1 Corinthians 1:10–13 NLT — 10 I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. 11 For some members of Chloe’s household have told me about your quarrels, my dear brothers and sisters. 12 Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow only Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not!

I want to encourage you to think bigger!

• God is bigger than your political party.
• Vote with a KINGDOM mentality instead of a two-party DOGMATIC win-or-lose mentality.

1. Look at Jesus.

1. They never could pull Jesus into an argument.
2. Jesus was surrounded by a massive diversity of people.
   1. Pharisees — the Law
   2. Sadducees — Hellenized upper class; family of high priest
   3. Essenes — radical communal isolationists
   4. Zealots — radical Jews who wanted revolution
   5. HE WAS BIGGER THAN THEIR POLITICAL PASSIONS.
3. Jesus was obsessed with His own kingdom. 
   1. He wasn’t promoting another king—HE WAS A KING.
4. Jesus wanted people more concerned with His kingdom than with any other.

2. Look at the early church.

1. Under horrible leadership
   1. They honored him.
   2. They prayed for him.
   3. They refused to worship him.
2. They were known for FIVE major things.
   1. Diversity of racial, ethnic, and class backgrounds
   2. Compassion for the poor and sick
   3. Forgiveness of all people
   4. Adoption 
   5. Sexual counterculture
3. An interesting fact in our two-party system: Each party claims to own two of these characteristics as defining banners.

3. Look at us now.

1. We have to be bigger than America. 
2. We have to be bigger than this moment.
3. We have to think like a referee, not choose a side.
4.  I want to give you a rubric that will help you in voting. 
   1. Evaluate — Look at our kingdom ethics, values, culture, and agenda and measure it next to the candidate. 
   2. Discern — Listen to the Holy Spirit. If Jesus prayed all night to choose 12 disciples, you can pray for wisdom in this election. 
   3. Discuss — Have cordial, open, understanding conversations.
   4. Decide — This is your call; you are one of 350 million people.
   5. Move on — Let's commit to making it through this together.

4. Look at us in the future.

1. We are all wanting a perfect king, and the good news is, HE’S COMING. 
2. Revelation 5:12–13 NLT — 12 And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” 13 And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.”

Where do you stand with the King who is coming?