Living the Kingdom: Bringing Heaven to Earth
Summary
As we embark on this series titled "For Heaven's Sake," we are challenged to align our hearts with what heaven cares about. The central question we explore is: How do we care about the things that matter to heaven? Reflecting on a profound statement from a college professor, we are reminded that if we dedicate our lives to what breaks God's heart, we will experience blessings beyond our imagination. This journey begins with understanding the core message Jesus came to proclaim: the reality of the Kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God is not a distant, ethereal concept but a present reality that Jesus emphasized throughout His ministry. It is more real than the physical world we inhabit. Jesus' mission was to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth, a mission we are invited to join. This involves redefining our understanding of heaven—not as a far-off place but as life with God, permeating our daily existence.
We often reduce the message of Jesus to minimal entrance requirements, focusing on saying the right prayers to secure a place in heaven. However, Jesus' message was about living in the reality of God's Kingdom here and now. This Kingdom is characterized by love, grace, and transformation, impacting how we live and interact with others. It calls us to seek first His Kingdom and righteousness, trusting that all our needs will be met.
Our lives are filled with opportunities to bring heaven closer to earth. Every act of love, service, and faithfulness is a step towards this mission. As we approach the 18th anniversary of our church, we are reminded of our commitment to this mission. Our journey began with a prayer during a personal trial, asking God to keep our hearts sensitive to the needs of others. This prayer continues to guide us as we strive to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth.
As we conclude, we are invited to open our eyes to the opportunities around us to live out this mission. The Kingdom of God is near, and we must not miss it. By living with awareness and intentionality, we can transform our communities and witness miracles as heaven invades earth.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Kingdom of God is a Present Reality: Jesus emphasized that the Kingdom of God is here and now, more real than the physical world. It is not just a future promise but a present reality that we are invited to experience and participate in. This understanding challenges us to live with a heavenly perspective, aligning our actions with God's will. [07:20]
2. Redefining Heaven: Heaven is not a distant, ethereal place but life with God. This redefinition shifts our focus from merely securing a place in heaven to living in God's presence daily. It calls us to live differently, aware that our actions reflect our relationship with God. [14:35]
3. Beyond Minimal Entrance Requirements: The message of Jesus is not about meeting minimal entrance requirements for heaven but about living in the reality of God's Kingdom. This involves a transformative relationship with God, characterized by love, grace, and service. [18:58]
4. Bringing Heaven to Earth: Our mission is to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth through acts of love, service, and faithfulness. Every opportunity to show God's love is a step towards this mission, transforming our communities and lives. [23:32]
5. Living with Awareness: We are called to live with awareness of the Kingdom of God around us, seizing opportunities to bring heaven closer to earth. This involves being open to God's leading and responding to the needs of others with love and compassion. [23:32]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to "For Heaven's Sake" Series
- [01:30] - Personal Story and Family Introduction
- [03:45] - The Heart of God and Our Mission
- [05:20] - The Gospel Message of Jesus
- [07:20] - Understanding the Kingdom of God
- [09:00] - Reality of the Kingdom
- [11:15] - Misconceptions About Heaven
- [14:35] - Redefining Heaven
- [16:50] - The Concept of Kingdom
- [18:58] - The Kingdom of Earth vs. Kingdom of God
- [21:00] - Bringing Heaven to Earth
- [23:32] - Living with Awareness
- [25:00] - Personal Testimony and Prayer
- [27:30] - Invitation to Respond and Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: "For Heaven's Sake"
Bible Reading:
1. Mark 1:14-15 - "After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 'The time has come,' he said. 'The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!'"
2. Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
3. Luke 8:1 - "After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God."
Observation Questions:
1. What does Jesus proclaim about the Kingdom of God in Mark 1:14-15, and how does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on the Kingdom being a present reality? [07:20]
2. How does the sermon redefine the concept of heaven, and what implications does this have for our daily lives? [14:35]
3. According to the sermon, what are some misconceptions people have about the message of Jesus and the Kingdom of God? [18:58]
4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the idea of bringing heaven to earth through acts of love and service? [23:32]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does understanding the Kingdom of God as a present reality change the way one might live their daily life? [07:20]
2. In what ways does redefining heaven as "life with God" challenge traditional views of heaven, and how might this affect one's spiritual journey? [14:35]
3. What does it mean to move beyond "minimal entrance requirements" in one's faith, and how can this lead to a more transformative relationship with God? [18:58]
4. How can living with awareness of the Kingdom of God around us lead to personal and communal transformation? [23:32]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current understanding of the Kingdom of God. How does viewing it as a present reality influence your daily decisions and interactions with others? [07:20]
2. Consider the redefinition of heaven as "life with God." How can this perspective shift your focus from future promises to present experiences with God? [14:35]
3. Identify an area in your life where you might be adhering to "minimal entrance requirements" in your faith. What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with God? [18:58]
4. Think of a recent opportunity you had to bring heaven to earth through an act of love or service. How did you respond, and what might you do differently next time? [23:32]
5. How can you cultivate a greater awareness of the Kingdom of God in your everyday life? What practices or habits might help you stay attuned to God's presence and leading? [23:32]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt God's presence in a profound way. How can you create more moments like this in your life and in the lives of those around you? [23:32]
7. As you consider the mission of bringing heaven to earth, what specific actions can you take this week to demonstrate God's love and grace in your community? [23:32]
Devotional
Day 1: The Kingdom of God is Here and Now
The Kingdom of God is not a distant future promise but a present reality that Jesus emphasized throughout His ministry. It is more real than the physical world we inhabit, inviting us to live with a heavenly perspective. This understanding challenges us to align our actions with God's will, recognizing that the Kingdom is here and now. By embracing this reality, we are called to participate actively in God's work on earth, living out His love and grace in our daily lives. [07:20]
"The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you." (Luke 17:20-21, ESV)
Reflection: How can you live today with the awareness that the Kingdom of God is already present in your life and community?
Day 2: Heaven is Life with God
Heaven is not merely a distant, ethereal place but is defined by life with God. This redefinition shifts our focus from securing a place in heaven to experiencing God's presence daily. It calls us to live differently, aware that our actions reflect our relationship with God. By understanding heaven as life with God, we are invited to cultivate a deeper connection with Him, allowing His presence to permeate every aspect of our lives. [14:35]
"Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Psalm 73:25-26, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you invite God's presence into your daily routine, transforming ordinary moments into experiences of heaven on earth?
Day 3: Embracing a Transformative Relationship with God
The message of Jesus is not about meeting minimal entrance requirements for heaven but about living in the reality of God's Kingdom. This involves a transformative relationship with God, characterized by love, grace, and service. By moving beyond a checklist mentality, we are invited to experience the fullness of life in God's Kingdom, where our hearts and actions are transformed by His love. [18:58]
"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)
Reflection: What specific area of your life needs transformation through God's love and grace today, and how can you open yourself to His work in that area?
Day 4: Bringing Heaven to Earth through Love and Service
Our mission is to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth through acts of love, service, and faithfulness. Every opportunity to show God's love is a step towards this mission, transforming our communities and lives. By actively participating in God's work, we become agents of change, reflecting His Kingdom in our interactions with others. [23:32]
"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:16, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one person or situation in your community where you can demonstrate God's love through a specific act of service today.
Day 5: Living with Awareness of God's Kingdom
We are called to live with awareness of the Kingdom of God around us, seizing opportunities to bring heaven closer to earth. This involves being open to God's leading and responding to the needs of others with love and compassion. By living with intentionality, we can transform our communities and witness miracles as heaven invades earth. [23:32]
"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV)
Reflection: How can you cultivate a greater awareness of God's Kingdom in your daily life, and what steps can you take to respond to His leading with intentionality and love?
Quotes
"You can be there where you're supposed to be and you can miss it altogether. Can I tell you one of my great fears as a pastor is that you can come to church at Access, you can love the church, you can get involved, you can sing the songs, you can lift your hands, you can give, you can serve, you can be all involved in the right place and you can miss the moment altogether." [00:04:28] (20 seconds)
"Reality is that thing that's as real as the stage I'm standing on, the chair you're sitting in, the clothes that you are wearing, the people around you that you can touch. Reality is the realest thing. And Jesus comes along and he says, the kingdom of heaven, what God is really about, is the kingdom of heaven is more real to you than you are. It's so real and it's here and it's all around us." [00:07:58] (24 seconds)
"It's the minimal entrance requirements. We think that if I just say the right prayer, say the right combination of words, or I'm gonna get to heaven, and what's going to happen when I get there is there's gonna be a test, there's gonna be a question, hopefully it's multiple choice, but I gotta get it right. So what we've reduced getting into heaven is, it's like no different than knowing the password." [00:09:08] (23 seconds)
"If you pay attention on TikTok or Instagram Reels or social media, very often there's this movement of people who like to show up and they like to try to confront Christians, and they'll ask questions like, well, how could a loving God keep people out of heaven? Have you thought this before? How have you wrestled with this before? And I think the reason we struggle with this is we have just the wrong picture of heaven altogether." [00:10:52] (22 seconds)
"If I were to summarize the message of Jesus, if I were to say to you what access has been about for 18 years and just newsflash, what we're going to be about for the next 18 years is we're joining Jesus in this mission to bring up there, down here, to take the kingdom of heaven and to bring it to earth. What does this look like? It looks like every time we have an opportunity to love someone and to serve someone, we do it." [00:20:26] (26 seconds)
"God, may we never forget how we feel right here, right now in this moment. May we never forget someday. We Are listening early. you allow us to lead people or to serve people or to be pastors or whatever you do with our lives. May we never forget how we feel now so that when people come to us hurting and broken and tired and worn out and restless, when people walk in with tragedies and trauma, that we'll never forget how we feel in this moment." [00:23:25] (25 seconds)
"I wanted your eyes to be open to the opportunities all around you. The kingdom of God, Jesus says, is here. It's near and it's close. It is possible entirely for you to miss it. In one example, Jesus says the kingdom of heaven is like a man who's walking through a field and he finds a treasure buried in it. And in his excitement, he goes home and he sells everything he has because he knows he has it." [00:24:38] (22 seconds)
"Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is real. It's realer than you, realer than the seat you're sitting in. It's the most real thing imaginable. It's what you can count on, and it's what he's all about. So what if this week we just lived with this awareness, with our eyes as open as we know how, for ways that we can bring the kingdom of God to earth?" [00:25:23] (23 seconds)
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