Living in the Reality of God's Kingdom

Devotional

Day 1: The Kingdom of God Is Present and Revealed Through Jesus

The kingdom of God is not something we must strive to bring about through our own efforts or political means; it is already here, established by Jesus, and our calling is to declare and demonstrate its reality in our lives and communities. We are invited to see history not as a series of random events, but as God's unfolding story, culminating in Christ's return and the renewal of all things. This perspective frees us from anxiety about controlling outcomes and instead calls us to faithful witness, trusting that Jesus is the true hero and that his victory on the cross is the foundation of our hope and purpose. As we live in this "already but not yet" reality, we are to align our lives with God's will and participate in his redemptive work, knowing that the kingdom is advancing even when it is not visible to the world. [29:53]

Mark 1:14-15 (ESV)
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to realign your perspective to see God’s kingdom at work right now, rather than waiting for some future change or event?

Day 2: Disciples Are Sent in Dependence, Not Self-Sufficiency

Jesus sends his disciples out with minimal resources, instructing them to rely on God’s provision and the hospitality of others, rather than their own strength or preparation. This call to dependence is both humbling and freeing, reminding us that God is already at work ahead of us and that our role is to trust him, not to be burdened by the need for perfect answers or flawless execution. We are to expect discomfort and unpredictability, knowing that faithfulness, not success by worldly standards, is what God desires. In our own mission, we are invited to lay down our excess baggage—whether it’s overthinking, fear of failure, or the need for control—and simply bring the truth of the gospel, trusting God to do the rest. [33:51]

Mark 6:7-13 (ESV)
And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

Reflection: What “baggage” or self-reliance do you need to lay down today in order to trust God more fully as you follow where he leads?

Day 3: Faithfulness Over Success—Our Calling Is to Be Dependent and Obedient

God does not call us to measure our worth or effectiveness by visible results, numbers, or worldly achievements, but by our faithfulness and dependence on him. The disciples were not given targets or metrics; instead, they were told to trust God, be obedient, and leave the outcomes in his hands. This truth liberates us from the pressure to perform or to “make things happen” for God, and instead invites us to participate in his work with humility and trust. Our weakness is met by his power, and our simple obedience becomes a declaration of his authority and glory in the world. [36:53]

1 Corinthians 4:2 (ESV)
Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

Reflection: Where have you been measuring your spiritual life or ministry by success or results, and how can you shift your focus to simple faithfulness and dependence on God today?

Day 4: The Power of Testimony—Proclaiming What Jesus Has Done in Us

We are called not just to invite people to church or to agree with our beliefs, but to testify to the reality of Jesus’ work in our own lives—how he has brought us from shame to freedom, from fear to courage, and from isolation to belonging. Our story of transformation is a powerful witness to the world, and as we share it, we participate in God’s mission to renew lives and transform our communities. The authority and power of Jesus are made visible as we speak truth, offer grace, and point others to the hope and love we have found in him. [38:50]

Psalm 107:2 (ESV)
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble

Reflection: What is one specific way Jesus has changed your life that you can share with someone this week, trusting that your story can point them to his love?

Day 5: Repentance and Grace—Inviting Others Into God’s Transforming Love

Repentance is not about condemnation, but about turning from self-justification and broken patterns to receive the grace and love of God in Christ. As we call others to repentance, we are inviting them to experience the freedom, healing, and new identity that Jesus offers—a life not defined by fear, shame, or striving, but by the security and significance found in him. This is the heart of the gospel: that in Christ, there is victory over evil, the promise of God’s presence, and the hope of eternal life. Our mission is to speak this truth, offer this grace, and trust that God will use our witness to bring renewal and transformation. [47:50]

Romans 2:4 (ESV)
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear about the kindness and grace of God today, and how can you gently invite them to experience his transforming love?

Sermon Summary

God delights in meeting us as a good Father, inviting us to align our lives with His will and to experience the reality of His kingdom here and now. Jesus, the victorious King, has already established His kingdom—not through political power or authoritarian means, but through His presence, His people, and His ongoing work in the world. Our calling is not to bring about the kingdom by force or to impose our beliefs, but to faithfully declare and demonstrate the reality of Jesus, allowing His story to shape our understanding of history and our place in it.

The Scriptures reveal a single, unfolding story: God’s kingdom, patterned at creation, broken by the fall, promised through Israel, and fulfilled in Christ. Now, as His church, we live in the “already but not yet”—the kingdom is present, but not yet perfected. Our task is to proclaim and embody this kingdom reality, not by striving for success or recognition, but by being faithful and dependent on Christ’s authority and provision.

Jesus modeled this for His disciples, sending them out with little but His authority, instructing them to rely on God’s provision, to expect discomfort and unpredictability, and to focus on faithfulness rather than outcomes. The mission is not about numbers or visible success, but about testifying to the truth, offering grace, and inviting others into the freedom and belonging found in Christ. Discipleship, not just preaching, is the means by which the kingdom advances—lives are renewed, communities are transformed, and God’s redemptive work is made visible.

As a church, our purpose is to make disciples who are formed in the gospel, rooted in belonging, and living with purpose. Our vision is to be a gospel-centered community, united in Christ, embracing faith, declaring hope, and serving with love so that God’s renewing work transforms lives and our island. This calling is not about our strength or perfection, but about Christ’s power working through our weakness and obedience. We are invited to participate in God’s story, trusting that He is already at work, and to share the hope, love, and freedom we have found in Jesus.

Key Takeaways

1. The Kingdom of God is present now, not something we must achieve through human effort or political means. Jesus has already established His reign, and our role is to declare and demonstrate this reality, allowing Scripture—not ideology—to shape our understanding of the world and our mission within it. [25:51]
2. Faithfulness, not success, is the measure of our calling. Jesus sends us out with His authority, asking us to rely on God’s provision, to expect discomfort and unpredictability, and to focus on obedience rather than outcomes. Our weakness is the stage for His power, and our faithfulness is the declaration of His authority. [36:53]
3. Discipleship is the heart of kingdom advancement. The transformation of lives and communities comes not through sermons alone, but through intentional relationships, truth-telling, and grace-giving. We are called to invest in others as Jesus invested in us, making disciples who find their identity, purpose, and belonging in Him. [40:36]
4. Repentance is an invitation to freedom, not condemnation. To repent is to realign our lives with the truth we already sense: that we are broken and cannot save ourselves, but Jesus offers perfect security and significance. In Christ, we receive grace, authority over evil, and the hope of eternal life—a reality that transforms both our present and our future. [47:50]
5. We are not alone in this mission. Christ is with us, providing what we need and inviting us to participate in His work. We need not be burdened by having all the answers or by fear of failure; God’s kingdom advances through ordinary faithfulness, and our stories of transformation become testimonies that reveal His glory and defeat the powers of darkness. [52:25]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[19:22] - Entering God’s Presence and Prayer
[21:22] - Announcements and AGM Preparation
[22:52] - Financial Update and Campus Purchase
[24:47] - Faith, Persuasion, and Christian Nationalism
[25:51] - The Nature of God’s Kingdom
[27:41] - Reading Scripture Through the Right Lens
[28:34] - The Story of God’s Kingdom
[31:09] - Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
[32:42] - Authority, Dependence, and Hostility
[33:51] - Principles for Mission: Unencumbered and Dependent
[36:53] - Faithfulness Over Success
[38:50] - Discipleship Over Sermons
[42:41] - Mission and Vision for Our Church
[46:41] - Proclaiming and Confirming the Gospel
[47:50] - Repentance, Grace, and Kingdom Reality
[52:25] - Trusting Christ’s Presence and Provision
[54:36] - Our Calling and Christ’s Authority
[56:50] - Responding in Worship and Prayer
[74:08] - Invitation for Prayer and Sending Forth

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Mark 6:7-13 (ESV) — 7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—
9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.
10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there.
11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.”
12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.
13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

Observation Questions

What specific instructions did Jesus give the twelve disciples before sending them out? (Mark 6:8-10)
According to the passage, what were the disciples supposed to do if a town or house did not welcome them? (Mark 6:11)
What kinds of things did the disciples do as they went out in Jesus’ authority? (Mark 6:12-13)
In the sermon, what does the pastor say is the main measure of our calling as followers of Jesus? [[36:53]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus told the disciples to take so little with them on their journey? What might this teach us about dependence on God? (Mark 6:8-9)
The sermon says, “Faithfulness, not success, is the measure of our calling.” How does this challenge the way people usually think about serving God or doing ministry? [[36:53]]
The disciples were told to expect discomfort and unpredictability. What does this suggest about what following Jesus might look like in our own lives? [[33:51]]
The pastor emphasized that discipleship, not just preaching, is the heart of kingdom advancement. Why do you think intentional relationships are so important for the growth of God’s kingdom? [[40:36]]

Application Questions

The disciples were sent out with very little and had to rely on God’s provision and the hospitality of others. Is there an area in your life where you feel God is asking you to trust Him more and let go of your own “baggage”? What would it look like to take a step of faith in that area this week? [[33:51]]
The sermon says that our job is to be faithful, not to focus on visible success or recognition. Are there ways you have measured your spiritual life or service by “success” rather than faithfulness? How might you shift your focus this week? [[36:53]]
The pastor talked about how repentance is an invitation to freedom, not condemnation. Is there something in your life that you sense God is inviting you to realign with His truth? What would it look like to respond to that invitation? [[47:50]]
Discipleship is described as investing in others as Jesus invested in us. Who is one person you could intentionally encourage or walk alongside in their faith journey this month? What is one practical step you could take? [[40:36]]
The sermon mentioned that we are not alone in this mission—Christ is with us, and our stories of transformation matter. Is there a part of your story with Jesus that you could share with someone this week? Who might need to hear it? [[52:25]]
The pastor said, “Don’t be baggaged by having to have all the right answers.” Has fear of not knowing enough ever stopped you from sharing your faith? How can you move forward in faith even when you feel unprepared? [[52:43]]
Our church’s vision is to be a gospel-centered community that embraces faith, declares hope, and serves with love. What is one way you can serve with love in your community or church this week? [[44:01]]

Sermon Clips

What Jesus says to them is expect things to be uncomfortable and things to be unpredictable. And in so doing, he says, be unencumbered by baggage. Just bring what you need. He would go on to say that all you really need is the truth of the gospel, a gospel that believes that God loves you, cares for you, that God can save you and will save you, and that sometimes what we bring into this is just more than that. He doesn't want them to be encumbered by baggage. [00:33:53] (30 seconds) #TravelLightWithTruth

``But their job was not to be focused on the outcome. Their job was not to make sure that they had a certain number of people who became followers of Jesus. He didn't give them a metric or a target to live into. All he says is, be dependent on God and be faithful. See, my friends, this is the reality of the Christian life is God is not asking us to be successful. He's not asking us to be awesome. He's not asking us to make sure we do everything the right way and then he will bless us. He's saying, rely on me, dependent on me, and just be faithful to me. And watch. Watch what I'm going to do. [00:36:25] (44 seconds) #FaithfulNotSuccessful

A disciple is someone who finds their identity, purpose and belonging in Jesus that will never change. That is what Jesus is going to do until the day of his return. And until then we do that. We speak that in Christ you can have a new identity not bound by or defined by class, wealth, job, gender, sexuality. That the greatest identifier is Jesus, that he's given us a new purpose. The new purpose is not a capitalistic purpose of accomplishing and gathering and accumulating stuff. Our purpose is to testify to this wonderful hope that in Jesus everything can change and that we've been given this sense of belonging, that we're a part of, of a community of like minded, of common worshipers who say together we are effective, better than on our own. [00:42:41] (59 seconds) #IdentityInJesus

If we believe that Jesus is on the throne, that if Jesus is working now, that he's bringing all things under his authority, that he's living out his priorities through his church, we should see lives renewed. We have seen lives renewed. And as that happens, it will transform our island. We're called to this place and to these times. Yes, we will support what is going on around the world. Yes, we will send money, send people across the country. But we are responsible for our place. [00:44:26] (34 seconds) #TransformOurPlace

See, that's how it's meant to work. That as we speak of this truth, Jesus will show his power. Maybe not in obvious ways like this, but in nonetheless powerful ways. That as we speak this, we will see people repent and realign their lives and then receive God's blessing. We hear that word repent, and we think condemnation. And that's not what that's about. See, repentance is according to the truth. It's just telling people the truth, a truth that they deep down already really know. It's to persuade people of sin and brokenness that the world is broken and that I'm broken in it and that I cannot save myself, to remove kind of some of those behaviors and that false worship. [00:46:56] (55 seconds) #RepentanceIsTruth

You're not alone in this. We're in this together. But even when we feel alone, you're not alone. That Christ is with you. That Christ is the one who is doing this. He's not asking you to save the world. He's not asking you to save your kids. He's not asking you to save your neighbors. He is just asking you to be faithful and he'll give you what you need. Don't be baggaged by having to have all the right answers. Don't carry the worry that if you get it wrong, it'll never ever be fixed. [00:52:19] (34 seconds) #FaithfulNotAlone

The sending of the disciples reminds us that for all of us who would call ourselves Christians, this is a calling. He entrusts us to this. He entrusts his mission to this. So that we may not build our own name, so that we might not make ourselves great, but so that his kingdom would be revealed. And as with the 12, our weakness in the stage is met by His Power and our obedience is the declaration of his authority. So we go in his name and believe that Christ is working through us. Therefore, let's just embrace that call. If Jesus has changed your life, tell the story of that change and see the kingdom come. [00:54:31] (44 seconds) #MissionEntrusted

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