If you sometimes feel uneasy, like an outsider, that’s normal! The Bible explains that we are citizens of heaven, not of this earth. Pastor Jeremy DeWeerdt starts our new series, “We the Kingdom,” encouraging us to embrace our identity in Christ, live with an eternal perspective, and stand out as salt and light in this dark world.
Notes 📓✏️:
Pilgrims With Purpose
Pastor Jeremy DeWeerdt
Do you ever feel like an outsider in our culture?
Philippians 3:20 (NLT): “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.”
You are in this world but not of this world
“The Beautiful Letdown” Switchfoot
In a world full of bitter pain and bitter doubts
I was trying so hard to fit in, fit in ’til I found out
I don’t belong here (I don’t belong)
This understanding shapes our values, our behaviors, and our interactions with the world around us.
Jesus: “The Kingdom of God is like…”
Matthew 6:9-10 (NIV): “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…”
In other words, may God’s way of living become our way of living.
Matthew 6:33 (NLT): “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Fredrick Lewis Donaldson – Seven Social Sins
Wealth without work
Pleasure without conscience
Knowledge without character
Commerce without morality
Science without humanity
Religion without sacrifice
Politics without principle
1 Peter 2:11 (NLT): “Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.”
“Jesus, you are now the King of my life. I am now a citizen of a heavenly kingdom.”
“You shall have no other gods before Me.”
1. god of materialism: “Money or wealth is god.”
2. god of hedonism: “Pleasure is god.”
3. god of individualism: “I am god.”
4. god of socialism: “Government is god.”
Romans 14:17 (NLT): “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 13:44-45 (Msg): “God’s kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field for years and then accidentally found by a trespasser. The finder is ecstatic – what a find! – and proceeds to sell everything he owns to raise money and buy that field.”
“Or, God’s kingdom is like a jewel merchant on the hunt for exquisite pearls. Finding one that is flawless, he immediately sells everything and buys it.”
We serve a good King who loves us and is for us and made us a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven through forgiveness of our sins.
When we become followers of Christ, we are transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Light (Colossians 1:13).
The Kingdom of God is Within Us
As believers, God reigns in our hearts, and we carry His Kingdom wherever we go.
Kingdom Living Means Living Differently
Romans 12:2 (NLT): “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
If you are not standing out, you are probably blending in.
We are Living with an Eternal Perspective
We are pilgrims with purpose.
We Live as Ambassadors of Christ
An ambassador is someone who represents their home country in a foreign land.
Discussion Questions 📝❓:
- How can we identify and live out our identity as citizens of heaven in our everyday lives?
- What are some practical ways we can demonstrate kingdom values in a culture that often opposes them?
- What does the scripture Philippians 3:20 mean when it says, ‘But we are citizens of heaven’? How does this perspective change the way we approach daily challenges?
- Why do you think it’s important for Christians to feel like ‘outsiders’ in today’s culture, as described by Pastor?
Next Step: Reflect on how we can use our feelings of being outsiders to fuel our mission as ambassadors of Christ.