Choosing the Kingdom Life Over Cultural Success
Summary
In today's message, we explored the concept of the "good life" as portrayed by our culture and contrasted it with the "kingdom life" that Jesus calls us to pursue. In our society, the good life is often depicted as one filled with material wealth, comfort, and personal autonomy. Political candidates and cultural narratives promise us happiness and fulfillment through possessions, status, and self-satisfaction. However, this pursuit can infiltrate our understanding of faith, leading us to believe that following Jesus should result in a life of ease and prosperity.
We examined the life of John the Baptist as a powerful example of what it means to live the kingdom life. John was a faithful servant who prepared the way for Jesus, yet his life was marked by suffering and ultimately martyrdom. Despite his faithfulness, John faced imprisonment and execution, illustrating that the kingdom life often diverges from the cultural ideal of success and comfort. Jesus did not rescue John from his trials, highlighting that faithfulness to God does not always result in immediate deliverance or worldly success.
The kingdom life is costly and requires us to die to ourselves, taking up our cross daily. It challenges us to prioritize God's kingdom over personal gain, even when it leads to rejection or hardship. This life is not about accumulating wealth or comfort but about living in alignment with God's will, even when it costs us dearly. The true reward of the kingdom life is eternal, found in the resurrection life with Jesus Christ.
As believers, we are called to examine our lives and ask whether we are pursuing the good life or the kingdom life. We must identify what might be hindering us from fully embracing the kingdom life and take practical steps to die to ourselves and live for Christ. This journey requires starting small, being faithful in the little things, and growing in our commitment to God over time. Ultimately, the kingdom life is about finding true fulfillment and purpose in Christ, who gave everything for us.
Key Takeaways:
- The cultural narrative of the "good life" promises material wealth, comfort, and autonomy, but the kingdom life calls us to a different path, one that often involves sacrifice and suffering for the sake of Christ. [03:34]
- John the Baptist's life exemplifies the kingdom life, marked by faithfulness to God despite suffering and martyrdom. His story reminds us that faithfulness does not always lead to worldly success or deliverance. [11:14]
- The kingdom life is costly, requiring us to die to ourselves and take up our cross daily. It challenges us to prioritize God's will over personal gain, even when it leads to rejection or hardship. [15:02]
- True fulfillment and purpose are found in the kingdom life, which offers eternal rewards in Christ. This life is not about accumulating wealth or comfort but about living in alignment with God's will. [23:16]
- We are called to examine our lives and ask whether we are pursuing the good life or the kingdom life. By starting small and being faithful in the little things, we can grow in our commitment to God and live for Christ. [31:37]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:55] - The Illusion of the Good Life
- [03:34] - Cultural Influence on Faith
- [04:53] - The Reality of Life's Challenges
- [07:00] - Introduction to John the Baptist
- [07:54] - John's Question to Jesus
- [08:55] - John's Ministry and Humility
- [10:03] - The Cost of Faithfulness
- [11:14] - John's Imprisonment and Death
- [12:06] - Herod's Decision
- [13:22] - Faithfulness and Disappointment
- [15:02] - The Cost of the Kingdom Life
- [16:48] - Boldness in Faith
- [19:22] - Trials and Suffering
- [20:13] - Encouragement in Suffering
- [22:15] - Dying to Self
- [24:56] - The Call to Sacrifice
- [26:51] - Jesus' Sacrifice and Our Response
- [29:03] - Invitation to Trust in Jesus
- [30:05] - Questions for Reflection
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Matthew 14:1-12
- 1 Peter 4:12-16
- Matthew 16:24-25
Observation Questions:
1. What were the cultural promises of the "good life" mentioned in the sermon, and how do they compare to the kingdom life Jesus calls us to? [03:34]
2. How did John the Baptist's life exemplify the kingdom life, and what were the consequences of his faithfulness? [11:14]
3. What does Jesus say about the cost of following Him in Matthew 16:24-25, and how does this relate to the sermon’s message about the kingdom life? [22:15]
4. According to 1 Peter 4:12-16, how should believers respond to trials and suffering for their faith?
Interpretation Questions:
1. Why might the cultural narrative of the "good life" be appealing to believers, and how can it conflict with the teachings of Jesus? [03:34]
2. In what ways does John the Baptist's story challenge the idea that faithfulness to God guarantees worldly success or deliverance? [13:22]
3. How does the concept of dying to oneself and taking up one's cross daily challenge modern Christian living? [22:15]
4. What does it mean to find true fulfillment and purpose in the kingdom life, as opposed to the good life promised by culture? [23:16]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are you pursuing the good life or the kingdom life? What specific changes might you need to make to align more closely with the kingdom life? [30:05]
2. Identify any obstacles that might be hindering you from fully embracing the kingdom life. How can you address these obstacles in practical ways? [30:42]
3. How can you start small in your journey to die to yourself and live for Christ? What is one specific action you can take this week to prioritize God's will over personal gain? [31:37]
4. Consider a situation where you might face rejection or hardship for your faith. How can you prepare yourself to respond with boldness and love? [19:22]
5. How can you incorporate the practice of taking up your cross daily into your routine? What might this look like in your relationships, work, or community involvement? [24:01]
6. Think of a person or group in your life who might benefit from hearing about the kingdom life. How can you share this message with them in a way that is both bold and loving? [17:30]
7. Reflect on the eternal rewards of the kingdom life. How does this perspective influence your daily decisions and long-term goals? [23:16]
Devotional
Day 1: The Illusion of the Good Life
The cultural narrative often equates the "good life" with material wealth, comfort, and personal autonomy. This perspective is reinforced by political candidates and cultural narratives that promise happiness and fulfillment through possessions, status, and self-satisfaction. However, this pursuit can distort our understanding of faith, leading us to believe that following Jesus should result in a life of ease and prosperity. The kingdom life, in contrast, calls us to a different path, one that often involves sacrifice and suffering for the sake of Christ. It challenges us to prioritize God's kingdom over personal gain, even when it leads to rejection or hardship. [03:34]
Luke 12:15 (ESV): "And he said to them, 'Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.'"
Reflection: What are some specific ways you have been influenced by the cultural narrative of the "good life"? How can you begin to shift your focus towards the kingdom life today?
Day 2: Faithfulness in the Face of Suffering
John the Baptist's life exemplifies the kingdom life, marked by faithfulness to God despite suffering and martyrdom. John was a faithful servant who prepared the way for Jesus, yet his life was marked by suffering and ultimately martyrdom. Despite his faithfulness, John faced imprisonment and execution, illustrating that the kingdom life often diverges from the cultural ideal of success and comfort. Jesus did not rescue John from his trials, highlighting that faithfulness to God does not always result in immediate deliverance or worldly success. John's story reminds us that faithfulness does not always lead to worldly success or deliverance. [11:14]
Hebrews 11:36-38 (ESV): "Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth."
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you experiencing suffering or hardship? How can you remain faithful to God in these situations, even when deliverance seems distant?
Day 3: The Cost of the Kingdom Life
The kingdom life is costly, requiring us to die to ourselves and take up our cross daily. It challenges us to prioritize God's will over personal gain, even when it leads to rejection or hardship. This life is not about accumulating wealth or comfort but about living in alignment with God's will, even when it costs us dearly. The true reward of the kingdom life is eternal, found in the resurrection life with Jesus Christ. [15:02]
Matthew 16:24-25 (ESV): "Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.'"
Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you are struggling to prioritize God's will over personal gain? What practical steps can you take to align this area with God's will today?
Day 4: Eternal Rewards in Christ
True fulfillment and purpose are found in the kingdom life, which offers eternal rewards in Christ. This life is not about accumulating wealth or comfort but about living in alignment with God's will. The kingdom life is about finding true fulfillment and purpose in Christ, who gave everything for us. As believers, we are called to examine our lives and ask whether we are pursuing the good life or the kingdom life. [23:16]
Colossians 3:1-4 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
Reflection: How can you shift your focus from temporary, earthly rewards to the eternal rewards found in Christ? What changes can you make in your daily life to reflect this shift?
Day 5: Growing in Commitment to God
We are called to examine our lives and ask whether we are pursuing the good life or the kingdom life. By starting small and being faithful in the little things, we can grow in our commitment to God and live for Christ. This journey requires us to identify what might be hindering us from fully embracing the kingdom life and take practical steps to die to ourselves and live for Christ. Ultimately, the kingdom life is about finding true fulfillment and purpose in Christ, who gave everything for us. [31:37]
Luke 16:10 (ESV): "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much."
Reflection: What is one small area of your life where you can begin to be more faithful to God? How can you take a practical step today to grow in your commitment to Him?
Quotes
The culture wants you to believe what the good life is and pursue the good life at any cost. And so here in the West, we believe that the good life is. The happy life, the hashtag blessed life, is some version of materialism, more money in the bank. [00:02:46] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
And it isn't just true out there in the culture, it can work its way into the church, it can work its way through Christianity to where we believe that is what the purpose of the church is. [00:03:34] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
But here's the problem, both with the culture's version of the good life and the prosperity gospel, life just doesn't work that way. [00:04:41] (8 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
And Jesus did not spring John out of prison, even after he heard that he was there. So you have to ask the question, why? [00:11:21] (9 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
If you actually sit and think about what this looks like, John was faithful to the end. All of his life was leading up to this pointing people to Jesus, and after he did that, his life diminished until it was taken from him. [00:13:22] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Success in the eyes of the kingdom sometimes looks like failures in the eyes of the world. Failure in the eyes of the world. And we will not always have the good life if we are faithful to the Lord. [00:16:16] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
The kingdom life doesn't say satisfy yourself, it says die to yourself. [00:22:44] (7 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
And brothers and sisters, we have to keep this in our brain at all times. We have to be refreshed in the truth that the kingdom life and the good life are not always the same thing. [00:23:16] (11 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Rather as Christians than pursuing the good life, we should pursue the best life. Eternal life. Resurrection life. The kingdom life. Life eternal with Jesus Christ our Lord. [00:25:46] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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