Allegiance to Christ: Beyond Earthly Kingdoms
Summary
### Summary
Today's reflection centers on the profound question of our allegiance as believers, especially in the context of politics and earthly kingdoms. We explored the narrative of Jesus standing before Pilate, emphasizing that His kingdom is not of this world. Jesus's declaration, "My kingdom is not an earthly kingdom," challenges us to reconsider our priorities and loyalties. The essence of Christianity is about a King and His kingdom, a spiritual realm where Jesus reigns in the hearts and minds of His followers.
We delved into historical missteps, such as the Crusades, where Christians, in their zeal, tried to establish an earthly kingdom through violence, contrary to Jesus's teachings of love and peace. This serves as a stark reminder of our propensity to stray from Jesus's mission. Jesus's kingdom is fundamentally different from earthly kingdoms; it is not advanced by force, coercion, or legislation but through repentance, surrender, and the transformative power of love.
The sermon also highlighted the importance of being true patriots of the Kingdom of God. This means vigorously supporting and defending the values of Jesus's kingdom, which often contrasts sharply with earthly political agendas. True patriotism in the Kingdom of God involves helping the church stay united, serving the community, and being a light in the world. The greatest blessing for any nation is the expansion of Jesus's kingdom, where citizens live out the principles of love, truth, and justice.
In conclusion, we are called to be the church, an outpost of God's kingdom on earth, demonstrating His love and goodness. Our ultimate allegiance should be to Jesus and His kingdom, transcending all earthly loyalties and political affiliations. This is how we truly make a difference in the world, by overcoming evil with good and being the world already changed by Christ.
### Key Takeaways
1. Jesus's Kingdom is Not of This World: Jesus made it clear that His kingdom is not an earthly one. This means that as His followers, our primary allegiance should be to His spiritual kingdom, which operates on principles of love, peace, and truth, rather than earthly power and politics. [01:32]
2. Historical Missteps and Lessons: The Crusades serve as a powerful reminder of how Christians can stray from Jesus's teachings when they try to establish an earthly kingdom through violence and coercion. True Christianity calls us to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us, reflecting the heart of Jesus's message. [09:47]
3. True Patriotism in God's Kingdom: Being a patriot of God's kingdom means vigorously supporting and defending the values of Jesus's kingdom. This involves helping the church stay united, serving the community, and being a light in the world. Our ultimate allegiance should be to Jesus and His kingdom, transcending all earthly loyalties. [19:44]
4. The Transformative Power of Jesus's Kingdom: Jesus's kingdom is advanced not by force or legislation but through repentance, surrender, and the transformative power of love. When we live as citizens of His kingdom, we embody the principles of love, truth, and justice, which can bring about profound change in our communities and nations. [14:40]
5. Overcoming Evil with Good: As followers of Jesus, we are called to overcome evil with good. This means responding to hatred and injustice with love and kindness, trusting that God will ultimately bring justice. By living out these principles, we become the vehicle through which God overcomes evil in the world. [26:19]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:32] - Jesus Before Pilate
[03:04] - The Kingdom Not of This World
[04:47] - Power and Authority
[06:41] - Christianity: A King and a Kingdom
[08:18] - Historical Missteps: The Crusades
[09:47] - Eyewitness Account of the Massacre
[11:30] - Jesus's Teachings on Love
[13:11] - The Spiritual Kingdom
[14:40] - Advancing Jesus's Kingdom
[16:26] - The Greatest Blessing for a Nation
[18:02] - Citizenship in Heaven
[19:44] - True Patriotism in God's Kingdom
[21:50] - Helping Your Church Win
[23:21] - Being the Light of the World
[24:45] - Overcoming Evil with Good
[26:19] - Trusting God's Justice
[28:28] - The Church in Action
[30:19] - Passion for the Kingdom
[32:24] - Celebrating Kingdom Growth
[34:20] - Judas's Misguided Expectations
[36:29] - Cleansing the Temple
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. John 18:36-37 (NIV)
> Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place." "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
2. Matthew 4:17 (NIV)
> From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
3. Romans 12:19-21 (NIV)
> Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
### Observation Questions
1. What did Jesus mean when He said, "My kingdom is not of this world"? How did He explain this to Pilate? [01:32]
2. According to the sermon, what historical event was used to illustrate how Christians have strayed from Jesus's teachings? [09:47]
3. What does Romans 12:19-21 instruct believers to do in response to their enemies? How does this contrast with earthly kingdoms? [26:19]
4. How does the sermon describe true patriotism in God's kingdom? What actions are involved in being a patriot of God's kingdom? [19:44]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that Jesus's kingdom is described as "not of this world"? How does this shape our understanding of our role as Christians in earthly politics? [01:32]
2. How does the example of the Crusades serve as a warning for modern Christians? What lessons should we learn from this historical misstep? [09:47]
3. In what ways does the transformative power of Jesus's kingdom differ from the methods used by earthly kingdoms to advance their causes? [14:40]
4. How can the principles outlined in Romans 12:19-21 be applied to current social and political conflicts? What does it mean to "overcome evil with good"? [26:19]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where your allegiance to earthly politics might be overshadowing your allegiance to Jesus's kingdom? How can you realign your priorities? [01:32]
2. The sermon mentioned the Crusades as a historical misstep. Are there modern examples where Christians might be trying to establish an earthly kingdom through means contrary to Jesus's teachings? How can we avoid these pitfalls? [09:47]
3. True patriotism in God's kingdom involves supporting and defending the values of Jesus's kingdom. What are some practical ways you can help your church stay united and serve the community? [19:44]
4. Romans 12:19-21 calls us to respond to our enemies with kindness. Think of a specific person or group you find challenging. How can you show them love and kindness this week? [26:19]
5. The sermon emphasized the importance of being a light in the world. What specific actions can you take this week to demonstrate the love, truth, and justice of Jesus's kingdom in your community? [21:50]
6. How can you contribute to the unity and mission of your church? Are there specific roles or tasks you can take on to help your church be an outpost of God's kingdom? [21:50]
7. Reflect on the idea of overcoming evil with good. Is there a situation in your life where you can apply this principle? What steps will you take to respond with goodness instead of retaliation? [26:19]
Devotional
Day 1: Allegiance to a Spiritual Kingdom
Description: Jesus's declaration that His kingdom is not of this world challenges believers to prioritize their allegiance to His spiritual kingdom over earthly political affiliations. This kingdom operates on principles of love, peace, and truth, rather than power and politics. As followers of Jesus, we are called to embody these principles in our daily lives, reflecting the heart of His message in all our interactions. This means that our ultimate loyalty should be to Jesus and His kingdom, transcending all earthly loyalties and political agendas. [01:32]
John 18:36 (ESV): "Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.'"
Reflection: In what ways can you prioritize your allegiance to Jesus's spiritual kingdom over earthly political affiliations today? How can you embody the principles of love, peace, and truth in your interactions?
Day 2: Learning from Historical Missteps
Description: The Crusades serve as a powerful reminder of how Christians can stray from Jesus's teachings when they try to establish an earthly kingdom through violence and coercion. True Christianity calls us to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us, reflecting the heart of Jesus's message. This historical misstep highlights the importance of adhering to Jesus's teachings of love and peace, rather than resorting to force and violence to advance His kingdom. [09:47]
Matthew 5:44-45 (ESV): "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."
Reflection: Think of a situation where you are tempted to respond with anger or force. How can you instead respond with love and peace, following Jesus's teachings?
Day 3: True Patriotism in God's Kingdom
Description: Being a patriot of God's kingdom means vigorously supporting and defending the values of Jesus's kingdom. This involves helping the church stay united, serving the community, and being a light in the world. Our ultimate allegiance should be to Jesus and His kingdom, transcending all earthly loyalties. True patriotism in God's kingdom is about living out the principles of love, truth, and justice, and working towards the expansion of Jesus's kingdom on earth. [19:44]
Philippians 3:20 (ESV): "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ."
Reflection: How can you actively support and defend the values of Jesus's kingdom in your community today? What practical steps can you take to help your church stay united and serve others?
Day 4: The Transformative Power of Jesus's Kingdom
Description: Jesus's kingdom is advanced not by force or legislation but through repentance, surrender, and the transformative power of love. When we live as citizens of His kingdom, we embody the principles of love, truth, and justice, which can bring about profound change in our communities and nations. This transformative power is rooted in the love and teachings of Jesus, which call us to live differently from the world, reflecting His light in all we do. [14:40]
Romans 12:2 (ESV): "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to surrender to Jesus to experience His transformative power? How can you embody the principles of love, truth, and justice in your daily actions?
Day 5: Overcoming Evil with Good
Description: As followers of Jesus, we are called to overcome evil with good. This means responding to hatred and injustice with love and kindness, trusting that God will ultimately bring justice. By living out these principles, we become the vehicle through which God overcomes evil in the world. This calling challenges us to rise above the natural inclination to retaliate and instead choose the higher path of love and goodness, reflecting the heart of Jesus in all circumstances. [26:19]
Romans 12:21 (ESV): "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you faced injustice or hatred. How can you respond with love and kindness, trusting God to bring justice? What practical steps can you take to overcome evil with good in your daily life?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Christianity is about a king and a kingdom. Jesus is actually standing before the empire, before Pilate himself, who has the, the authority, right? And Jesus says, my kingdom. Come on, say my kingdom. He actually, and this, this is a real challenge for Christians because we, sometimes we, we, we forget or we really don't believe that he has an actual kingdom." [06:41] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Jesus's kingdom is fundamentally different. It's not advanced by armies. Um, that's how earthly kingdoms were. It's not advanced by coercion, intimidation, force conversion. It's not advanced by legislation. Jesus's kingdom is not advanced when we refuse to bake a cake for somebody we disagree with. Think, is that really how his kingdom advances?" [14:40] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The greatest blessing that could happen to America is Jesus's kingdom expanding, not who's president. Um, by the way, if you, I should have said this at the beginning. You don't have to shout amen or anything because people were thinking just some of you are like, whew, not inflation. It's not bigger government. The greatest blessing. I'm going to say it again is Jesus's kingdom expanding." [16:26] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Jesus said, you, talking to his followers, you guys are the light of the world. Imagine that. We, we're the light of the world. If we don't shine our light, the world's going to be in darkness. You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its flavor, it's just like everybody else. Jesus said, what good is it? It's good for nothing." [23:21] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Do not take revenge, my dear friends. But you know what he's saying right there? Relax. Leave it to God. He's got this. In his kingdom, you don't have to do all the paybacks. You're a citizen of a different kingdom. That's how other kingdoms work. That's not his kingdom work. You can just leave it to God and trust him. He's going to take care of it. Lord, it's yours." [26:19] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Let's never underestimate our propensity. Come on. Holy spirit come. Never underestimate our propensity to stray away from Jesus and his kingdom, his mission. What are you talking about, Pastor Charlie? To give our energies, our passions to building an earthly kingdom. So Jesus said, my kingdom, come on, say my kingdom. My kingdom is, is, is, is not of this world. If it were of this world, we would act just like the world acts, but, but it's not of this. It's not of this world. It's not of this world. It's not of this world." [11:30] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "If you are a Christian, no earthly city is yours. Of our city, come on, say our city, the builder and maker. Now, who's he quoting there? He's quoting in Hebrews. That's a book we just, we just went through. He's quoting in Hebrews. He's quoting in Hebrews. He's quoting through. There's this constant idea of, in followers of Christ and Christianity is that this world is not our home. We're pilgrims, we're foreigners, we're strangers. We're passing through to a better country. Builder and maker of God." [18:02] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "What does being a citizen of the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God look like? Say we're followers of Christ. What does that actually look like? Well, first of all, I looked up this idea of patriot. What does it mean to be a patriot? If it's up there, you can read it with me. A patriot is a person who, say the word vigorously. Come on, say it again. Vigorously supports their country. Stop right there. Do you vigorously, vigorous, come on, say the word vigorously again. Vigorously support your true country." [19:44] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The task of the church is simply to be. Oh, my goodness. We'll stop right there. Let's say it together. The task of the church is simply. Come on, let us. We're worried about all these other people. Let us be actually who we're called to be. Look what he says. All of this high-blown rhetoric about going to change the world. We don't need to change the world. We're not called to change the world. We're called to be the world already changed by Christ. That's how we're the salt and the light of the world." [23:21] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "If we're not careful, we can weep over losing an election and not weep in losing the kingdom. Talk about where your heart is. You're a Christ follower. Who weeps when they hear, there are 102 empty positions on Team Orange. That's our serve team. And Team Orange makes the church happen. Who weeps and says, oh my God, the kingdom can't have 102 empty positions. I've got to, instead of just watching the kingdom happen, I've got to make a difference in the kingdom." [32:24] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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