Kingdom Attitudes: The Beatitudes Matthew 5:1-16 Purpose: to rediscover eight blessings or attitudes of Kingdom people 1. The Poor in Spirit get the Kingdom Matt. 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 2. Those who Mourn are Comforted Matt. 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 3. The Gentle Inherit the Earth Matt. 5:5 “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. 4. Those Who Hunger & Thirst for Righteousness Are Satisfied Matt. 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 5. The Merciful Receive Mercy Matt. 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 6. The Pure in Heart Shall See God Matt. 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 7. Peacemakers Are God’s Sons Matt. 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 8. Persecuted for Jesus Get the Kingdom Matt. 5:10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Why all of this? Matt. 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. Matt. 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a 1hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. This is the opposite of “squeaky wheel” spirituality The real heroes in God’s Kingdom are those who are blessed in these eight attitudes
Kingdom Birth and Sight John 3:1-21 Purpose: Unless you are Born Again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God 1. Jesus’ says you must be “Born Again” to See the Kingdom of God How is the Spirit of God described here? See John 3:8 and compare to Gen. 2:7; Ezekiel 37; John 20:22; Acts 2:2 Concerning the statement itself, is being “born again” necessary for salvation? John 3:3 “unless . . . cannot see” John 3:5 “unless . . . cannot enter” John 3:16, 18 the alternative: non-belief leads to “perish” and judgment So this is THE primary threshold issue for whether one is saved or not! 2. Jesus shows us HOW TO be “Born Again” to Enter the Kingdom of God How many times is Jesus referring to being “born”? v. 3 Born again v. 5 Born water and the Spirit v. 6 Born of flesh; Born of Spirit v. 7 Born again v. 8 Born of the Spirit How many times does Jesus refer to “believe”? vv. 12, 15, 16, 18 and see v. 36 What, exactly, does Jesus say must be the object of one’s “belief”? Therefore “born again” = “born of the Spirit” = “believe in Him” = “believe in the only begotten Son of God.” It is not enough to know about God or about Jesus. You must know Jesus! John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. Have you been born again? Have your received Jesus? Have you believed in His name? Personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the only way to get into heaven!! If not, you will not see the kingdom of God, but if so, you have eternal life.
Kingdom Proclamation: Preach the Word! 2 Tim. 4:1-4 Purpose: to unwaveringly uphold the biblical message of the kingdom 1. We Must Fear the Appearing of God! (2 Tim. 4:1) The “charge” comes in verse 2, but the foundation on which the charge is made is here See also 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 Jesus will judge, Jesus will return, and Jesus is the King of the Kingdom 2. We Must Feed the People of God! (2 Tim. 4:2) 5 Commands in the Charge to the Pastor What? 1. Preach the Word When? 2. Be Ready How? 3. Reprove 4. Rebuke 5. Exhort What do we “feed” on? See also 1 Peter 2:1-5. What will you do in your life to grow from this kind of teaching? 3. We Must Fight for the Truth of God! Verse 3-4 are the explanation, the reason why the charge of v. 2 is so important Who, exactly, will turn to myths? Can you think of when people favor other things as more important than God’s Word? What is at stake concerning right teaching from God’s Word? See 1 Timothy 4:16
Kingdom Obedience Matthew 7:13-28 Purpose: to hear and obey the teachings of Jesus Christ 1. Jesus Teaches the Way to Life (Matthew 7:13-14) Only two roads to take, which one are you on? 2. Jesus Warns About False Prophets (Matthew 7:15-20) Again, only two possibilities: good or bad, life or thrown into the fire 3. Jesus Reveals the Final State of the False Ones (Matthew 7:21-23) Only two options See John 6:29 Do we truly do God’s will? “¦ or not? 4. Jesus’ Parable of the House’s Foundation (Matthew 7:24-27) Again, only two options: The False hear and do not obey, theirs is the life built upon shifting sand The True hear Jesus and obey, theirs is the life built upon the rock Which one are you? Will you survive the storms of life? Will you be in heaven?
Kingdom Faithfulness Matthew 25:14-30 Purpose: to be faithful until the end with what the Lord has given you 1. Stewardship of the Lord’s Kingdom Given to Us (Matthew 25:14-18) 2. Faithful Investment of the Lord’s “Property” (Matthew 25:19-23) 3. The Lord Expects Return on His “Investment” (Matthew 25:24-28) 4. The Final Accounting (Matthew 25:29) How have you served Jesus the King and how may that affect your eternity? Only two outcomes: faithful or wicked, saved or lost, heaven or hell And it is reflected in the way you invest all that the Lord has given you now This parable is not just about money, it’s about Kingdom stewardship of your whole life Will God proclaim over your life, “Well done! Good and faithful servant”?
The Wedding of Christ and His Church for Eternity (Matthew 22:1-14; see Isaiah 25:6-9) 1. The king who gave the wedding feast: ____(God)_______ This king is gracious (v. 2) He is patient with the lazy (v. 4, 2nd invite) He is angry with those who refuse (v. 7) He is generous (v. 9) He is shrewd (vv.11-13) 2. The king’s son: _______(Jesus)___________ 3. The invited guests: ________(Jews)________ They were unwilling (v. 3). They are preoccupied with other things (v. 5). They are hostile and disrespectful toward the king (v. 6). 4. The “slaves” or king’s messengers: ____(Prophets)________ They call out to the invited (v. 3). They invite & re-invite people to the king’s table (vv.4, 8). They are seized, mistreated, and killed (v. 6). They are obedient to go wherever the king sends (vv.9-10). 5. The guests from the “highways”: __(Gentiles/All Nations)____ They recognize the privilege and fill the hall(v.10). 6. The guest “not dressed in wedding clothes”: _(False Believer)_ He wants the food of the feast (v. 11, he’s there). He does not honor the wedding by dressing right (v. 11). The point: Be dressed (repent) for the occasion (kingdom)! (see Matthew 4:17; 7:22-23 & context). How have you responded to the invitation to Jesus?
The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:14-31) Purpose: What will it take to bring you to repentance? 1. Why this parable? The Context (Luke 16:14-15) Money-Lovers Scoff at Jesus But God Knows Their Hearts, They’re Unrepentant 2. The Absolute Standard of the Scriptures (Luke 16:16-18) 3. The Parable Begins: Worldly Perspectives (Luke 16:19-21) God’s Law taught the rich to have mercy on the poor 4. The Parable Takes a Turn: Kingdom Realities (Luke 16:22-23) This is yet another picture of Heaven and Hell But in the afterlife, we unexpectedly find the rich in hell and the poor in heaven 5. The Parable’s Warning: No Mercy in Hell! (Luke 16:24-26) How permanent is heaven and hell? Is there ever a chance to move from one to another? 6. The Parable’s Heart: Finally, Compassion for Others (Luke 16:27-28) 7. The Parable’s Point: What will it take to bring you to repentance? (Luke 16:29-31) Ignore the Scriptures at your own peril Harken unto the Scriptures to save your very lives It’s all about Jesus Deuteronomy 32:45-47 Matthew 4:4 John 5:39-47 John 6:63 John 12:48 1 Thessalonians 2:13 1 Corinthians 15:1-5
MATTHEW 13 ““ THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER & FOUR SOILS Picture #1 ““ The Footpath vv. 1-4; 18-19 Picture #2 ““ The Rocks vv. 5-6; 20-21 Picture #3 ““ The Thorns vv. 7; 22 Picture #4 ““ The Good Soil vv. 8-9; 23