Revolutionary Hope and the Kingdom of God Today

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Narrative Is Greater Than Our Expectations

Just as a child may hope for a small gift while her parents have planned something far greater, we often cling to our own limited expectations of what God should do in our lives. Yet, God is always writing a bigger, more beautiful story than we can imagine, even when we are disappointed or confused by the way things unfold. Trusting in His narrative means letting go of our own scripts and opening ourselves to the surprising, abundant goodness He has prepared for us. [09:54]

Proverbs 19:21 (ESV)
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are clinging to your own expectations instead of trusting God’s greater plan? How might you surrender that to Him today?

Day 2: The Kingdom of God Is a Present Reality

The kingdom of God is not just a distant hope for the future, but a present and active reality that Jesus inaugurated through His life, death, and resurrection. We are called to recognize and participate in this kingdom now, living out its values of justice, mercy, and love in a world that desperately needs them. The cross changed everything, and because of it, we are invited to join in God’s ongoing work of redemption and restoration right where we are. [21:45]

Matthew 4:17 (ESV)
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Reflection: In what specific way can you live out the reality of God’s kingdom today—in your home, workplace, or community?

Day 3: True Power Is Used to Serve and Protect Others

Earthly power is fleeting and often used to control or oppress, but Jesus redefined power by using His authority to serve, protect, and set others free. Even in His final moments, Jesus chose to shield His disciples rather than assert dominance, showing us that true strength is found in self-giving love. We are called to reject the world’s narrative of power and instead use whatever influence we have to lift up the vulnerable and bring hope to those around us. [16:32]

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Reflection: Who is someone in your life you can use your influence or resources to serve or protect this week?

Day 4: Jesus Redefines Hope Through the Cross

The hope Jesus offers is revolutionary—a hope not rooted in the status quo, earthly power, or our own visions, but in the paradoxical victory of the cross. By laying down His life, Jesus disarmed evil and opened the way for heaven and earth to meet in Him, inviting us into a new kind of hope that transforms how we see suffering, power, and redemption. This hope calls us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly, participating in God’s ongoing work of healing and justice in the world. [27:38]

Colossians 2:15 (ESV)
He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Reflection: Where do you see brokenness or injustice around you, and how can you bring Christ’s revolutionary hope into that situation today?

Day 5: We Are Invited to Participate in God’s Restorative Kingdom

As citizens of God’s kingdom, we are called to live differently—marked by a hope that fuels courage, compassion, and action. The invitation is not just to believe in the kingdom, but to actively grow it: loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. In a world longing for healing and justice, we are empowered by Christ to be agents of restoration, letting our hope move us to make a tangible difference for His glory. [30:39]

Mark 12:30-31 (ESV)
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.

Reflection: What is one concrete step you can take this week to love God more fully and to love your neighbor in a way that reflects the hope of God’s kingdom?

Sermon Summary

Today, we explored the profound difference between the narratives we write for our own lives and the greater, more beautiful story God is authoring for us. Using the story of my daughter’s surprise trip to Disney World as a starting point, we considered how often we, like children, fixate on our own limited hopes, unaware that God is preparing something far greater. This theme is echoed in John 18, where each character—Judas, the soldiers and Pharisees, Peter, and Jesus—embodies a different narrative about what is happening and what hope looks like.

Judas represents the temptation to settle for the status quo, to compromise for comfort or personal gain, and to miss the revolutionary work Christ is doing. The soldiers and Pharisees show us the allure and ultimate emptiness of earthly power, which is always fleeting and never truly ours. Peter, with his zeal and misunderstanding, reminds us how easy it is to misinterpret God’s kingdom as something to be defended by force or to be realized only in the future, rather than as a present reality breaking into our world now.

Jesus, however, reveals a radically different kingdom—one that is upside down by the world’s standards. His victory comes not through violence or domination, but through sacrificial love and the cross. The kingdom of God is not just a future hope, but a present reality that calls us to live differently: to use power to protect the vulnerable, wealth to serve the poor, and influence to bring justice and mercy. The cross is not just the means of our salvation, but the very place where heaven and earth meet, where God’s revolutionary hope is unleashed into the world.

We are invited to participate in this kingdom now, to let our hope be not in comfort, power, or our own expectations, but in the redemptive, restorative work of Christ. This hope is not passive; it is active, courageous, and world-changing. As St. Augustine said, hope has two beautiful daughters: anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain as they are. The question before us is: where is our hope, and what will we do with it?

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Narrative Surpasses Our Expectations We often cling to our own limited hopes, much like a child fixated on a small gift, while God is orchestrating a story far greater than we can imagine. Our disappointment can blind us to the joy and wonder of what God is actually doing. Trusting God means releasing our own scripts and being open to the surprising, redemptive narrative He is writing for us. [09:54]
2. The Danger of Settling for the Status Quo Judas serves as a warning against compromising our souls for comfort, power, or the familiar. When we settle for the status quo, we risk missing the revolutionary work Christ is doing in and through us. The call of Christ is not to maintain what is, but to participate in the new, transformative kingdom He is bringing. [14:06]
3. Earthly Power Is Fleeting; Kingdom Power Liberates The soldiers and Pharisees wielded power to suppress and control, but their authority was temporary and ultimately powerless before Christ. True kingdom power is used to liberate, protect, and serve others, reflecting the heart of Jesus who used His authority to set people free. We are called to steward whatever influence we have for the sake of others, not ourselves. [16:32]
4. The Kingdom of God Is Both Present and Future Peter’s misunderstanding of the kingdom reminds us not to relegate God’s reign to a distant future. Jesus declared that the kingdom has come; it is already breaking into our world, even in its messiness. We are invited to live as citizens of this kingdom now, embodying its values of justice, mercy, and sacrificial love in the present. [21:45]
5. Revolutionary Hope Demands Action The hope Christ offers is not passive optimism, but a revolutionary force that changes lives and societies. This hope has inspired movements for justice, mercy, and healing throughout history. We are called to let this hope move us to action—confronting injustice, loving sacrificially, and participating in God’s ongoing work of redemption in the world.

** [28:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[05:18] - Introduction and Family Story
[07:17] - The Disney Surprise and Our Expectations
[09:18] - God’s Narrative vs. Our Narrative
[10:29] - Reading John 18:1-11
[11:49] - Judas: Settling for the Status Quo
[14:39] - Soldiers and Pharisees: The Illusion of Power
[17:05] - Peter: Misunderstanding the Kingdom
[18:53] - The Kingdom of God: Present Reality
[20:01] - The Cross Changes Everything
[21:45] - Living as Citizens of the Kingdom
[22:54] - Jesus: The True King and the Cross
[25:05] - Tabernacle: Where Heaven and Earth Meet
[26:59] - The Gospel as Revolutionary Hope
[28:48] - Hope in Action: Historical Examples
[30:06] - Our Invitation: Participating in the Kingdom
[31:16] - Where Is Your Hope?
[31:53] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 18:1-11 (ESV) — When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

Observation Questions

What different hopes or expectations did Judas, the soldiers and Pharisees, Peter, and Jesus each have in this story? [11:49]
How did Jesus respond when Peter used violence to try to defend him? What does Jesus’ response show about his understanding of his mission? [11:10]
According to the sermon, what was the significance of Jesus telling Peter to put away his sword? [20:01]
What does the passage say happened to the soldiers and Pharisees when Jesus identified himself? Why is this detail important? [10:29]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon describes Judas as someone who settled for the status quo and missed the revolutionary work of Christ. What does it mean to “settle for the status quo” in our spiritual lives? [14:06]
The soldiers and Pharisees relied on earthly power, but Jesus’ power looked very different. How does the passage challenge our ideas about what real power is? [16:32]
Peter misunderstood the nature of God’s kingdom and tried to defend it by force. Why do people sometimes think God’s kingdom needs to be protected by human strength or violence? [17:05]
The sermon says the kingdom of God is both a present reality and a future hope. What does it look like to live as citizens of God’s kingdom right now, not just waiting for heaven? [21:45]

Application Questions

The sermon began with a story about a child disappointed by her own expectations, not realizing something better was coming. Can you think of a time when your own hopes or plans blinded you to something greater God was doing? How did you respond? [09:18]
Judas compromised for comfort and missed out on what Jesus was doing. Are there areas in your life where you are tempted to settle for comfort or the familiar, instead of trusting God’s bigger story? What would it look like to let go of your own script? [14:06]
The soldiers and Pharisees used their power to control, but Jesus used his power to protect and serve. What influence or resources do you have right now? How could you use them to serve others, especially the vulnerable? [16:32]
Peter wanted to fight for Jesus, but Jesus called him to a different way. Are there situations where you are tempted to “fight” for God in ways that don’t reflect Jesus’ sacrificial love? What would it look like to respond differently? [17:05]
The sermon says the kingdom of God is already breaking into our world, even in its messiness. What is one practical way you can live out the values of God’s kingdom—justice, mercy, sacrificial love—this week? [21:45]
St. Augustine said hope has two daughters: anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain as they are. What is one thing in your life or community that makes you righteously angry? What courageous step could you take to help bring change? [31:16]
The sermon ended by asking, “Where is your hope, and what will you do with it?” How would you honestly answer those questions today? What is one step you can take this week to put your hope into action? [31:16]

Sermon Clips

It is okay to be discouraged looking out at the fallen world, but I encourage us today to take heart that the kingdom of God is at hand means that something happened 2,000 years ago on a cross and it has continued to grow ever since. For 2,000 years, our ancient faith has led the chart of the kingdom of God. It has led the chart of the powerful force bringing about God's redemption and his restoration to the current present world. The kingdom of God is already and not yet. It's messy. It's not perfect, but I can assure you it's real. [00:21:17] (38 seconds) #UpsideDownKingdom

``It's upside down kingdom of heaven that commands that we lead in a counter-cultural way. We use power to protect the vulnerable, wealth to feed the poor, influence to make decisions. We pray for those who persecute us and we do not return evil for evil. We do all this because that's the kingdom that Christ called us to grow. His kingdom is totally different from any others. And if we profess Christ before any other earthly allegiance, we are citizens of this beautiful kingdom. [00:21:56] (32 seconds) #VictoryThroughTheCross

When we talk about the gospel, it's easy to think of it just as a churchy word that we hear a lot, but the truth is the gospel is a revolutionary hope. Christ had provided this redefinition of power itself. Gospel, good news, is a witness to the power of God's love, the power of God's love that is a victorious, totally revolutionary, consuming love, a conquering love. To be a gospel person then means a commitment to this audacious hope that the kingdom of God is at hand and is actively working towards its continuation. [00:27:09] (43 seconds) #KingdomJusticeAndMercy

Peter was told to put away his sword so that God's children could act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God. He put away the sword so that we could let justice roll on like a river and righteousness like a never-falling stream. Jesus told Peter to put away his sword because Jesus had a different vision of a kingdom. He had to die to gain the victory. He had a different narrative that he was writing. [00:27:52] (25 seconds) #RevolutionaryHopeInAction

The early church saw the unjust treatment of widows and orphans and the marginalized and the oppressed, and they proclaimed that under Christ, all are one. The kingdom of God is the reason why everywhere you see the gospel spreading across the world, you see hospitals and orphanages following immediately after. [00:28:29] (21 seconds) #HopeBeyondStatusQuo

This revolutionary hope is the reason why Martin Luther had the courage to nail something up and say, we need to make the world a little better now. It ignited an entirely new trajectory for the kingdom of heaven. The revolutionary hope is why a young aristocrat from England named William Wilberforce dedicated his life to the British slave trade. This revolutionary hope in the existence of this kingdom is why a young Albanian Indian woman felt compelled to start a ministry serving those with leprosy and HIV and AIDS and is known to the world simply as Mother Teresa. This revolutionary hope gave courage to a woman named Rosa Parks to say no on a Montgomery, Alabama bus one day to start a human rights movement. [00:28:50] (45 seconds) #HealingJusticeRestitution

Judas had hoped in the status quo. The rulers had hoped in their power. Peter hoped in what he believed the kingdom would be. And Jesus offered this new hope of redemption and restitution. We are invited to participate further in this. On this Reformation Sunday, our invitation is to believe that the kingdom is at hand, that what Jesus said he brought in. We believe he did it. And we walk and act in confidence of that. [00:29:43] (36 seconds) #ConfidenceInChrist

That Jesus offers healing to the broken. That he offers justice. That he does offer healing and restitution to all. That we can grow and participate in this together collectively as the body of Christ. That is our invitation to go and make disciples. To love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. That's how we participate in the kingdom now. [00:30:19] (24 seconds) #DifferentBecauseOfHope

Confidence with joy. Acknowledging the brokenness, yes. But also the confidence that Christ overcomes sin. That we have a solution to the brokenness here. And that we're different. God's people are different because we have this revolutionary hope. And because of that, we act different. We engage different. We love differently. [00:30:43] (27 seconds)

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