Living as Kingdom Disciples in a Worldly Culture

Devotional

Day 1: Living Distinctly in a Conforming World

Living as a kingdom disciple means embodying God's will on earth, reflecting His kingdom in our daily lives. This involves a conscious decision to live in the world without conforming to its values. It requires intentionality and a willingness to stand apart from worldly influences, choosing instead to align with the principles of God's kingdom. This journey is not just about personal transformation but also about influencing those around us by living out the values of the kingdom. As you navigate your daily life, consider how your actions and decisions can reflect the kingdom of God, setting you apart as a disciple committed to His will. [00:08]

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: In what specific ways can you intentionally choose to live differently from the world today, reflecting God's kingdom in your actions and decisions?

Day 2: Manifesting God's Rule in Daily Life

The kingdom agenda is about making God's rule visible in every area of life. This means allowing God's principles to guide our decisions, relationships, and actions, thereby transforming our environments and communities. When we live under God's rule, we become agents of change, influencing our surroundings with the values of the kingdom. This visible manifestation of God's rule is not just a personal endeavor but a collective mission to bring about transformation in our communities. Consider how you can allow God's principles to guide your daily interactions and decisions, making His rule evident in your life. [00:41]

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17, ESV)

Reflection: How can you allow God's principles to guide a specific decision or relationship in your life today, making His rule visible to those around you?

Day 3: The Restorative Power of God's Word

The word of God has the power to restore hope and transform lives. By applying biblical truths, individuals and families can experience profound change, leading to healthier communities and stronger churches. This transformative power is not just about personal growth but also about influencing those around us with the hope and restoration found in God's word. As you engage with Scripture, consider how its truths can bring about change in your life and the lives of those around you, leading to a ripple effect of transformation. [01:40]

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, ESV)

Reflection: What specific biblical truth can you apply to a current challenge in your life, allowing God's word to bring hope and transformation?

Day 4: Building a Legacy of Faith

The vision of transformed lives extends beyond the present, aiming to produce a legacy of faith that carries forward the values of God's kingdom. This legacy is about ensuring that future generations continue to live out and spread God's principles. It involves actively participating in God's work and passing on His values to those who come after us. As you consider your own legacy, think about how you can invest in the spiritual growth of others, ensuring that the values of the kingdom are lived out and passed on to future generations. [01:51]

"One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts." (Psalm 145:4, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally invest in the spiritual growth of someone in your life today, contributing to a legacy of faith that extends beyond your own lifetime?

Day 5: Embracing the Collective Mission

Building kingdom disciples is a collective mission that requires the participation of the entire body of Christ. By working together, we can effectively promote God's kingdom agenda and make a lasting impact on the world. This mission is not just about individual efforts but about coming together as a community to embody and spread the values of the kingdom. As you engage with your community, consider how you can contribute to this collective mission, working alongside others to bring about transformation in the world. [02:11]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you actively participate in your church community today, contributing to the collective mission of building kingdom disciples?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound calling to be in the world but not of it, aligning our lives with the prayer of Jesus: "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." This call to action is not just a personal journey but a collective mission to build kingdom disciples who embody the comprehensive rule of God in every aspect of life. This vision, championed by Dr. Tony Evans, emphasizes the visible manifestation of God's kingdom agenda, which seeks to transform lives and communities through the power of God's word.

Dr. Evans, a trailblazer in the evangelical community, has dedicated his life to spreading this transformative message. His ministry, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, and the Urban Alternative media broadcast have reached millions across the globe, offering hope and restoration through the application of biblical truths. His ability to communicate complex theological concepts in a simple yet profound manner has made his teachings accessible and impactful to a diverse audience.

The essence of this message is the transformative power of living under God's rule, which not only changes individual lives but also has the potential to influence families, churches, and entire communities. Dr. Evans' dream is to see lives transformed by the values of God's kingdom, creating a ripple effect that extends beyond the present generation. This vision calls us to actively participate in God's work, ensuring that His kingdom values are lived out and passed on to future generations.

Key Takeaways

1. Kingdom Discipleship: Being a kingdom disciple means living in the world without conforming to its values. It involves a commitment to embodying God's will on earth, reflecting His kingdom in our daily lives. This requires intentionality and a willingness to stand apart from worldly influences. [00:08]
2. Visible Manifestation of God's Rule: The kingdom agenda is about making God's rule visible in every area of life. This means allowing God's principles to guide our decisions, relationships, and actions, thereby transforming our environments and communities. [00:41]
3. Transformative Power of God's Word: The word of God has the power to restore hope and transform lives. By applying biblical truths, individuals and families can experience profound change, leading to healthier communities and stronger churches. [01:40]
4. Legacy of Faith: Dr. Evans' vision extends beyond the present, aiming to produce transformed lives that carry forward the values of God's kingdom. This legacy of faith is about ensuring that future generations continue to live out and spread God's principles. [01:51]
5. Collective Mission: Building kingdom disciples is a collective mission that requires the participation of the entire body of Christ. By working together, we can effectively promote God's kingdom agenda and make a lasting impact on the world. [02:11]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:08] - In the World, Not of the World
[00:26] - Dr. Tony Evans' Vision
[00:41] - The Kingdom Agenda
[00:54] - Global Impact of the Ministry
[01:06] - Communicating Theological Truths
[01:16] - Dr. Evans' Leadership
[01:27] - Publishing Milestones
[01:40] - Restoring Hope and Transforming Lives
[01:51] - Dream of Transformed Lives
[02:11] - Thy Kingdom Come

Sermon Clips

what god is looking for are a group of people who will be in the world but not of the world people who have decided to answer jesus's prayer that thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven building kingdom disciples is the vision and calling of dr tony evans [00:01:28]

together with his wife lois they founded oak cliff bible fellowship and the urban alternative media broadcast ministry to promote god's kingdom agenda which is the visible manifestation of the comprehensive rule of god over every area of life his ministry and sermons are known across the world reaching millions of people in over 146 countries [00:37:20]

communicating complex theological truths through simple yet profound illustrations is one reason his words have touched so many lives as one of the country's most respected evangelical leaders dr tony evans has served as a pastor author speaker and now the first african-american to publish a full study bible and commentary [01:06:08]

every day his work restores hope and transforms the lives of individuals and families in churches and in communities through the proclamation and application of the word of god now and for generations to come his dream is to produce transformed lives that transfer the values of the kingdom of god [01:31:68]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?