Embracing Our Identity in God's Kingdom and Family

Devotional

Day 1: Citizenship in God's Kingdom

As believers, our citizenship in God's Kingdom is a profound gift of grace, not something we earn through our own efforts. This identity calls us to live in a way that reflects the values of the Kingdom, embracing the mystery and privilege of being part of something greater than ourselves. Our lives should be a testament to the Kingdom's values, such as love, justice, and mercy, which stand in stark contrast to the world's values. This citizenship is a reminder that our ultimate allegiance is to God and His eternal Kingdom, which transcends earthly boundaries and divisions. [02:06]

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." (Philippians 3:20-21, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you live out the values of God's Kingdom in your daily interactions and decisions today?

Day 2: Members of God's Family

The church is not just a gathering of individuals but a family united by our union with Christ. As members of God's household, we are called to bear with one another, forgive as the Lord has forgiven us, and cultivate a community marked by compassion, humility, and kindness. This family is not perfect, and like any family, it requires patience and love. Our identity as members of God's family challenges us to prioritize relationships and community, recognizing that we are all part of a larger body that reflects Christ's love to the world. [05:19]

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone." (Ephesians 2:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your church community can you reach out to today to offer encouragement or support, reflecting the love and unity of God's family?

Day 3: Living Stones in God's Temple

God is building a spiritual house, a multinational Temple, where He dwells among His people. As living stones, we are being shaped and fitted together to create a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. This process can be challenging and uncomfortable, as it involves being molded and refined to fit into God's grand design. Yet, it is a privilege to be part of this spiritual house, where believers from every nation and background come together to form a community that reflects God's glory. [09:09]

"You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:5, ESV)

Reflection: What areas of your life might God be shaping and refining to better fit into His spiritual house? How can you embrace this process today?

Day 4: Unity in Diversity

The church is a diverse community, united not by our similarities but by our identity in Christ. This unity in diversity is a powerful testimony to the world of God's love and grace. In a world often marked by division and chaos, the church stands as a beacon of hope and unity. Our differences, whether cultural, ethnic, or personal, are not barriers but opportunities to demonstrate the reconciling power of the Gospel. As we embrace our identity in Christ, we become a community where the vulnerable find refuge, the broken find healing, and the lost find belonging. [12:38]

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ." (1 Corinthians 12:12, ESV)

Reflection: How can you celebrate and embrace the diversity within your church community today, fostering unity and understanding?

Day 5: A Beacon of Hope

In a world marked by division and chaos, the church stands as a beacon of hope and unity. We are called to be a community where the vulnerable find refuge, the broken find healing, and the lost find belonging. This calling is both a privilege and a responsibility, as we are entrusted with the mission of reflecting God's love and grace to a hurting world. As we live out this calling with humility and grace, we become a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel, offering hope and healing to those around us. [16:21]

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house." (Matthew 5:14-15, ESV)

Reflection: What specific action can you take today to be a beacon of hope and light in your community, reflecting God's love to those around you?

Sermon Summary

In our journey through life, we often seek a sense of belonging and identity. Today, we explore the profound truth that as believers, we are citizens of God's Kingdom, members of His family, and living stones in His Temple. This identity is not just a title but a transformative reality that shapes our lives and our community.

Firstly, we are citizens of the Kingdom of God. This citizenship is not earned by our efforts but is a gift of grace. Before the dawn of time, God loved us and drew us to Himself, making us part of His eternal Kingdom. This citizenship calls us to live in a way that reflects the values of the Kingdom, embracing the mystery and privilege of being part of something far greater than ourselves.

Secondly, we are members of God's household, His family. The church is not merely a collection of individuals but a united family bound together by our union with Christ. This family is not perfect, and like any family, it requires patience, forgiveness, and love. We are called to bear with one another, forgive as the Lord has forgiven us, and cultivate a community marked by compassion, humility, and kindness.

Lastly, we are living stones in God's Temple. God is building a spiritual house, a multinational Temple, where He dwells among His people. This Temple is not a physical structure but a community of believers from every nation and background. As living stones, we are being shaped and fitted together, sometimes through challenging and uncomfortable processes, to create a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

In a world marked by division and chaos, the church stands as a beacon of hope and unity. We are not defined by our achievements or backgrounds but by our identity in Christ. As we embrace this identity, we become a community where the vulnerable find refuge, the broken find healing, and the lost find belonging. Let us live out this calling with humility and grace, recognizing the immense privilege and responsibility of being part of God's Kingdom, family, and Temple.

Key Takeaways

1. Citizens of the Kingdom: Our citizenship in God's Kingdom is a gift of grace, not earned by our efforts. This identity calls us to live in a way that reflects the values of the Kingdom, embracing the mystery and privilege of being part of something greater than ourselves. [02:06]
2. Members of God's Family: The church is a family united by our union with Christ. We are called to bear with one another, forgive as the Lord has forgiven us, and cultivate a community marked by compassion, humility, and kindness. [05:19]
3. Living Stones in God's Temple: God is building a spiritual house, a multinational Temple, where He dwells among His people. As living stones, we are being shaped and fitted together to create a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. [09:09]
4. Unity in Diversity: The church is a diverse community, united not by our similarities but by our identity in Christ. This unity in diversity is a powerful testimony to the world of God's love and grace. [12:38]
5. A Beacon of Hope: In a world marked by division and chaos, the church stands as a beacon of hope and unity. We are called to be a community where the vulnerable find refuge, the broken find healing, and the lost find belonging. [16:21]
** [16:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:01] - Citizens of the Kingdom
[02:36] - Members of God's Family
[04:26] - Becoming What You Are
[05:39] - Community of Compassion
[07:32] - Foundation of the Apostles
[08:40] - Living Stones in God's Temple
[10:06] - The Dwelling Place of God
[11:37] - A Multinational Temple
[12:58] - Identity and Community
[14:05] - Transformation and Growth
[16:21] - Opportunity for the Church
[18:22] - Self-Perception and Community
[20:08] - Standing Firm in Faith
[20:53] - Conclusion and Mystery

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Ephesians 2:19-22
1 Peter 2:4-5
Colossians 3:12-13

Observation Questions:

According to Ephesians 2:19-22, what are the three identities given to believers, and how are they described in the sermon? [08:40]
In 1 Peter 2:4-5, what metaphor is used to describe believers, and how does this relate to the concept of being "living stones" in God's Temple? [08:27]
How does the sermon describe the church as a family, and what are the characteristics that should mark this community according to Colossians 3:12-13? [05:19]
What does the sermon suggest about the role of diversity within the church, and how is this reflected in the idea of a "multinational Temple"? [12:38]

Interpretation Questions:

What does it mean to be a "citizen of the Kingdom" as described in the sermon, and how does this identity impact a believer's daily life? [02:06]
How does the metaphor of "living stones" challenge the way believers view their role in the church community? [09:09]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that the church can be a "beacon of hope" in a world marked by division and chaos? [16:21]
How does the sermon address the challenges of unity within a diverse church community, and what practical steps are suggested for fostering this unity? [12:58]

Application Questions:

Reflect on your own sense of belonging within the church. How does the idea of being a "citizen of the Kingdom" change your perspective on your role in the church community? [02:06]
Consider the metaphor of being "living stones." What are some ways you can contribute to building up the church as a spiritual house? [09:09]
Think about a time when you struggled with forgiveness within the church family. How can the principles from Colossians 3:12-13 guide you in handling similar situations in the future? [05:19]
In what ways can you actively participate in making the church a place where the vulnerable find refuge and the broken find healing? [16:21]
How can you embrace the diversity within your church community and work towards unity, despite differences in background, culture, or opinion? [12:38]
Identify one area in your life where you can better reflect the values of God's Kingdom. What specific steps will you take this week to align your actions with this identity? [02:06]
How can you help someone in your church who feels like an outsider to feel more included and valued as part of God's family? [05:19]

Sermon Clips

You have been made a citizen of the Kingdom that's what he's saying and the Mystery of it go back all the way to chapter one before the dawn of time he loved you he drew you to himself he made you what you've never been not in order that we might just enjoy ourselves and sit down and please ourselves but in order that we might understand what a mystery it is that I have become a citizen of this great Kingdom and let that also help us in our citizenship in this Kingdom. [00:01:56]

The church you see is not just an aggregate of diverse people, the church is individual people United to each other on account of their Union with Christ, you know, attachment to a local church by means of profession of faith and whatever else is involved is simply to give an outward, understandable Dimension to an internal decisive reality, that you belong to me and I Belong To You In Christ whether you like it or not. [00:03:00]

Since you're God's chosen ones you're holy and your beloved that's what you are so he's saying become what you are not try and make yourself something you're not, you see religion says try and fix yourself try and try and clean up your deal, Christianity says Look what Jesus has done in dealing with your sins in making you his own therefore become what you are you're holy and you're beloved in other words you're set apart for God and you're loved by God. [00:04:32]

The Community of Faith is to be a community by God's grace that is marked by these elements, compassion rather than insensitiveness, humility rather than Pride, meekness rather than aggression, forgiveness rather than holding grudges, do you know how many the microcosmic dimension of it is expressed in our own families where you've got siblings, physical siblings that won't forgive each other, and people want to come to the family of God and duplicate the same mentality. [00:05:25]

Christ Jesus the Cornerstone in whom this whole structure being joined together in Christ grows into a holy Temple in the Lord notice again in Christ in the Lord notice again verse 22 in him you are also being built together into a dwelling place for God by the spirit, where on Earth does God live there's a grandchildren question grandchild question where on Earth does God live. [00:09:07]

The Dwelling Place of God is in the church is in the church the people of God are the dwelling place of God, and that to which the Tabernacle in the Old Testament and the temple in the Old Testament pointed is the church itself go back for homework and read Exodus chapter 25 and the instruction that God gives through Moses to his people this is how you're to construct the ark hear us where the mercy seat will be and I will meet with my people there. [00:10:08]

When we sing Psalm 84 and we sing how lovely is your Dwelling Place, we're not saying about a temple in Jerusalem, we're singing about the fact that God is creating a multinational Temple constructed of living stones, that the plan and purpose of God is to sow indwell his people in all of their gatherings in all of their different places which is why incidentally you can travel the world internationally you can go in church buildings and read you know like in 1829 the CERN CERN and there's the the the building itself is of historical and so on. [00:11:37]

We have the same elder brother we love the same savior we sing the same songs we're different by virtue of our Background by our intellect by our Race by our class by our culture but we are now part of a multinational Temple that is being created and one day the world will see it Jesus says they don't recognize you because they didn't recognize me and that is why loved ones we have to have the Bible adjudicate on our identity on the nature of our community. [00:12:58]

It's a phenomenal opportunity for the church, what's bad if you like for the culture in terms of his disintegration is an opportunity, there are people saying I don't know where I'm from, well in the church we can tell you you're not a bunch of Plankton you're not molecules held in suspension you were created by the Living God and he pursues you in Jesus I didn't know that, I don't know that there's any hope in life whoa we could tell you about this Jesus brings us to a Living Hope by the Resurrection. [00:16:21]

To the extent that we think about going to church, we've missed it, what we have to realize is we are the church, the elders wouldn't go for this but years ago I wanted to sign outside to say Parkside Church meets here as opposed to Parkside Church because this isn't the church, where on Earth does God live, in his people, obviously about in the sanctuary what century there is no Sanctuary do you think Jesus is more in this room than in the messy choir room bag here or the ladies John. [00:18:22]

If we see ourselves in terms of our achievements or our Acquisitions or our merits or our privileges then only those who can match our achievements share our Privileges and so on will feel comfortable amongst us, but if we're prepared humbly to acknowledge at one time I was, but now I am do you see the character of a local church the character of Parkside Church and our character is growing I hope we're all in each of Our Lives we're we're hoping that as time passes we're we're making progress. [00:20:08]

We differ on multiple levels we differ on innumerable levels, but that is not the issue the issue doesn't lie in trying to make everybody the same as us the issue lies in recognizing that The God Who has redeemed us has been putting us together purposefully, so that this multinational Temple that involves every nation and tribe and people and language will be brought to fruition and that God would give us any part in that is a quite wonderful mystery. [00:20:53]

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