Living Distinctively in the Kingdom of the Heavens

Summary

In today's exploration of the "Kingdom of the Heavens," we delve into the profound reality that this kingdom is not just a distant hope but a present possibility. We begin by reflecting on the parallel narratives of Sinai and the Sermon on the Mount. At Sinai, God delivered the Israelites from centuries of slavery, establishing a covenant that transformed them into a free people. This covenant was marked by radical distinctiveness, setting them apart from the world. Similarly, Jesus' teachings on the mount introduce a radical way of living that embodies the kingdom's values, challenging us to live distinctively in the world today.

The essence of this kingdom is captured in the Beatitudes, where Jesus outlines the characteristics of those who belong to this heavenly realm. These teachings call us to embrace humility, mercy, purity, and peacemaking, among other virtues. They invite us to live counter-culturally, loving our enemies and denying ourselves for the sake of others. This radical lifestyle is not just a set of rules but a transformative journey that reshapes our hearts and minds.

As Wesleyans, we hold a unique perspective on grace and holiness. We recognize that God's grace is the foundation of our relationship with Him, inviting us into a life of holiness. This holiness is not about achieving perfection but about a continual, loving pursuit of God, allowing His Spirit to transform us. This partnership of grace and holiness propels us into good works, not to earn God's favor but as a response to the grace we have already received.

The call to live in the kingdom of the heavens is a call to transformation. It challenges us to renew our minds, to see the world through the lens of God's kingdom, and to live in a way that bears witness to His grace. It is a call to lay down our lives, to give up our rights, and to serve others, embodying the radical love of Christ. This kingdom life is not easy, and it requires courage and a willingness to pay the price of discipleship. Yet, it is in this surrender that we find true life and fulfillment.

Key Takeaways:

- The Kingdom of the Heavens is a present reality that calls us to live distinctively, embodying the radical values of Jesus' teachings, such as loving our enemies and denying ourselves for the sake of others. [03:04]

- The parallel between Sinai and the Sermon on the Mount highlights the transformative power of God's covenant, inviting us into a life of freedom and holiness, set apart from the world. [07:04]

- As Wesleyans, we embrace the partnership of grace and holiness, recognizing that God's grace invites us into a transformative journey of sanctification, where we are continually shaped by His Spirit. [11:27]

- The call to live in the kingdom is a call to transformation, challenging us to renew our minds and live in a way that bears witness to God's grace, laying down our lives for the sake of others. [15:37]

- True discipleship requires courage and a willingness to pay the price, as we hunger and thirst for righteousness, seeking to live in the kingdom of the heavens with grace and love for others. [19:36]

Youtube Chapters:

[0:00] - Welcome
[03:04] - Introduction to the Kingdom of the Heavens
[07:04] - The Covenant at Sinai
[11:27] - Wesleyan Distinctives
[15:37] - Transformation and Sanctification
[19:36] - Radical Living in the Kingdom
[24:01] - The Call to Discipleship
[26:22] - Embracing the Kingdom Life
[28:57] - Benediction and Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Kingdom of the Heavens

Bible Reading:
- Exodus 20:1-3
- Matthew 5:1-3
- Romans 12:2

---

Observation Questions:

1. In Exodus 20:1-3, what is the significance of God reminding the Israelites of their deliverance from Egypt before giving the commandments?
2. How does Jesus' introduction of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-3 set the tone for His teachings on the Kingdom of the Heavens?
3. According to Romans 12:2, what does it mean to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, and how does this relate to living in the Kingdom of the Heavens?
4. What parallels are drawn in the sermon between the events at Sinai and the Sermon on the Mount? [03:04]

---

Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the covenant at Sinai illustrate the transformative power of God's relationship with His people, and how is this echoed in Jesus' teachings on the mount? [07:04]
2. What does it mean to live counter-culturally according to the Beatitudes, and how might this challenge our current lifestyle?
3. How does the Wesleyan perspective on grace and holiness influence our understanding of sanctification and transformation? [11:27]
4. In what ways does the call to lay down our lives and serve others reflect the radical love of Christ, and how can this be a witness to the world? [24:01]

---

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt called to live distinctively in your community. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? [19:36]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of renewing our minds. What specific steps can you take this week to align your thoughts with the values of the Kingdom of the Heavens? [15:37]
3. Consider the concept of loving your enemies as taught by Jesus. Is there someone in your life you struggle to love, and how can you begin to change that relationship? [24:01]
4. How can you embrace the partnership of grace and holiness in your daily life, and what changes might this require in your current habits or attitudes? [11:27]
5. The sermon suggests that true discipleship requires courage and a willingness to pay the price. What fears or obstacles do you face in your journey of discipleship, and how can you overcome them? [28:57]
6. Identify one area in your life where you feel God is calling you to lay down your rights for the sake of others. What practical steps can you take to respond to this call? [24:01]
7. How can you cultivate a hunger and thirst for righteousness in your life, and what role does community play in supporting this pursuit? [26:22]

Devotional

Day 1: Living Distinctively in the Present Kingdom
The Kingdom of the Heavens is not a distant future but a present reality that calls us to live distinctively, embodying the radical values of Jesus' teachings. This kingdom life challenges us to love our enemies and deny ourselves for the sake of others, reflecting the transformative power of Jesus' message. The Beatitudes, as outlined by Jesus, serve as a blueprint for this radical lifestyle, inviting us to embrace humility, mercy, purity, and peacemaking. Living in this way is not merely about following a set of rules but embarking on a transformative journey that reshapes our hearts and minds. As we engage with these teachings, we are called to live counter-culturally, setting ourselves apart from the world by embodying the values of the Kingdom of the Heavens. [03:04]

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:3-5, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life do you find difficult to love? How can you begin to embody the radical love of the Kingdom by reaching out to them today?

Day 2: The Transformative Power of Covenant
The parallel between Sinai and the Sermon on the Mount highlights the transformative power of God's covenant, inviting us into a life of freedom and holiness. At Sinai, God delivered the Israelites from slavery, establishing a covenant that set them apart as a free people. This covenant was marked by radical distinctiveness, calling them to live in a way that reflected God's holiness. Similarly, Jesus' teachings on the mount invite us into a new covenant, one that transforms us and sets us apart from the world. This transformation is not about adhering to a set of rules but about entering into a relationship with God that reshapes our identity and purpose. As we embrace this covenant, we are invited to live in freedom and holiness, reflecting the values of the Kingdom of the Heavens. [07:04]

"For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth." (Deuteronomy 7:6, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways do you feel called to live distinctively as part of God's covenant people? How can you embrace this calling in your daily life?

Day 3: Grace and Holiness in Wesleyan Perspective
As Wesleyans, we embrace the partnership of grace and holiness, recognizing that God's grace invites us into a transformative journey of sanctification. This journey is not about achieving perfection but about a continual, loving pursuit of God, allowing His Spirit to transform us. God's grace is the foundation of our relationship with Him, and it propels us into good works, not to earn His favor but as a response to the grace we have already received. This perspective on grace and holiness invites us to live in a way that reflects God's character, continually being shaped by His Spirit. As we engage in this journey, we are called to live in a way that bears witness to God's grace, embodying the values of the Kingdom of the Heavens. [11:27]

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me." (1 Corinthians 15:10, ESV)

Reflection: How can you allow God's grace to transform you today? What specific area of your life needs to be reshaped by His Spirit?

Day 4: The Call to Transformation
The call to live in the kingdom is a call to transformation, challenging us to renew our minds and live in a way that bears witness to God's grace. This transformation requires us to lay down our lives, give up our rights, and serve others, embodying the radical love of Christ. It is a call to see the world through the lens of God's kingdom, allowing His values to shape our actions and attitudes. This kingdom life is not easy, and it requires courage and a willingness to pay the price of discipleship. Yet, it is in this surrender that we find true life and fulfillment, as we align our lives with the values of the Kingdom of the Heavens. [15:37]

"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: What is one area of your life where you need to renew your mind to align with God's kingdom values? How can you take a step towards transformation today?

Day 5: The Courage of True Discipleship
True discipleship requires courage and a willingness to pay the price, as we hunger and thirst for righteousness, seeking to live in the kingdom of the heavens with grace and love for others. This journey of discipleship is marked by a radical commitment to follow Jesus, even when it is difficult or costly. It calls us to lay down our lives, deny ourselves, and take up our cross daily. As we pursue this path, we are invited to embody the values of the Kingdom of the Heavens, living in a way that reflects God's grace and love. This journey is not easy, but it is in this surrender that we find true life and fulfillment, as we align our lives with the values of the Kingdom. [19:36]

"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.'" (Luke 9:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Quotes

1) "What if the kingdom that Jesus talked about could be lived out right now? In the days in which we live in each of our lives. What if it was real? What if it was achievable? What if it was doable? And how would we go about that?" [03:04] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "You're part of a Wesleyan movement that has distinctives that separate us out from other denominations. And let me tell you why that's a good thing. It's not because other denominations are bad. It's because they too have distinctives that they bring to the table for the purpose of the gospel. The Presbyterians bring a viewpoint and a perspective, something that's distinct to them. The Lutherans do that, the Catholics, the Pentecostals, yes, even the Baptists. I say that tongue-in-cheek. They bring distinctive things. No one has the complete picture of the gospel, but instead we bring viewpoints to it that are uniquely our own." [11:27] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "The gospel is about transformation. The gospel is about finding us where we are but not leaving us there. It's about, please, please, don't be yourself. Be who Christ is making you to be. Because if we're ourselves, then our sin and our brokenness controls our lives. It shapes our viewpoints. It makes us see the world in a certain way. If we simply be ourselves, whatever that expression looks like, then what happens is we haven't left Egypt." [15:37] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "What you realize, if you look at Sinai and you look at the kingdom, you realize how radical they really are. They're incredibly radical. In the case of Sinai, what God laid out for them in the Torah was, yes, just like the other nations, you're going to observe ritual feasts, but these ritual feasts, this will look much different than the rest of the world. And you are to attend those. And not only that, but you will wear your hair a certain way. You will exercise your patterns of behavior in a certain way. You will abstain from certain foods. You will observe markers of the covenant. You will do that that seems outrageous to us. And that's the point, that it is so unlike the rest of the world that it will both set us apart and also serve as a witness." [19:36] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "The world says, hate your enemies. Let me really dial it in for us better. The world says, hate your political enemies. The world says, hate those who don't think like you, look like you, talk like you. Hate those that are different races, different genders, that have different agendas. It says, hate them, not just dislike them, but the world applauds when we hate them. It backs us up. It forms us into tribes. And decides, and then we eat and devour one another. But that's not what Jesus says. Jesus says, love your enemies. Do good to those who despitefully use you. That's radical. That is altogether different." [24:01] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "The kingdom is. It's the opposite. It's lay down your life. Give up your rights. Give to those who take from you. Serve those who despitefully use you. Love your enemies. Don't hate them. Try to understand them. Be transformed. By the renewing of your mind. That's the call of the kingdom of the heavens. That we're exploring." [26:22] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "I believe it's just the opposite, that people are not followers of Christ. They haven't surrendered their life. They haven't given themselves wholly to the Lord because they know precisely what it will require. And they're unwilling to pay that price. Are we? Are we willing? Do we hunger and thirst? I pray to God that we do." [28:57] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?