We are in a contentious election season in a year of historic crisis and chaos. Rival voices claim competing truths. The kingdoms of the world dangle the trinket values of power and popularity. How are we being influenced by the voices around us? Are we shaped more by a party platform than the ways of God?
The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ “Kingdom of God manifesto.” He proclaims the values and virtues of God’s Kingdom.
In our world, these ways of God appear backwards. Disciples who follow the crucified King will look foreign, even strange. Christians live in this tension, citizens of God’s Kingdom who live among the kingdoms of the world. In this season we ask Jesus, “Teach us your backwards ways.”
You can find an audio form of The Daily Pattern wherever you get podcasts (Apple, Spotify). Each day is 8-10 minutes and follows the pattern with musical interludes.
BACKWARDS KINGDOM WEEK ONE: Intro
BACKWARDS KINGDOM WEEK TWO: Distinct
Jesus call us “salt” and “light.” What does that mean? What does it say about our purpose?
BACKWARDS KINGDOM WEEK THREE: Peace
We hear Jesus say “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Most people agree that peace is a good thing, so what is surprising about this statement? And how can we be peacemakers in the pattern of Jesus?
BACKWARDS KINGDOM WEEK FOUR: Truth
We remember the 503rd Anniversary of the Reformation. At the heart of what the German monk Martin Luther re-discovered in his 95 Theses was the essence of true Christianity: repentance. In our worship series “Backwards Kingdom” we look at the words of Jesus from His Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Who is pure in heart? How does someone get a pure heart? “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near!”
BACKWARDS KINGDOM WEEK FIVE: Hidden
We explore the hiddenness of God’s Kingdom. Why can’t we see it? Why does God often work in hidden ways? What does this mean in a world that wants visible results? On November 1st, the Church around the world observes All Saints Day. We use the term “saint” not for super-holy Christians, but to refer to all those who are in Jesus Christ. We are sinners made saints by the blood of Jesus. We remember the saints gone before us who glorified God in “hidden” ways, often ordinary and mundane. Still, through their witness the Kingdom of God has advanced.
BACKWARDS KINGDOM WEEK SIX: Devoted
What does treasure, the eye, and a master have in common? (Matt. 6:19-24) Jesus draws upon rich images to ask his disciples a simple question: What are you devoted to? Christ doesn’t ask for an hour on Sunday and a few prayers throughout the week. He demands your heart, your whole life. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in The Cost of Discipleship, “If the heart is devoted to the mirage of the world, to the creature instead of the Creator, the disciple is lost.”
BACKWARDS KINGDOM WEEK SEVEN: Carefree
We hear Jesus say “do not be anxious”. What does this mean? And what does anxiety have to do with God’s righteousness?
BACKWARDS KINGDOM WEEK EIGHT: Opportunity
“Could it get any worse?” We’ve all said this when trouble is piled upon trouble. Jesus stacks up a list of turmoil in Luke 21:10-19: wars, earthquakes, famines, viral disease, persecution . . . And then he says, “This will be your opportunity to bear witness.” (13) What?
This is the last Sunday of the Church Year. (Advent begins a new Christian calendar.) The focus is final things, the Last Day, and the eternal reign of Christ. Turmoil will increase, Jesus says. But rather than despair, he says, “Stay awake.” “Be watchful.” “Don’t be terrified.” “This is your opportunity to bear witness.”
The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ “Kingdom of God manifesto.” He proclaims the values and virtues of God’s Kingdom.
In our world, these ways of God appear backwards. Disciples who follow the crucified King will look foreign, even strange. Christians live in this tension, citizens of God’s Kingdom who live among the kingdoms of the world. In this season we ask Jesus, “Teach us your backwards ways.”
You can find an audio form of The Daily Pattern wherever you get podcasts (Apple, Spotify). Each day is 8-10 minutes and follows the pattern with musical interludes.
BACKWARDS KINGDOM WEEK ONE: Intro
BACKWARDS KINGDOM WEEK TWO: Distinct
Jesus call us “salt” and “light.” What does that mean? What does it say about our purpose?
BACKWARDS KINGDOM WEEK THREE: Peace
We hear Jesus say “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Most people agree that peace is a good thing, so what is surprising about this statement? And how can we be peacemakers in the pattern of Jesus?
BACKWARDS KINGDOM WEEK FOUR: Truth
We remember the 503rd Anniversary of the Reformation. At the heart of what the German monk Martin Luther re-discovered in his 95 Theses was the essence of true Christianity: repentance. In our worship series “Backwards Kingdom” we look at the words of Jesus from His Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Who is pure in heart? How does someone get a pure heart? “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near!”
BACKWARDS KINGDOM WEEK FIVE: Hidden
We explore the hiddenness of God’s Kingdom. Why can’t we see it? Why does God often work in hidden ways? What does this mean in a world that wants visible results? On November 1st, the Church around the world observes All Saints Day. We use the term “saint” not for super-holy Christians, but to refer to all those who are in Jesus Christ. We are sinners made saints by the blood of Jesus. We remember the saints gone before us who glorified God in “hidden” ways, often ordinary and mundane. Still, through their witness the Kingdom of God has advanced.
BACKWARDS KINGDOM WEEK SIX: Devoted
What does treasure, the eye, and a master have in common? (Matt. 6:19-24) Jesus draws upon rich images to ask his disciples a simple question: What are you devoted to? Christ doesn’t ask for an hour on Sunday and a few prayers throughout the week. He demands your heart, your whole life. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in The Cost of Discipleship, “If the heart is devoted to the mirage of the world, to the creature instead of the Creator, the disciple is lost.”
BACKWARDS KINGDOM WEEK SEVEN: Carefree
We hear Jesus say “do not be anxious”. What does this mean? And what does anxiety have to do with God’s righteousness?
BACKWARDS KINGDOM WEEK EIGHT: Opportunity
“Could it get any worse?” We’ve all said this when trouble is piled upon trouble. Jesus stacks up a list of turmoil in Luke 21:10-19: wars, earthquakes, famines, viral disease, persecution . . . And then he says, “This will be your opportunity to bear witness.” (13) What?
This is the last Sunday of the Church Year. (Advent begins a new Christian calendar.) The focus is final things, the Last Day, and the eternal reign of Christ. Turmoil will increase, Jesus says. But rather than despair, he says, “Stay awake.” “Be watchful.” “Don’t be terrified.” “This is your opportunity to bear witness.”
