Intro to The Kingdom
Jesus’ opens His Sermon on the Mount by identifying those who are truly “blessed” and “happy.” Here, Jesus is describing what God’s Kingdom people are like—attributes that He modeled perfectly. The Beatitudes describe God’s work in the lives of believers as He showers them with His grace and rescues them from despair.
Speaker: Dr. Jim Littles
Witness of the Kingdom
Love is indispensable for a Christian because God is love. Love must be present if we are to more fully accept God’s invitation to a closer walk with Him. Pastor Hargrove calls us to love God because He first loved us.
Speaker: John Hargrove
The Kingdom’s Charter
Jesus lived as the faithful covenant partner that fulfilled the Law’s design for Israel. Because of His righteousness, access to the Kingdom is now open for all who enter through Him. The Kingdom of God is thus established on grace and faith, rather than on a system of merits.
Speaker: Steve Schobert
The Heart of the Kingdom: Reconciliation
Kingdom righteous goes deeper than rule-keeping. Jesus showed the way to true righteousness—one that springs from a heart that is reconciled to God and seeks reconciliation with others. Jesus refused the way of anger and violence and opened the door for us to follow His example as peacemakers.
Speaker: Dr. Jim Littles
The Heart of the Kingdom: Truth & Love
Kingdom righteous goes deeper than rule-keeping. Jesus showed the way to true righteousness—one that springs from a heart that is reconciled to God and seeks reconciliation with others. Jesus refused the way of anger and violence and opened the door for us to follow His example as peacemakers.
Speaker: D. G. Hargrove
The Heart of the Kingdom: A Pure Heart
Kingdom righteousness goes deeper and farther than rule-keeping, extending to all areas of life. As citizens of the Kingdom, disciples bring all their time, activities, relationships, thoughts, and emotions under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Spiritual practices are a way to live out what grace has already created them to be. Purity of heart and singleness of eye represent both the goal and the means whereby the Kingdom comes to all areas of life.
Speaker: Gordon Hikel
Kingdom Prayer
Jesus modeled and taught a different way to pray. Rather than focusing primarily on felt needs or wishes for what might seem like a better life, Kingdom prayers seek for God’s reign to come to our lives and to the world.
Speaker: John Hargrove
Kingdom Values: Trust
Jesus’ teaching on Kingdom heart issues and prayer leads naturally to a presentation of Kingdom values. A grace-infused relationship with Jesus makes the Kingdom value of trust possible. The call to trust the King confronts 21st-century hearers just as it did for the first hearers. Trust radically differentiates disciples from the crowd as they surrender to the Kingdom mission.
Speaker: D. G. Hargrove
Kingdom Values: Humility
The Kingdom value of trust leads us to seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness above all else. This single mindedness must be accompanied by humility, enabling disciples to stay in the flow of grace and to fulfill their “salt and light” mission in the world.
Speaker: Irvin Baxter
Kingdom Values: Faithfulness
Along with trust and humility, Kingdom righteousness is characterized by faithfulness. Disciples faithfully pursue the Kingdom, knowing that their Father loves to give good gifts. They then reflect His love and grace into the world, doing good things for others.
Speaker: Gordon Hikel
The Kingdom Way
Jesus concludes His sermon with a call to choose the path that leads to life. Walking this path involves hearing and doing the things Jesus is teaching. This is true righteousness, and it distinguishes disciples from all others. Lives built on Jesus’ teaching are part of His Kingdom, which will last forever!
Speaker: Steve Schobert