Embracing Our Identity as Kingdom People
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the concept of being "Kingdom People" amidst the noise and chaos of our world, particularly during times of political upheaval. The focus is not on who to vote for or how to engage politically, but rather on anchoring ourselves in the Kingdom of God, which offers peace and wisdom beyond the tumult. The Kingdom of God is not a distant heaven but God's will and ways breaking into our present reality, bringing shalom—peace, flourishing, and wholeness. This requires us to sometimes leave behind what is comfortable, familiar, and seemingly working for us to embrace something greater.
We examined the story of Matthew, a tax collector, who left his lucrative but morally questionable job to follow Jesus. This narrative illustrates the call to leave behind our own "tax collector's booths"—those things that are comfortable yet hinder our spiritual growth. Jesus sees beyond our current state, recognizing our potential to be conduits of His Kingdom. He invites us to follow Him, promising that what we gain in His Kingdom far surpasses what we leave behind.
The Kingdom of God also calls us into community, a diverse gathering of people who might not otherwise come together. This was exemplified by the dinner at Matthew's house, where Jesus brought together disciples, tax collectors, sinners, and Pharisees. This diverse community reflects the Kingdom's power to unite people across divides, challenging us to leave behind allegiances that conflict with our primary allegiance to Christ.
As we navigate our lives, we are invited to examine what we need to leave behind to fully enter into the Kingdom of God. Whether it's cynicism, anger, or misplaced priorities, anything that stands between us and the Kingdom is ultimately detrimental. Jesus calls us to a life of mercy over religious ritual, urging us to become more like Him. Today, we are invited to respond to this call, to leave behind what hinders us, and to embrace our identity as Kingdom people.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Kingdom of God as an Off-Ramp: In a world filled with anxiety and anger, the Kingdom of God offers an alternative path of peace and wisdom. It reframes our perspective, allowing us to love our nation better by loving something greater. This Kingdom is not about escaping to heaven but about God's will manifesting in our lives now, bringing shalom—peace and flourishing. [03:05]
2. Leaving the Comfortable for the Kingdom: Following Jesus often requires leaving behind what is comfortable and familiar. Like Matthew, we are called to abandon our "tax collector's booths"—those things that work for us but keep us from fully embracing God's Kingdom. The promise is that what we gain in following Jesus far outweighs what we leave behind. [05:04]
3. Jesus Sees Our Potential: Jesus sees beyond our current state, recognizing our potential to be part of His Kingdom. He calls us to follow Him, knowing that we are made to bring light into the darkness. This requires us to leave behind anything that stands between us and the Kingdom, even if it seems to be working for us. [09:14]
4. Kingdom Community: The Kingdom of God brings together diverse people who might not otherwise associate. The dinner at Matthew's house exemplifies this, as Jesus unites disciples, tax collectors, and Pharisees. This community challenges us to leave behind allegiances that conflict with our primary allegiance to Christ. [19:51]
5. Mercy Over Ritual: Jesus emphasizes mercy over religious practices, urging us to become more like Him. Our religious rituals should lead us to greater mercy, not self-righteousness. Anything that hinders our growth into Christ-likeness, even if it's comfortable and familiar, must be left behind. [26:09]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [03:05] - The Kingdom of God: An Off-Ramp
- [05:04] - Leaving the Comfortable Behind
- [07:14] - Jesus Sees Our Potential
- [09:14] - Matthew's Call to Follow
- [10:21] - Disrupting the Familiar
- [12:40] - The Cost of Following Jesus
- [14:12] - Personal Stories of Letting Go
- [15:19] - Overcoming Church Hurt
- [16:07] - Matthew's Party: A Kingdom Community
- [18:00] - Awkward Dinner Dynamics
- [19:51] - Surrendering Politics for Jesus
- [21:25] - Invitations to Meet Jesus
- [23:02] - Pharisees and Self-Righteousness
- [24:10] - Training for Kingdom Community
- [26:09] - Mercy Over Ritual
- [29:01] - Responding to the Call
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Kingdom People
Bible Reading:
- Matthew 9:9-13
---
Observation Questions:
1. What was Matthew's occupation before he followed Jesus, and why was it significant in the context of the sermon? [07:14]
2. How does the sermon describe the Kingdom of God as an "off-ramp" from the chaos of the world? [03:05]
3. What was the significance of the dinner at Matthew's house, and who were the guests? [18:00]
4. How does Jesus' interaction with Matthew illustrate His ability to see beyond our current state? [09:14]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean for the Kingdom of God to be "God's will and ways breaking into right here, right now"? How does this concept challenge traditional views of the Kingdom? [03:05]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that leaving behind what is comfortable can lead to spiritual growth and entering the Kingdom of God? [05:04]
3. How does the diverse community at Matthew's dinner reflect the nature of the Kingdom of God, and what implications does this have for modern Christian communities? [19:51]
4. What does Jesus' emphasis on mercy over religious ritual suggest about the priorities of the Kingdom of God? [26:09]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: What "tax collector's booth" might you need to leave behind to follow Jesus more fully? How can you take a step towards doing that this week? [10:21]
2. The sermon mentions the Kingdom of God as an alternative to the anxiety and anger prevalent in the world. How can you practically anchor yourself in the Kingdom of God amidst current societal pressures? [03:05]
3. Consider the diverse community at Matthew's dinner. How can you contribute to building a community that reflects the diversity and unity of the Kingdom of God in your church or neighborhood? [19:51]
4. Jesus calls us to prioritize mercy over ritual. Is there a religious practice in your life that might be hindering your growth in mercy? How can you adjust this practice to align more with Jesus' teachings? [26:09]
5. The sermon challenges us to examine our allegiances. Are there any political or social allegiances that conflict with your primary allegiance to Christ? How can you address these conflicts in your life? [19:51]
6. Think about someone in your life who might be like Matthew, comfortable but needing change. How can you extend an invitation to them to experience the Kingdom of God? [21:25]
7. Reflect on the idea of leaving behind cynicism or anger to embrace the Kingdom. Is there a specific attitude or emotion you need to let go of to grow closer to God? What steps can you take to release it? [15:19]
Devotional
Day 1: The Kingdom of God as a Present Reality
The Kingdom of God offers an alternative path amidst the chaos and noise of the world, especially during times of political upheaval. It is not about escaping to a distant heaven but about God's will and ways breaking into our present reality, bringing shalom—peace, flourishing, and wholeness. This Kingdom reframes our perspective, allowing us to love our nation better by loving something greater. It invites us to anchor ourselves in peace and wisdom beyond the tumult, offering an off-ramp from anxiety and anger. As we embrace this Kingdom, we find a path that leads to true peace and flourishing. [03:05]
Isaiah 32:17-18 (ESV): "And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to experience the peace and wisdom of God's Kingdom today? How can you actively seek this peace amidst the chaos around you?
Day 2: Leaving the Comfortable for the Kingdom
Following Jesus often requires leaving behind what is comfortable and familiar. Like Matthew, who left his lucrative but morally questionable job to follow Jesus, we are called to abandon our "tax collector's booths"—those things that work for us but keep us from fully embracing God's Kingdom. The promise is that what we gain in following Jesus far outweighs what we leave behind. This call challenges us to step out of our comfort zones and trust in the greater purpose and fulfillment found in the Kingdom of God. [05:04]
Luke 9:23-24 (ESV): "And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.'"
Reflection: What is one "tax collector's booth" in your life that you need to leave behind to fully embrace God's Kingdom? What steps can you take today to begin this journey of faith and trust?
Day 3: Jesus Sees Our Potential
Jesus sees beyond our current state, recognizing our potential to be part of His Kingdom. He calls us to follow Him, knowing that we are made to bring light into the darkness. This requires us to leave behind anything that stands between us and the Kingdom, even if it seems to be working for us. Jesus invites us to trust in His vision for our lives, promising that what we gain in His Kingdom far surpasses what we leave behind. [09:14]
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV): "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Reflection: What potential does Jesus see in you that you might be overlooking? How can you align your daily actions with the good works He has prepared for you?
Day 4: Kingdom Community
The Kingdom of God brings together diverse people who might not otherwise associate. The dinner at Matthew's house exemplifies this, as Jesus unites disciples, tax collectors, and Pharisees. This diverse community reflects the Kingdom's power to unite people across divides, challenging us to leave behind allegiances that conflict with our primary allegiance to Christ. In this Kingdom community, we find a place where differences are celebrated and unity is found in Christ. [19:51]
Colossians 3:11 (ESV): "Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all."
Reflection: How can you contribute to building a Kingdom community that embraces diversity and unity in Christ? What allegiances might you need to reconsider to prioritize your allegiance to Jesus?
Day 5: Mercy Over Ritual
Jesus emphasizes mercy over religious practices, urging us to become more like Him. Our religious rituals should lead us to greater mercy, not self-righteousness. Anything that hinders our growth into Christ-likeness, even if it's comfortable and familiar, must be left behind. Jesus calls us to a life of mercy, inviting us to reflect His love and compassion in our interactions with others. [26:09]
Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Reflection: In what ways can you prioritize mercy over ritual in your daily life? How can you actively practice justice, kindness, and humility in your interactions with others today?
Quotes
1) "Jesus offers us another option. It's the kingdom of God. This is the off-ramp out of crazy town into the place of peace, wisdom. It helps us to love our nation better because we love something better than our nation more. Helps us to love our nation better. Helps us to love our nation better because we love something better than our nation more. Now, we're going to tell you, like the punchline of this whole series is not who to vote for, how to vote. That would just be adding more noise, right? We're talking about stepping back from the noise to anchor ourselves on something bigger than the noise that reframes the noise back and puts it back in its proper place." [01:20] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "The kingdom of God is not heaven when you die. It's not what the New Testament means at all when it talks about the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is God's will and God's ways breaking into right here, right now to bring this beautiful biblical word, shalom. It's translated peace, which is a great translation. But it just means peace. Flourishing, wholeness, everything right, right? Physically, spiritually, financially, economically, prosperous and fruitful abundance in every direction. It means God's wisdom, God's truth, God's justice, God's righteousness, God's love, reordering all the things, starting with our hearts, starting with us personally, right? We're the ones who are first changed." [03:05] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "The kingdom of God sometimes requires you leave behind something that's comfortable, familiar, and kind of working for you in order to enter in. Now this isn't easy, right? it's really challenging. But for 2,000 years, millions of people have done just this. Millions of people have left behind things that were comfortable, familiar, and kind of working for them in order to follow Jesus into his kingdom. And if we could traipse them all up front here and have them all tell their stories, every single person would say, what I gained in following Jesus meant the thing that left behind was nothing. The thing left behind was nothing compared to what I gained by stepping into the kingdom of God." [05:04] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "Jesus loves to interrupt lives, doesn't he? He loves to disrupt. Familiar, comfortable. And kind of working for you to invite you into something better. And there's this beautiful phrase. I love this phrase. It says this. It says, he—that's Jesus—saw a man named Matthew. If you're looking for something to read in the Bible, Bible. Maybe you're new to the Bible, or maybe you're like, I'm just kind of not sure what to read next. Go through the gospel accounts, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and look for the phrase Jesus saw. Jesus saw. Jesus saw. Because he sees like nobody else sees. He sees like nobody else sees. He sees through them and around them. He sees that there is potential in them." [08:00] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "Anything that stands between you and the kingdom of God is terrible for you, even if it's kind of working for you, even if it's kind of good. If your family and loving your family is more important to you than the kingdom of God, it's terrible for you, no matter how good it is. If your job is keeping you from the kingdom of God, if you're too busy to be a kingdom of God person, it's terrible for you, no matter how good your job is. Anything that stands between you and the kingdom of God is terrible for you, even if it's comfortable, familiar, and kind of working for you." [12:40] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "Invitations to come and meet Jesus are one of the holiest things you can possibly do. Invitations to come meet Jesus. Because you got people and I got people that don't look like they need anything. They're pretty comfortable, familiar. Life's kind of working for them. They're making a ton of money. They're doing their own thing. They do whatever they want. They don't think, it doesn't look like they need anything. And Jesus says, well, what if you invited them to come? Come and see me. Just like Matthew did. My friends, who has God put in your life that you might extend an invitation to come and meet Jesus? Because in him is life and life abundantly." [21:25] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "In the truth of God, religion is not the goal. Becoming a person who looks like Christ is the goal. And when religion is serving the bigger purposes, that's when it's working. This is what Jesus says. So when Jesus hears the Pharisees all upset about what they're doing and what they're not doing, he says, here's the deal. He says, listen, sometimes our religious practices are what's familiar, comfortable. and kind of working for us, but terrible for us. Sometimes our religious practices, the things we're doing, are making us more self-righteous, not more loving." [26:09] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8) "The kingdom of God sometimes requires us to leave behind what's comfortable, familiar, kind of working for you, because anything that stands between you, the kingdom of God, is absolutely terrible for you in this life and into all eternity. And when the church is working right, we're going to look just like dinner at Matthew's house. Because Jesus brings together people like no one else ever has, or ever will, who never would have hung out together otherwise, to be in the same community in and around him." [29:01] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?