The Upside Down Kingdom: Living Beyond Ourselves

Devotional

Day 1: Losing Your Life to Find It

True life is found when we give ourselves away for Christ and others, not when we cling to self-preservation. The world constantly tells us to look out for number one, to protect ourselves, and to keep everything for ourselves. But Jesus flips this thinking upside down, teaching that when we try to save our lives, we actually lose them. It’s only when we let go—when we point the arrows of our lives outward in service, generosity, and love—that we discover the fullness and meaning God intends. This is not an easy or natural way to live, but it is the way of the Kingdom, and it leads to a life that truly matters. [45:12]

Matthew 16:25 (ESV)
“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Reflection: In what area of your life are you most tempted to hold back or protect yourself, and what would it look like to “lose your life” for Jesus in that area today?

Day 2: Overcoming Fear to Trust God’s Plan

Fear often keeps us from living outwardly and trusting God with our future, but faith means moving forward even when we don’t know how things will turn out. We all face moments when the future feels uncertain or even frightening—whether it’s after a loss, a big decision, or simply the unknowns of life. God doesn’t promise to show us every step, but He does promise to be with us. The challenge is to not let fear keep us from saying “yes” to God’s call, even when we don’t understand how it will all work out. Trusting God means believing He has a plan, even when we can’t see it. [49:40]

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Reflection: What is one step of faith you’ve been afraid to take because you don’t know the outcome? How can you trust God with that step today?

Day 3: Letting Go of Shame and Embracing God’s Grace

Shame over past mistakes can paralyze us, but God uses imperfect people who are willing to say “yes” more than “no.” Everyone has a past, and everyone has made mistakes, but God’s grace is bigger than our failures. The enemy wants us to believe we are disqualified, but God takes us as we are and works through us anyway. The key is not perfection, but a willingness to keep moving forward, learning, and letting God use our story for His glory. Don’t let shame keep you from stepping into what God has for you. [53:40]

Romans 8:1 (ESV)
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Reflection: Is there a past mistake or failure that still makes you feel unworthy to serve God or others? What would it look like to bring that to God and accept His grace today?

Day 4: Refusing Comparison and Celebrating Your Unique Calling

Comparing ourselves to others—whether feeling less than or better than—robs us of joy and keeps us from fulfilling our unique role in God’s Kingdom. God didn’t make us all the same, and He doesn’t expect us to serve or give in the same way as someone else. When we compare, we either fall into despair or pride, both of which distract us from the mission God has for us. Instead, we are called to celebrate the diversity of the body of Christ and to offer our own “yes” to God, trusting that He can use us just as we are. [58:14]

1 Corinthians 12:14,18-20 (ESV)
“For the body does not consist of one member but of many... But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.”

Reflection: What is one unique gift, experience, or perspective you have that you can offer to serve others this week, instead of comparing yourself to someone else?

Day 5: Living for a Legacy That Outlives You

A meaningful life is built by investing in things that will last beyond ourselves—serving, giving, and loving in ways that impact others for generations. The true measure of our lives is not in what we accumulate or achieve for ourselves, but in what we give away and how we help others. Legacy is not about fame or recognition, but about faithfulness—having more arrows pointing out than in. Ask yourself what you are doing today that will outlive you, and let God expand your vision beyond your own comfort and security. [01:06:20]

Psalm 112:5-6 (ESV)
“It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice. For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever.”

Reflection: What is one practical way you can invest in something or someone today that will have an impact beyond your own lifetime?

Sermon Summary

The world constantly tells us to look out for ourselves, to make sure our own needs are met first, and to keep all the arrows of our lives pointed inward. But Jesus calls us to something radically different—a kingdom that is upside down from the world’s values. In Matthew 16, Jesus says that whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for His sake will find it. This is not just a clever saying; it’s a call to a completely different way of living, one where we pour ourselves out for others, trusting that God will take care of us.

Life has a way of testing this upside-down way. I’ve experienced deep loss and pain, especially with the passing of my son, and I know what it’s like to wonder how to keep going. But even in the hardest moments, God invites us to trust Him, to keep saying “yes” to His call, and to keep our lives open to others. The temptation is always to turn inward, to let fear, shame, comparison, or a lack of trust keep us from living outwardly. But God’s plan is bigger than our failures or our pain. He takes us as we are, with all our imperfections, and uses us to make a difference in the world.

There are four main roadblocks that keep us from living with our arrows pointed out: fear, shame, comparison, and trust. Fear tells us to protect ourselves because the future is uncertain. Shame reminds us of our failures and tries to convince us we’re not worthy to be used by God. Comparison either makes us feel less than others or prideful, both of which keep us from serving. And a lack of trust in God’s provision keeps us from giving our time, resources, and hearts to others.

But when we overcome these roadblocks, we find that God can use even the smallest “yes” to do incredible things. Whether it’s providing clean water for a village in India or simply being present for someone in need, our lives can have an impact that outlives us. The real tragedy is not moral failure, but losing our sense of meaning and purpose—forgetting our “why.” God’s invitation is to live faithfully, to say “yes” more than we say “no,” and to trust that He will use us, just as we are, to build His upside-down kingdom.

Key Takeaways

1. The Paradox of Losing to Find Jesus’ teaching that we must lose our lives to find them is a direct challenge to the world’s self-preserving instincts. True fulfillment comes not from hoarding our time, energy, or resources, but from giving them away for the sake of others and for Christ. This upside-down principle is the doorway to discovering the life God intends for us—one marked by purpose, joy, and deep connection. [45:12]
2. God Uses Imperfect People Our past mistakes, failures, and even our loud or awkward personalities do not disqualify us from being used by God. In fact, God delights in taking us as we are, with all our flaws, and weaving our stories into His greater plan. The key is not perfection, but a willingness to say “yes” to God more often than we say “no.” [56:44]
3. Overcoming the Four Roadblocks Fear, shame, comparison, and lack of trust are the main barriers that keep us from living outwardly. Each one tempts us to turn inward and protect ourselves, but God calls us to face these obstacles with honesty and courage. When we surrender these roadblocks to Him, we open ourselves to a life of greater impact and freedom. [49:40]
4. Legacy Is Built on Outward Living A meaningful life is not measured by what we accumulate or achieve for ourselves, but by what we invest in others and in God’s kingdom. The question to ask is: What am I doing that will outlive me? If our vision is only for ourselves, our legacy will be small, but if we live for others, our impact can ripple through generations. [66:20]
5. Faithfulness Over Fame or Success At the end of our lives, what matters most is not how impressive we were, but whether we were faithful with what God put in our hands. God is not looking for the most talented or the most popular, but for those who will keep saying “yes” and keep their arrows pointed out. Faithfulness in the small things is what builds the upside-down kingdom of God.

** [72:24]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[36:52] - Missouri Connections and Humor
[37:49] - Reflections on Lafayette and Ministry
[39:02] - The Upside Down Kingdom: Global Perspective
[40:41] - Preaching in Different Cultures
[42:17] - Selfishness vs. Selflessness
[43:09] - Personal Loss and Grief
[44:38] - The Pull of the World vs. God’s Way
[45:12] - The Paradox of Losing to Find
[48:08] - The Danger of Inward Living
[48:57] - Four Roadblocks to Outward Living
[49:40] - Roadblock 1: Fear
[52:27] - Roadblock 2: Shame
[58:14] - Roadblock 3: Comparison
[64:30] - Roadblock 4: Trust
[66:20] - What Will Outlive You?
[68:30] - Losing Meaning vs. Moral Failure
[70:45] - God Uses Ordinary People
[72:24] - The Call to Faithfulness and Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 16:24-25 (ESV) — > Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Observation Questions

According to Jesus in Matthew 16:24-25, what does it mean to “save” your life, and what does it mean to “lose” it?
The sermon described four main roadblocks to living with our “arrows pointed out.” What are these four roadblocks? ([48:57])
The speaker shared a personal story about loss and grief. How did this experience challenge his ability to keep living outwardly? ([43:09])
What examples did the sermon give of ways God can use even small acts of faithfulness to make a difference? ([01:02:00])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus’ teaching about losing your life to find it is so “upside down” compared to what the world teaches? ([45:12])
How do fear, shame, comparison, and lack of trust specifically keep people from living outwardly for others and for God? ([48:57])
The speaker said that God uses imperfect people and that our past mistakes don’t disqualify us. Why is this important for us to remember when we feel unworthy or inadequate? ([56:44])
The sermon mentioned that the real tragedy is not moral failure, but losing our sense of meaning and purpose. What does it look like to “lose your why,” and how can we guard against it? ([01:08:30])

Application Questions

The world tells us to look out for ourselves first. In what areas of your life do you notice your “arrows” are pointed inward instead of outward? What is one small step you could take this week to change that? ([45:33])
Of the four roadblocks (fear, shame, comparison, lack of trust), which one do you struggle with the most? How does it show up in your life, and what would it look like to surrender it to God? ([48:57])
The speaker shared about saying “yes” to God more than saying “no.” Is there something God has been nudging you to do, but you’ve been hesitant? What’s holding you back, and what would it look like to take a step of faith? ([56:04])
Think about a time when you felt unqualified or imperfect, but God still used you to help someone else. How did that experience shape your view of what God can do through you? ([56:44])
The sermon asked, “What are you going to do that outlives you?” What is one way you can invest in others or in God’s kingdom that will have a lasting impact? ([01:06:20])
The speaker said that faithfulness is more important than fame or success. What does faithfulness look like in your current season of life? Are there “small things” God is asking you to be faithful in right now? ([01:12:24])
When you face loss, pain, or disappointment, what helps you keep your life open to others instead of turning inward? How can the group support you in this? ([43:09])

Sermon Clips

God, I can live the way you want me to live or I can live the way the world pulls me, which is what this series is about. And the pull of the world is so diabolically and different than the way God pulls us. [00:44:28] (23 seconds) #DivinePullVsWorldPull

When you are trying to keep everything to yourself, you're going to lose it. When all the arrows of your life point in and nothing is pointing out, tough, tough, tough, tough life. But whoever loses his life for me is going to find it. [00:45:23] (33 seconds) #LoseToFindLife

I preach this in every country, in every place I go, that God has a plan for our lives. I will never stop saying it. And the reason I will never stop saying it is because there's people every day of their lives that don't believe God has a plan. And as long as there's people that believe that, I'm going to keep saying it. [00:49:17] (20 seconds) #GodHasAPlan

Everybody makes mistakes, and you're going to continue to make them. Now, the goal is to make less and to keep not making the same one. That's really my goal. Just don't keep making the same mistake, but we, but nobody's perfect. And so every time that we mess up, every time we make a mistake, every time we fail, the shame comes. And then when the shame comes, we feel so completely inadequate with, with how God wants to use us. [00:53:10] (30 seconds) #LearnGrowForgive

Giving is not an issue of money. Tithing is not an issue of money. It's an issue of trust. I take my money, and I give it to God because I trust God. Are people going to use you? Absolutely. Are people going to say things about you? Is God going to take care of you? I'm a witness of that. [01:05:01] (46 seconds) #TrustNotMoney

What are you going to do that outlives you? don't know how to say it any clearer. If you're not involved in something that's going to outlive you, I don't mean this to be harsh. But I will guarantee you, you have more arrows. [01:06:45] (26 seconds) #BuildALegacy

Most people never have a moral failure. But they have a meaning. They've lost their why. It's easy to blame others. [01:08:24] (19 seconds) #QualifiedToServe

I'm not saying you've got to come do what I'm doing, although there would be a seat on the airplane for you. Just bring some beef jerky for you and me both. I've asked God, God, just keep letting me do what I'm doing. And it's not because I'm great. Please, please get that message. It's just that I, as a 13-year-old boy, I just decided to say, yes, now I'm standing here with you. You're just as qualified as me. You're just as qualified as Joe. [01:09:59] (64 seconds) #KingdomCultureClash

God, this verse is just so against the world's culture. It's, as John described, it's like the world's culture is colliding with the kingdom culture. If there's ever a verse that says it, this one, God, when we try to save our lives, we lose it. But when we'll lose it for you, God, you'll take, you'll take us just like we are, and you'll, you'll use us. And I don't even know how that all computes in our brains, because, God, it just, it's so contrary to the world's culture. [01:11:14] (50 seconds) #FaithfulAboveAll

In the end, God, all we really want to hear is, faithful. God, that's all I want. Not you've been smart, not you've been good, not you've been great, but, God, I just want to be faithful. I'm faithful with what you've put in my hands. But just say yes more than they say no. God, have less arrows pointing in than they have pointed out. Lafayette needs you. [01:12:06] (38 seconds)

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