Embracing the Upside-Down Kingdom of God

Devotional

Day 1: Transformation Through Prayer and Love

True transformation comes through prayer and loving your neighbor, not through sound bites or legislation. Hearts are changed by genuine acts of love and intercession, reflecting the essence of Jesus' teachings. Jesus emphasized that the Kingdom of God is not about political power or societal norms but about sacrificial love and humility. When we pray and love our neighbors, we align ourselves with the values of the Kingdom of God, bringing about real change in our communities. [01:12]

1 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV): "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way."

Reflection: Think of a neighbor or someone in your community who needs love and support. How can you pray for them and show them genuine love today?

Day 2: The Upside-Down Kingdom

The Kingdom of God is an upside-down revolution of sacrifice and love. Unlike worldly kingdoms that seek power and prestige, Jesus' kingdom values humility, servanthood, and sacrificial love. Jesus' arrival was marked by humility, and His teachings often flipped societal norms upside down. Greatness in His kingdom is measured by servanthood, not by power or prestige. This challenges us to prioritize divine values over worldly ones. [04:53]

Matthew 20:26-28 (ESV): "It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Reflection: In what ways can you practice humility and servanthood in your daily life? Identify one specific action you can take to serve someone else this week.

Day 3: Engaging Culture with Truth and Grace

We are called to engage with our culture by balancing truth and grace. Jesus exemplified this by being both the most loving and the most truthful person. Our engagement should reflect this balance, aiming to speak truth while maintaining relationships. This means thoughtfully and lovingly addressing contemporary cultural issues, just as Jesus did. [27:34]

Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV): "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."

Reflection: Think of a cultural issue you are passionate about. How can you engage in conversations about this issue with both truth and grace, reflecting Jesus' example?

Day 4: The Early Church's Radical Love

The early church turned the world upside down by living out the values of the Kingdom of God. They cared for the marginalized and ran towards plagues, showing that their faith was worth dying for. This radical love and sacrifice changed the culture around them, demonstrating the power of living out Jesus' teachings. [25:01]

Acts 2:44-45 (ESV): "And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need."

Reflection: How can you demonstrate radical love and sacrifice in your community? Identify one way you can help someone in need this week.

Day 5: The Call to Repent and Believe

Entering the Kingdom of God requires repentance and belief. This means turning away from self-rule and placing God on the throne of our lives. It's a call to live under God's authority in every area of our lives, reflecting His values and priorities. This involves a daily commitment to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. [14:01]

Mark 1:15 (ESV): "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are still holding on to self-rule? What steps can you take today to surrender this area to God's authority?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we embark on a new series titled "Jesus And," with the foundational theme being the Kingdom of God. This series aims to address contemporary cultural issues through the lens of Jesus' teachings. The Kingdom of God is an upside-down revolution characterized by sacrifice and love, not by political power or societal norms. Jesus' message is clear: prayer and loving your neighbor are the ways to bring about change, not sound bites or legislation.

The Kingdom of God is both here and yet to come, much like the anticipation of winter in Phoenix. Jesus' arrival was not marked by grandeur but by humility, and His kingdom operates on values that starkly contrast with those of the world. Jesus calls us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, challenging us to prioritize divine values over worldly ones.

We are reminded that Jesus' teachings often flip societal norms upside down. For instance, greatness in His kingdom is measured by servanthood, not by power or prestige. The early church exemplified this by caring for the marginalized and running towards plagues rather than away from them, showing that Christianity is worth dying for.

As we navigate through this series, we are called to engage with our culture thoughtfully and lovingly, balancing truth and grace. Jesus modeled this perfectly, and we are encouraged to do the same. The ultimate question we must ask ourselves is whether God is on the throne of our lives or if we are. This series will challenge us to examine our hearts and align our lives with the values of the Kingdom of God.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Down Kingdom**: The Kingdom of God is an upside-down revolution of sacrifice and love. Unlike worldly kingdoms that seek power and prestige, Jesus' kingdom values humility, servanthood, and sacrificial love. [04:53]
3. Engaging Culture with Truth and Grace: We are called to engage with our culture by balancing truth and grace. Jesus exemplified this by being both the most loving and the most truthful person. Our engagement should reflect this balance, aiming to speak truth while maintaining relationships.

4. The Early Church's Example: The early church turned the world upside down by living out the values of the Kingdom of God. They cared for the marginalized and ran towards plagues, showing that their faith was worth dying for. This radical love and sacrifice changed the culture around them.

5. The Call to Repent and Believe: Entering the Kingdom of God requires repentance and belief. This means turning away from self-rule and placing God on the throne of our lives. It's a call to live under God's authority in every area of our lives, reflecting His values and priorities.

### [04:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:12] - Prayer and Loving Your Neighbor
[01:57] - Introduction to the Series
[02:34] - Addressing Cultural Issues
[03:18] - Jesus' Words of Hope and Freedom
[04:20] - Truth and Grace
[04:53] - The Upside-Down Kingdom
[05:22] - Humility and Self-Examination
[06:22] - The Kingdom of God Explained
[07:44] - The Kingdom is Here and Coming
[09:11] - Seek First the Kingdom
[10:39] - New Values in the Kingdom
[12:10] - Poor in Spirit
[14:01] - Repent and Believe
[19:22] - Not So With You
[25:01] - The Early Church's Radical Love
[27:34] - Balancing Truth and Grace
[30:37] - Engaging Culture Thoughtfully
[32:41] - The Church's Enduring Legacy
[34:28] - Public Expression of Faith
[35:24] - Conclusion and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading

Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Mark 10:42-45 - "And Jesus called them to him and said to them, 'You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'"
Acts 17:6 - "And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, 'These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also.'"

#### Observation Questions

According to Matthew 6:33, what are we instructed to seek first, and what is promised to us if we do?
In Mark 10:42-45, how does Jesus describe the difference between worldly leadership and leadership in the Kingdom of God?
What accusation was made against the early Christians in Acts 17:6, and what does this reveal about their impact on society?
The sermon mentions that the Kingdom of God is an "upside-down revolution" characterized by sacrifice and love. Can you identify a specific example from the sermon that illustrates this concept? [04:53]

#### Interpretation Questions

What does it mean to "seek first the kingdom of God" in practical terms? How might this look different from seeking worldly success? [09:43]
Jesus said, "But it shall not be so among you" in Mark 10:43. How does this statement challenge the conventional views of power and greatness in our culture? [18:54]
The early church was known for their radical love and sacrifice, even during plagues. How did their actions demonstrate the values of the Kingdom of God, and what can we learn from their example? [25:01]
The sermon emphasizes balancing truth and grace when engaging with culture. How can we practically apply this balance in our daily interactions with others? [27:34]

#### Application Questions

Reflect on your daily life. Are there areas where you prioritize worldly values over the values of the Kingdom of God? How can you start seeking God's kingdom first in those areas? [09:43]
Jesus calls us to be servants and to lead by serving others. Identify one way you can serve someone in your community this week, especially someone who may not expect it. [19:59]
The early Christians ran towards plagues to help others, showing that their faith was worth dying for. What is one way you can demonstrate sacrificial love in your own life, even if it involves personal risk or discomfort? [25:01]
Think of a recent conversation where you had to balance truth and grace. How did you handle it, and what could you do differently next time to better reflect Jesus' example? [27:34]
The sermon challenges us to examine who is on the throne of our lives. Take a moment to reflect: Is there an area of your life where you are still in control rather than God? What steps can you take to surrender that area to Him? [14:01]
The early church turned the world upside down by living out the values of the Kingdom of God. What is one specific action you can take this week to live out these values in a way that might challenge societal norms? [21:47]
Prayer and loving your neighbor are emphasized as ways to bring about true transformation. Commit to one specific act of love or prayer for a neighbor this week. How do you think this could impact them and you? [01:12]

Sermon Clips

1. "Prayer and loving your neighbor is the way. Sound bites and cliches is not the way. Hearts are not changed by sound bites and cliches. Hearts are not even changed by legislation. Prayer and loving your neighbor is the way. Two more. The kingdom of God is an upside-down revolution of sacrifice and love. The kingdom of God is an upside-down revolution. It is a revolution that we are part of. But it's one of sacrifice and suffering love. When Jesus came, it was not about political restoration. It was about loving your neighbor." [01:12] (-2073 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "I believe that Jesus always has a better word than our culture has about any issue and any topic. When we walk through a passage of the Bible, it'll address many of these issues. But we'd only spend a few minutes on that. We'd only spend a few minutes on each one as we go through the text. This allows us to address, spend a whole sermon addressing one of the issues." [02:34] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "What does it mean for us to be in the world, but not of the world? Romans 12 tells us, do not be conformed to the patterns of this world. And so why are we going to do this series? Because we need to understand what the patterns of the world are in order to be not conformed by the patterns of this world." [04:53] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Jesus is not panicked. Jesus is doing okay. He is on his throne. He is on his throne right now. He is not panicked by what's happening in the world today. In fact, he's seen much worse. Okay? So we're going to walk through this series together. I would ask that you would pray. Pray for our church as we wrestle through this. I'm going to be praying for you. Be praying for your friends and family members." [06:22] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "The kingdom of God is here. It's at hand. And then he says the kingdom of God is going to come. You're like, okay, Jesus, what is it? Is it here now or is it to come? He says it's like a net when you throw it out in the sea and you're fishing. He says it's like a farmer sowing seeds. He says it's for children but it's also for adults. The kingdom of God, so what is it? Is it here or is it coming? The answer is yes. It's here but it's also coming." [07:17] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Jesus never had a crown, a golden crown. Jesus never had a throne on this earth. Jesus never had a palace and Jesus never had a flag but he is our king. Jesus has come and he's coming. He's coming back again one day." [09:11] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Jesus says, you've heard it said, but now I tell you, all through, this best sermon that's ever been preached, the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5, 6, and 7. And in the middle of that, he says, but seek first the kingdom of God. Do you seek, without showing hands, do you seek first the kingdom of God in your marriage, in your relationships, in your career, in your finances? Are you seeking God first in those areas?" [10:39] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "When you enter into the kingdom of God, and you're like, well, how do I enter into the kingdom of God? Jesus makes it really, really, really clear. Repent and be saved. Repent and believe. Repent. Turn away from your sins. Recognize that you are not in charge. You are not on the throne of your life. That you place God on the throne of your life. You see, in every area of your life, either you're on the throne or God's on the throne." [13:29] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "The values of Jesus, right? His right side values of this world, that makes sense to all our friends and family members who don't know Jesus. And then Jesus flips everything upside down. He says, you want to be first, you must be last. You want to be great, you must be a slave. Some translations use the word slave here. And whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the son of man came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." [19:22] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "The early church was known for a number of things. The early church, when Romans had baby girls born, they didn't want baby girls. And so they would carry these babies to the edge of the forest and they would allow nature to take the course of these babies. Be wild animals would come or hypothermia or nature would kill these babies. But the early Christians went and found the babies and took them in and treated them as their own. That's how the early church, and their issues that they faced could cost them their life." [23:15] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Embracing the Upside-Down Kingdom of God

Devotional

Day 1: Transformation Through Prayer and Love

Day 2: The Upside-Down Kingdom

Day 3: Engaging Culture with Truth and Grace

Day 4: The Early Church's Radical Love

Day 5: The Call to Repent and Believe

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Embracing the Upside-Down Kingdom of God

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