Living the Kingdom: Daily Discipleship and True Blessedness

 

Summary

In our journey as disciples of Jesus, it's crucial to understand that the Christian life is not solely about experiencing miraculous events but is deeply rooted in our day-to-day walk with Him. This daily fellowship is where our character is truly developed. The Sermon on the Mount serves as a profound guide, teaching us about who is truly well-off and who is genuinely good. Jesus challenges our conventional understanding of well-being, suggesting that true blessedness is not found in material wealth or social status but in the kingdom of God.

The Beatitudes, for instance, invert our human perceptions, declaring the poor in spirit as blessed. This is not because poverty is inherently virtuous, but because those who recognize their spiritual need are open to the kingdom's riches. Jesus' teachings are not laws to be followed rigidly but are descriptions of life in the kingdom, where we learn to be content and blessed in any circumstance.

Discipleship is central to this journey. It's about becoming apprentices of Jesus, learning to live in the kingdom of God. Many have misunderstood discipleship, thinking one can be a Christian without being a disciple. However, true discipleship involves learning to do what Jesus said, conducting our lives in the kingdom, and exercising God's power in our daily contexts.

Anger and lust are addressed as issues of the heart. Jesus teaches us that anger, while not inherently sinful, can lead us away from love. Instead, we should learn to stand for what is right without anger, as anger often begets more anger. Similarly, lust is countered by love and prayer, transforming our view of others and ourselves.

Spiritual disciplines play a vital role in this transformation. They help us step away from the hurried pace of life, allowing us to hear God's gentle voice. Through practices like solitude, silence, and scripture meditation, we position ourselves to receive Jesus' teachings and live in a conversational relationship with God. This relationship leads to a life of easy, routine obedience, where we naturally embody the teachings of Jesus in our everyday lives.

Key Takeaways:

- Daily Walk with Jesus: The essence of the Christian life is found in our daily walk with Jesus, where our character is shaped and molded. It's not about miraculous events but about consistent fellowship with Him, learning to embody His teachings in our everyday lives. [01:03]

- True Blessedness: Jesus redefines what it means to be blessed, challenging societal norms. True blessedness is found in the kingdom of God, not in material wealth or social status. The Beatitudes teach us to see beyond our circumstances and recognize the kingdom's presence in our lives. [06:07]

- Discipleship as Apprenticeship: Being a disciple means being an apprentice of Jesus, learning to live in the kingdom of God. It's about doing what Jesus said, conducting our lives in His kingdom, and exercising His power in our daily contexts. [11:04]

- Transforming Anger and Lust: Jesus teaches us to address issues of the heart, like anger and lust, by transforming them through love and prayer. Anger should not drive our actions, and lust is countered by seeing others through the lens of God's love. [23:08]

- Spiritual Disciplines: Spiritual disciplines are essential for hearing God's voice and living in His kingdom. Practices like solitude, silence, and scripture meditation help us step away from the hurried pace of life and position us to receive Jesus' teachings. [40:03]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:23] - The Gentle Voice of God
- [01:23] - Day-to-Day Life with Jesus
- [02:18] - Character Development
- [03:35] - Walking with Jesus
- [04:31] - Understanding True Well-Being
- [06:07] - The Beatitudes Explained
- [07:26] - Discipleship in the Kingdom
- [09:10] - The Meaning of Being a Christian
- [11:04] - Learning from Jesus
- [12:25] - Misunderstanding Jesus' Teachings
- [14:18] - The Kingdom's Blessing
- [20:49] - Who is a Good Person?
- [23:08] - Anger and Love
- [40:03] - Importance of Spiritual Disciplines

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 5:1-12 (The Beatitudes)
2. Philippians 4:11-13
3. Hebrews 13:5-8

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### Observation Questions

1. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the Beatitudes in understanding who is truly blessed? [06:07]
2. How does the speaker describe the relationship between anger and love in the context of Jesus' teachings? [23:08]
3. What role do spiritual disciplines play in the life of a disciple, as discussed in the sermon? [40:03]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. How does the sermon redefine the concept of being "well-off" in the context of the kingdom of God? [05:11]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that discipleship is misunderstood in modern Christianity? [08:01]
3. How does the speaker interpret the teachings of Jesus on anger and lust as issues of the heart? [23:08]

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### Application Questions

1. Reflect on your daily walk with Jesus. What specific steps can you take to deepen your fellowship with Him this week? [01:03]
2. Consider your understanding of true blessedness. How can you shift your focus from material wealth to recognizing the kingdom's presence in your life? [06:07]
3. Identify an area in your life where you struggle with anger. How can you apply Jesus' teachings to transform this anger into love and prayer? [23:08]
4. Think about your current spiritual disciplines. Which practice, such as solitude or scripture meditation, can you incorporate more intentionally into your routine? [40:03]
5. Reflect on your role as a disciple. How can you actively engage in being an apprentice of Jesus in your daily life? [11:04]
6. Consider a situation where you might be tempted to act out of anger. What practical steps can you take to respond with love instead? [23:08]
7. How can you create space in your life to hear God's gentle voice amidst the busyness of daily activities? [00:23]

Devotional

Day 1: Walking with Jesus Daily
In the Christian journey, the essence of faith is found in the daily walk with Jesus. This walk is not about seeking miraculous events but about consistent fellowship with Him, where our character is shaped and molded. Through this daily relationship, believers learn to embody His teachings in their everyday lives, growing in spiritual maturity and understanding. The focus is on the transformation that occurs in the mundane moments, where faith is lived out in practical ways. This daily walk is a reminder that the Christian life is a journey of continual growth and learning, where each day presents new opportunities to reflect Christ's love and teachings. [01:03]

"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." (Colossians 2:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: What is one small, practical way you can intentionally walk with Jesus today, allowing His presence to shape your character?


Day 2: Redefining Blessedness
True blessedness, according to Jesus, challenges societal norms and is found in the kingdom of God, not in material wealth or social status. The Beatitudes, as taught by Jesus, invite believers to see beyond their circumstances and recognize the kingdom's presence in their lives. This redefinition of blessedness encourages a shift in perspective, where spiritual richness is valued over worldly success. It calls for a deeper understanding of what it means to be truly well-off, emphasizing the importance of spiritual poverty and openness to God's kingdom. [06:07]

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." (Matthew 5:6, ESV)

Reflection: How can you shift your perspective today to see the blessings in your life that are not tied to material wealth or social status?


Day 3: Discipleship as Apprenticeship
Being a disciple of Jesus means becoming His apprentice, learning to live in the kingdom of God. This involves doing what Jesus said, conducting our lives in His kingdom, and exercising His power in our daily contexts. Discipleship is not merely about identifying as a Christian but about actively engaging in the process of learning from Jesus and applying His teachings. It is a journey of transformation, where believers are called to embody the values and principles of the kingdom in their everyday lives, becoming conduits of God's love and power. [11:04]

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:29, ESV)

Reflection: In what specific area of your life can you become more of an apprentice to Jesus, learning to live out His teachings more fully?


Day 4: Transforming Anger and Lust
Jesus addresses issues of the heart, such as anger and lust, by teaching that they can be transformed through love and prayer. Anger, while not inherently sinful, can lead us away from love and should not drive our actions. Similarly, lust is countered by seeing others through the lens of God's love. This transformation involves a shift in how we view and respond to these emotions, allowing love and prayer to guide our interactions and thoughts. It is a call to cultivate a heart that reflects God's love and grace in all circumstances. [23:08]

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32, ESV)

Reflection: Is there a situation or relationship where anger or lust is affecting your heart? How can you invite God's love and prayer into that area today?


Day 5: Embracing Spiritual Disciplines
Spiritual disciplines are essential for hearing God's voice and living in His kingdom. Practices like solitude, silence, and scripture meditation help believers step away from the hurried pace of life and position themselves to receive Jesus' teachings. These disciplines create space for a conversational relationship with God, leading to a life of easy, routine obedience. By embracing these practices, believers can naturally embody the teachings of Jesus in their everyday lives, experiencing transformation and growth in their spiritual journey. [40:03]

"But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." (Psalm 1:2, ESV)

Reflection: Which spiritual discipline can you incorporate into your routine this week to help you hear God's voice more clearly? How will you make time for it?

Quotes


"Now God can do anything he wants to, and often there are wonderful events that occur, but do you know the Christian life as a disciple of Jesus does not happen just in wonderful events? It's day-to-day life with Jesus that really matters. That is where character is developed, is day-to-day life with Jesus, and all of the things that Jesus teaches us to do in the scripture." [00:31:55]

"Character is developed by increments of day-to-day experience, and if you are troubled with anger, well, it's good to have people pray for you. I suppose there are dimensions of anger and lust and things of that sort that are demonic in some respect. I happen to think that Christians do not, they are not possessed of demons because demons can't stand the smell of Jesus, and the most powerful form of spiritual warfare is obedience." [00:34:48]

"So now it's the conversational day-to-day walk with Jesus in which indeed he walks with me, and he talks with me, and he keeps doing that when I get out of the garden and go to work, right? Or when I'm in, if I have a difficult family situation of some sort, it's the presence of Jesus that leads us into the blessed life, and so we walk with him, and his character becomes our character." [00:57:56]

"Discipleship in the kingdom of God, so now I have to say just a little more about discipleship because everything I'm saying is available to disciples, and we in our religion in the western world generally have set discipleship aside, and we have accepted the view that you can be a Christian forever and never become a disciple." [00:07:35]

"Now, you know, I don't want to worry people about what's going to happen to them after they die. I think God is trying to get as many people into heaven as he can. I don't think he's trying to keep people out, but you know, you have to think not only are you going to get in, but will you like it if you do?" [00:09:35]

"Now, Jesus has to take us in hand and teach us the blessing that is in all the conditions. When we're confronting poverty, how can I be blessed in that circumstance? He has to teach me and show me his presence in my life when I do not have the things that human beings pursue." [00:18:52]

"Everything you can accomplish with anger, you can accomplish much better without it. You don't have to be angry to stand for what is right, and if you do stand for what is right in anger, you will deflect the people involved from the real issue, and they'll just be mad at you. Anger elicits more anger." [00:23:56]

"Prayer should be an act of love, and love aims for what is good, and so Jesus basically comes to us and says, well, you didn't kill somebody, okay, that's a good thing, congratulations, you didn't kill him. How happy would you be if they died? See, he moves to the level of the heart, and he begins to change us there." [00:27:32]

"How do you deal with that? Not by trying to restrain yourself, but by changing how you think about yourself and others. You see people differently because now you see them under God, and when you see them under God, there are other ways you won't think about them because you see them under God." [00:34:23]

"Spiritual disciplines take us aside, put us into a different realm: solitude and silence, scripture meditation, memorization, fasting, worship, study. A discipline is simply something you can do that will enable you to do what you can't do by trying. That's true in general, that's what a discipline is like, whether it's playing the piano or lifting weights." [00:40:06]

"Learning to do what Jesus said, learning to conduct the affairs of ordinary affairs of life in the kingdom of God, learning to exercise the power, they are not separable. I just pulled them out for the purposes of discussion. They go together, and the heart of it is simply receiving Jesus as your constant teacher in a conversational relationship with God." [00:41:22]

"And as you do that, then all of the wonderful pictures of life in the spirit become reality for us. They become routine, and what we're aiming at here is easy, routine obedience to Christ, where as we go through our lives and all of the times of temptation and trials, it might lead us into all kinds of bad things." [00:42:32]

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Transcript
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