Dave Currie was my ministerial hero when I was a kid, and he first introduced me to the idea of ‘Kingdom Paradox’ when I was 18. Yesterday I found Dave’s sermon notes while digging through my old note books, and thought I’d reprint his basic outline.

JOHN 12:23-26
The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant will also be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

4 Kingdom Paradoxes

1. Dying to produce life (“…unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies…”

2. Losing to possess life (“…the man who loves his life will lose it…”)

3. Following to proclaim life (“…whoever serves me must follow me…”)

4. Serving to be promoted in life (“…my Father will honor the one who serves me…”).