lapses—trains us in meekness. Today, practice being "debonair" when something doesn't go your way. Pause, breathe, and trust God's provision.
Day 5: The Daily Practice of Seeking Reading: James 1:19-27; Psalm 63:1-8
Devotional: Seeking God's kingdom isn't a Sunday activity or a crisis response—it's an all-day, every-day lifestyle. Before your feet hit the floor, surrender your plans to God. Before checking your phone, acknowledge His lordship. Throughout the day, in small moments of frustration or confusion, turn to Him. This continuous seeking transforms us from the inside out. It's not primarily about more Bible study or longer prayers (though both are good); it's about a heart posture that says, "You first, Lord, not me." When we practice this, we discover that God provides exactly what we need, exactly when we need it. The promise is clear: seek His kingdom and righteousness first, and "all these things will be added unto you." Not maybe. Not sometimes. Will be. Today, set reminders throughout your day to pause and seek God's rule in that moment. Make seeking Him your bullseye.
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." - Matthew 6:33
Small Group Guide: Seek Ye First the Kingdom Based on the sermon from Matthew 6:33
Opening Prayer Begin your time together by praying the Lord's Prayer slowly and reflectively, pausing after each phrase to consider its meaning.
Ice Breaker Share a time when you lost something important (like Barbara's phone in the story). How did everything else stop until you found it? What does that reveal about our priorities?
Key Scripture Matthew 6:33 - "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you."
Main Takeaways Seeking is continuous, not one-time - It's an all-day, every-day posture of the heart The Kingdom of God means God's rule - Where God rules in every area of our lives It requires humility - Only God can change our hearts when we ask Him God's timing is perfect - He knows what we need and when we need it It's a heart issue first - Not primarily about doing more Bible study, prayer, or service
Discussion Questions Understanding "Seeking First" In the phone story, everything stopped until the phone was found. What would it look like for us to make seeking God's kingdom that urgent and all-consuming?
The pastor mentioned that seeking God's kingdom isn't a one-time event but an ongoing lifestyle. What's the difference between these two approaches in practical terms?
How do you currently "seek" God throughout your day? What prevents you from seeking Him first more consistently?
The Kingdom and God's Rule What does it mean for God to "rule" in your life? What areas are easiest to surrender? What areas are hardest?
The sermon mentioned that Jesus was speaking to people living under the Abrahamic covenant who were focused on land, family, and prosperity. How is our cultural context similar? How does our culture teach us to seek security?
Reflect on this statement: "We keep praying the same things for years—fix my marriage, heal my body, give me a better job—but we're asking God to bless our plans rather than surrendering to His rule." Do you see this pattern in your own prayer life?
Humility and Heart Change "The only person that can change Greg Pittman's heart is not Greg Pittman. The only person that can change Greg Pittman's heart is God." How does this truth change the way we approach personal growth and transformation?
The Beatitudes start with "Blessed are the poor in spirit"—those who come to God with empty hands. When was the last time you came to God this way? What makes this difficult?
The pastor shared his story of trying to negotiate with God: "Give me two years to get it together, then I'll surrender." Have you ever made similar deals with God? What happened?
God's Timing and Our Trust Abraham waited 25 years for God's promise. Joseph went through slavery and imprisonment before his dream was fulfilled. How do these stories challenge our expectations of God's timing?
"If God has not added something in our life that we've been praying for, it's not because He will not. It's because He's doing something else within us." How does this perspective change the way you view unanswered prayers?
The pastor mentioned that sometimes God changes our desires rather than our circumstances. Have you experienced this? Share an example.
Practical Application The pastor shared how he started praying the Lord's Prayer when he couldn't remember names, as a way to relax and trust God. What practical "breath prayers" or practices could help you seek God's kingdom throughout your day?
"Be quick to listen to God and slow to speak to God." What does this look like practically? How can we cultivate more listening and less demanding in our prayer life?
Personal Reflection Take 5-7 minutes of silence for each person to reflect on these questions:
What is one area of my life where I'm still trying to maintain control rather than surrendering to God's rule? What am I anxiously seeking (finances, relationships, health, security) that God is asking me to trust Him with instead? What would change this week if I truly sought God's kingdom first in that area?
Practical Applications for This Week Choose one or two of these to commit to:
Morning Surrender Practice: Before getting out of bed or checking your phone, spend 2-3 minutes surrendering your day to God's rule. Ask Him to be King over your schedule, conversations, decisions, and challenges.
Breath Prayer Throughout the Day: When you feel anxious, rushed, or stuck, pray a simple breath prayer like:
"Your kingdom come, Your will be done" "Lord, You rule here" "I surrender this to You" The Lord's Prayer slowly Pause Before Decisions: Before making decisions this week (big or small), pause and ask: "Lord, how do You want to rule in this situation? What does Your kingdom look like here?"
Identify Your "Bullseye": Write down what you've been seeking first (what gets your first attention, energy, and focus). Then write what God might be calling you to seek instead. Pray about the gap between the two.
Practice "Poor in Spirit": Each day, come to God with one thing you cannot change about yourself and ask Him to do what only He can do. Keep a journal of how He responds.
Trust God's Timing: Choose one unanswered prayer and shift from asking God to hurry up to asking God what He wants to teach you or change in you while you wait.
Closing Exercise Group Prayer of Surrender
Go around the circle and have each person complete one of these sentence prayers aloud:
"Lord, I surrender to Your rule in the area of..." "God, I'm trusting Your timing with..." "Father, I need You to change my heart about..."
Close with someone praying the Lord's Prayer for the entire group.
For Further Study Read Matthew 5-7 (the entire Sermon on the Mount) this week Study the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) and journal about which one challenges you most Read about Abraham's journey of faith (Genesis 12-22) Read about Joseph's preparation (Genesis 37-50) Memorize Matthew 6:33
Leader Notes Be prepared to share your own struggles with seeking God first Create space for silence and reflection—don't rush through questions If the group is large, consider breaking into smaller groups for the personal reflection questions Encourage honesty about the difficulty of surrendering control Celebrate small steps of progress, not perfection
Follow up next week on the practical applications people committed to
