“Keys of the Kingdom, Part 1” Matthew 16:19-20

“Keys of the Kingdom, Part 1” Matthew 16:19-20

An Expositional Sermon
Matthew 16:19-20
“Keys of the Kingdom, Part 1”

Big Idea: Jesus entrusts the keys to His kingdom to his disciples
Application: Following Jesus Christ as a brother/disciple/Christian in the fellowship and membership in His church is to steward the keys that Jesus has given to us. Pray that the Lord would equip us to steward the keys of the kingdom of heaven well.

(1) The Kingdom of Heaven
a. What is the “Kingdom of Heaven”?
b. An overview of what Jesus has taught about the kingdom in Matthew 1-16
c. Jesus is linking his church with God’s kingdom

(2) The Keys of the Kingdom
a. What are the keys? The foundational responsibility/authority of a local church (Isaiah 22:15, 22; Revelation 1:18; 3:7; Luke 11:52; Matthew 16:19-20; 18:15-20) that Jesus uses to build His church.
b. What do the keys do?
Key #1 – “Binding Key”
notch 1 – consists of knowledge (Luke 11:52)/preaching of the gospel
notch 2 – as people respond in repentance and faith they are the fruit of Christ’s command to “make disciples” (Matthew 28:18-20), so then the church gathers or “binds” these together as brother/disciple/Christians into a local church’s via the “appeal” or “pledge” for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ in water baptism (1 Peter 3:21; 2 Corinthians 6:14; cf. Numbers 30:2-3).
Key #2 – “Loosing Key”
… disassociating a person who claims to be a brother/disciple/Christian from the fellowship of a local church (Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5:5, 13)
c. Who are the recipients of the keys? Brother/disciple/Christians who are members of a local church (Matthew 16:19-20 Peter; John 20:23 the Apostles; Matthew 18:15-20 the membership of a local church).

(3) How Should We Respond?
a. Repent and believe in the gospel
b. Share the gospel
c. Join and submit in membership to a local church as it stewards the “keys of the kingdom”