Putting the Kingdom of God First in Our Lives
Summary
### Summary
Today, we continued our series on the Kingdom, focusing on what it means to put the Kingdom of God first in our lives. We revisited Romans 12:2, which calls us to not conform to the patterns of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This transformation is a daily process, requiring us to lay down our cross and surrender to God continually. We explored the idea that our differences can either divide us or develop us, emphasizing that unity in Christ should be our goal.
I shared a personal story about my journey of healing and reconciliation with my mother, highlighting how God can use our differences to develop us rather than divide us. This led us to discuss the importance of awareness, choice, and change in our spiritual lives. We then delved into the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from Daniel 3, who chose to defy King Nebuchadnezzar's decree to worship a gold statue. Their unwavering faith and commitment to God, even in the face of death, serve as a powerful example of putting the Kingdom first.
We also touched on the dangers of idolatry, particularly in the context of politics and other earthly rulers. Anything we place above God becomes an idol and must be torn down. The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego illustrates that what we worship owns us, and we must be vigilant to ensure that only God holds that place in our lives.
Finally, we discussed the concept of the upside-down Kingdom, where the least are the greatest, and strength is found in weakness. This Kingdom is an offense to worldly wisdom but is the true path to spiritual strength and unity. We are called to be defiant against division and to bring the Kingdom of God into our daily lives through our actions and choices.
### Key Takeaways
1. Daily Renewal and Surrender: Romans 12:2 calls us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, a process that requires daily surrender to God. This transformation helps us discern God's will, which is good, pleasing, and perfect. By continually laying down our cross, we align ourselves with God's Kingdom and resist conforming to worldly patterns. [01:20]
2. Differences Can Develop Us: Our differences, whether cultural, familial, or personal, can either divide us or develop us. By choosing to see these differences through the lens of God's Kingdom, we can grow and be united as the body of Christ. This perspective allows us to move beyond grudges and misunderstandings, fostering reconciliation and unity. [04:44]
3. Faith in the Face of Adversity: The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego teaches us the importance of unwavering faith. They chose to defy King Nebuchadnezzar's decree, prioritizing their commitment to God over their own lives. Their faith was not contingent on being saved from the furnace; they were prepared to honor God regardless of the outcome. [11:12]
4. Idolatry and True Worship: Anything we place above God becomes an idol, whether it's a political figure, material possessions, or even our own opinions. True worship means that God alone holds the highest place in our lives. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's refusal to bow to the gold statue exemplifies this principle, showing that what we worship ultimately owns us. [19:37]
5. The Upside-Down Kingdom: The Kingdom of God operates on principles that often contradict worldly wisdom. In this upside-down Kingdom, the least are the greatest, and strength is found in weakness. This Kingdom challenges us to live differently, prioritizing humility, selflessness, and eternal perspectives over worldly success and recognition. [23:01]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:46] - Introduction and Romans 12:2
[01:20] - Daily Renewal and Surrender
[02:04] - Question: Where Are You From?
[02:42] - Kingdom Mindset
[03:18] - Differences Can Develop Us
[04:04] - Personal Story of Reconciliation
[06:37] - Awareness, Choice, and Change
[08:14] - Story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
[11:12] - Faith in the Face of Adversity
[14:04] - God's Rescue and Promotion
[15:59] - Flipping the Script
[17:48] - Kingdom First
[19:37] - Idolatry and True Worship
[23:01] - The Upside-Down Kingdom
[24:18] - Trusting God Over Worldly Wisdom
[27:06] - Defiant Against Division
[28:48] - Peter's Denial and Restoration
[33:47] - Enduring Testing and Temptation
[34:52] - Kingdom Mindset
[36:03] - The Kingdom Among Us
[37:09] - Call to Unity and Defiance Against Division
[40:37] - Closing Prayer and Commitment
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
2. Daniel 3:16-18 - "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to him, 'King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.'"
3. Luke 17:20-21 - "Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, 'The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, "Here it is," or "There it is," because the kingdom of God is in your midst.'"
### Observation Questions
1. What does Romans 12:2 instruct us to do in order to understand God's will? ([00:46])
2. How did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego respond to King Nebuchadnezzar's decree, and what was their reasoning? ([11:12])
3. According to Luke 17:20-21, where is the kingdom of God said to be? ([36:03])
4. What personal story did the pastor share about reconciliation, and how did it relate to the theme of differences developing us rather than dividing us? ([04:04])
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the daily renewal of our minds, as mentioned in Romans 12:2, help us resist conforming to worldly patterns? ([01:20])
2. What can we learn from the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the face of adversity, and how does their story illustrate putting the Kingdom of God first? ([11:12])
3. In what ways can our differences, whether cultural, familial, or personal, be used to develop us rather than divide us within the body of Christ? ([03:18])
4. How does the concept of the upside-down Kingdom challenge our understanding of strength and greatness in the context of worldly wisdom? ([23:01])
### Application Questions
1. Romans 12:2 calls for daily renewal and surrender. What specific steps can you take each day to renew your mind and align yourself with God's will? ([01:20])
2. Reflect on a time when you faced adversity. How did your faith influence your actions, and what can you learn from Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's example of unwavering faith? ([11:12])
3. Think of a relationship in your life where differences have caused division. How can you apply the principle of seeing these differences through the lens of God's Kingdom to foster reconciliation and unity? ([04:04])
4. Identify any idols in your life—things or people you may be placing above God. What steps can you take to ensure that God alone holds the highest place in your life? ([19:37])
5. The upside-down Kingdom teaches that the least are the greatest and strength is found in weakness. How can you practice humility and selflessness in your daily interactions? ([23:01])
6. How can you be proactive in showing Christ's love and understanding, especially in the context of political and social differences? ([06:37])
7. Reflect on the concept of being defiant against division. What practical actions can you take to promote unity within your church and community? ([27:06])
Devotional
Day 1: Daily Renewal and Surrender
Description: Romans 12:2 calls us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, a process that requires daily surrender to God. This transformation helps us discern God's will, which is good, pleasing, and perfect. By continually laying down our cross, we align ourselves with God's Kingdom and resist conforming to worldly patterns. [01:20]
Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV): "To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."
Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you need to renew your mind and surrender to God today? How can you practically lay down your cross in this area?
Day 2: Differences Can Develop Us
Description: Our differences, whether cultural, familial, or personal, can either divide us or develop us. By choosing to see these differences through the lens of God's Kingdom, we can grow and be united as the body of Christ. This perspective allows us to move beyond grudges and misunderstandings, fostering reconciliation and unity. [04:44]
Colossians 3:11 (ESV): "Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all."
Reflection: Think of a recent conflict or misunderstanding you had with someone. How can you view this situation through the lens of God's Kingdom to foster reconciliation and unity?
Day 3: Faith in the Face of Adversity
Description: The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego teaches us the importance of unwavering faith. They chose to defy King Nebuchadnezzar's decree, prioritizing their commitment to God over their own lives. Their faith was not contingent on being saved from the furnace; they were prepared to honor God regardless of the outcome. [11:12]
Daniel 3:17-18 (ESV): "If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to demonstrate unwavering faith, even if the outcome is uncertain? How can you commit to honoring God regardless of the result?
Day 4: Idolatry and True Worship
Description: Anything we place above God becomes an idol, whether it's a political figure, material possessions, or even our own opinions. True worship means that God alone holds the highest place in our lives. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's refusal to bow to the gold statue exemplifies this principle, showing that what we worship ultimately owns us. [19:37]
1 John 5:21 (ESV): "Little children, keep yourselves from idols."
Reflection: Identify something in your life that you may have placed above God. What steps can you take today to ensure that God alone holds the highest place in your life?
Day 5: The Upside-Down Kingdom
Description: The Kingdom of God operates on principles that often contradict worldly wisdom. In this upside-down Kingdom, the least are the greatest, and strength is found in weakness. This Kingdom challenges us to live differently, prioritizing humility, selflessness, and eternal perspectives over worldly success and recognition. [23:01]
Matthew 20:26-28 (ESV): "It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Reflection: How can you embody the principles of the upside-down Kingdom in your daily life? What specific actions can you take to prioritize humility and selflessness today?
Quotes
1. "So we are constantly renewing our minds. We're constantly needing to go before the Father and to ask him to reveal unto us, Lord, how can I be a new creature, a new creation, Lord God? Lord, your word tells us to lay down our cross daily, to surrender daily. It's not a one-time thing, but it's an everyday choice. And so renew our minds, Lord. So that we would not copy the customs or the patterns of this world." [01:20] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Differences can divide you or develop you. And we've talked a little bit about this, how our differences distinguish us. They may show what's different about us, but they should not divide us as citizens of heaven, as brothers and sisters of Christ. Amen." [03:18] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "What we serve, who we fear, what we worship will own us. So if we are bowing down to the things of this world, if we are bowing down to the opinions or to trusting in things that are earthly and not eternal, then we begin to walk in that. We begin, it owns us. We know that as we worship the Lord, we belong to him. But if we start worshiping other things outside of God, if we start worshiping ourselves, our own thoughts, our own motives, if we start worshiping what we think others may think of us, if we start worshiping the news or the media or the things that we think can speak into our lives, then we become slaves to those things." [19:37] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Are we representing this upside down kingdom in our lives and in our choices in the way that we respond, in the way that we talk and communicate? Are we an offense to the world? I want to go back to what or who we serve or who you fear is what you worship. Are we trusting God in all things? Are we trusting God in our finances and not our bank accounts?" [24:18] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Are we driven by fear? Are we driven by things other than the voice of Jesus? Are we driven by the things that the world is telling us to believe and to hang on? Or are we driven by what Jesus is telling us to do? Jesus wasn't concerned with the wisdom of the world." [25:40] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Because we have to become defiant against division. Just like they were here in this chapter of Daniel 3. They were defiant against the king. We have to become defiant against division. What does that look like for us, the body of Christ? It means to defy at all costs what would divide us. And those are our differences that can develop us versus divide us. That we can grow from and learn from each other." [27:06] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "We, people of God, are the kingdom of God. His kingdom is among us. We are the hands and feet of Jesus. Let us be a people who bring the kingdom. Let us be a people who bring restoration. Let us be a people who bring unity. Let us be a people, just like Radshak, Meshach, and Abednego, that says, clearly I will not bow before a gold statue." [37:09] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Let us be a people that say, but even if he doesn't, let us be a people that say, God, even if you don't, even if you don't pull me through this, even if I don't see what you want me to see, even if I can't get out of this burning furnace, God, even if you don't rescue me out of this thing that I put myself in, God, even so, even so, I will trust in you." [38:51] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "We thank you, Lord, for everything that you are and that you are doing in each and every one of our lives. Lord, empower us and strengthen us with your Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, guide us, lead us, direct us. Lord God, give us the words to speak when we don't know what to speak. Lord, bridle our tongues when we need to bridle our tongues." [42:20] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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