Living as Exiles: Embracing Our Kingdom Citizenship

Today, we reflected on what it means to live as exiles in a world that often feels foreign and challenging. This sense of exile is not just a feeling, but a spiritual reality—being distant from our true home, the kingdom of God. Yet, this exile is only for a season. Throughout history, God’s people have lived in exile, from the Babylonian captivity to the present day, and Scripture reminds us that we are citizens of a greater kingdom, not just members of an earthly institution.

Jesus inaugurated the kingdom of God, inviting us into a new way of living that is shaped by the heart, not just by external obedience. As kingdom people, we are formed by the past, live in the present, and look forward to the future. We live in the tension of the “already and not yet”—the kingdom has come, but its fullness is still ahead. We experience forgiveness, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and a new relationship with God, but we also long for the complete renewal that is promised.

In this season of waiting, we are called to live faithfully and purposefully. The example from Jeremiah 29 is instructive: even in exile, God’s people were told to build houses, plant gardens, and seek the welfare—shalom—of the city where they lived. Rather than withdrawing or hiding, we are to engage with our communities, pray for their peace, and work for their good. This is not always easy, and it challenges us to move beyond our comfort zones, to care for those around us, and to be agents of God’s peace.

Practical examples abound, from ministries in our own city to acts of service like foster care, food pantries, and outreach to the marginalized. These are ways we seek the shalom of our community, living out the reality of the kingdom even as we wait for its fullness. Our hope is anchored in God’s promise: He has plans for our welfare, a future, and a hope. As we pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” we participate in God’s redemptive work, trusting that He is making all things new.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Living as exiles means embracing the tension of belonging to God’s kingdom while residing in a world that often feels foreign. This sense of exile is not a punishment, but a calling to live with purpose and hope, remembering that our true citizenship is in God’s eternal kingdom. [31:39]
• 2. The “already and not yet” reality shapes our daily lives. We have received forgiveness, the Holy Spirit, and a new identity, but we also long for the complete restoration that is still to come. This tension invites us to live with both gratitude for what God has done and anticipation for what He will do. [35:16]
• 3. God calls us to seek the shalom—the holistic peace and well-being—of the places where we live, even if they feel like places of exile. Rather than withdrawing, we are to engage, pray for, and work toward the flourishing of our communities, trusting that in their welfare we find our own. [43:39]
• 4. Faithfulness in exile is expressed through ordinary acts of love and service. Building homes, raising families, caring for the vulnerable, and serving our neighbors are all ways we embody the kingdom of God in the present. These acts are not just good deeds, but spiritual practices that align our hearts with God’s purposes. [47:09]
• 5. Our hope is anchored in God’s promises for the future. Even as we face uncertainty and imperfection, we are assured that God has plans for our welfare, to give us a future and a hope. This hope empowers us to persevere, to pray, and to participate in God’s ongoing work of redemption in the world. [54:43]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:10] - Reflections on Baptism and Community
• [03:05] - Living as Exiles in a Foreign Land
• [06:20] - The Meaning of Exile
• [08:45] - The Church and the Kingdom
• [12:30] - Jesus and the Inauguration of the Kingdom
• [15:00] - Citizens of the Kingdom: Past, Present, Future
• [17:10] - The “Already and Not Yet” Tension
• [20:30] - Hebrews 13: Seeking the City to Come
• [23:00] - Jeremiah 29: Instructions for Exiles
• [27:15] - Seeking the Shalom of the City
• [31:00] - Practical Examples of Community Engagement
• [36:40] - Stories of Local Ministry and Service
• [41:00] - Living Out the Kingdom in Everyday Life
• [45:30] - The Lord’s Prayer: “Your Kingdom Come”
• [47:00] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Reading

Jeremiah 29:4-7, 11-14 (ESV) — 4 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
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11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.”

Hebrews 13:14-16 (ESV) — 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Matthew 6:9-10 (ESV) — 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Observation Questions

1. According to Jeremiah 29, what specific instructions did God give to the exiles living in Babylon?
2. In Jeremiah 29:7, what does the word “welfare” (shalom) mean, and what are the exiles told to do for their city?
3. In Hebrews 13:14, what does it mean that “here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come”?
4. The sermon mentioned that Jesus inaugurated the kingdom of God and invited people into a new way of living. What are some ways this new way is described? [34:29]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God told the exiles to build houses, plant gardens, and seek the welfare of Babylon, instead of telling them to withdraw or isolate themselves? What does this reveal about God’s heart for His people and the world? [42:17]
2. The sermon talked about living in the “already and not yet”—experiencing God’s kingdom now, but also waiting for its fullness. How does this tension affect the way believers live day to day? [35:16]
3. What does it look like to “seek the shalom” of our city or community today? How is this different from just “fitting in” or “going along” with the culture? [43:39]
4. The promise in Jeremiah 29:11 is often quoted. In the context of exile, how might this promise have sounded to the original hearers, and how should it shape our hope and actions today? [45:23]

Application Questions

1. The exiles were told to pray for the city and seek its welfare. How often do you pray for your city, neighborhood, or workplace? What would it look like to start doing this regularly? [43:39]
2. The sermon gave examples of people and ministries who are seeking the shalom of their communities—like foster care, food pantries, and outreach to the marginalized. Is there a specific need or group in your community that you feel drawn to serve? What is one step you could take this month to get involved? [47:09]
3. Living as exiles means not withdrawing or hiding, but engaging with the world around us. Are there ways you tend to “withdraw” from your community or avoid getting involved? What is one barrier you could ask God to help you overcome? [42:17]
4. The “already and not yet” reality means we live with both gratitude for what God has done and hope for what He will do. What is one area of your life where you need to practice more gratitude? What is one area where you need to hold onto hope? [35:16]
5. The sermon challenged us to move beyond our comfort zones to care for those around us. Who is someone in your life or community that you find difficult to love or serve? What is one practical way you could show them God’s love this week? [43:39]
6. The Lord’s Prayer asks, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” What is one way you can participate in God’s kingdom work in your everyday life—at home, at work, or in your neighborhood? [54:43]
7. The promise of a future and a hope is meant to anchor us in difficult times. When you face discouragement or uncertainty, what helps you remember God’s promises? Is there a verse, prayer, or practice that you can return to this week? [45:23]