Podcasts about upside down kingdom

Hannah Buchanan

What does it actually look like to represent Jesus in the world? In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus gives His followers a clear identity and purpose: “You are the salt of the earth” and “You are the light of the world.” As we continue Upside Down Kingdom Part 2, Kyle Zimmerman explores what it means to live as part of God's Kingdom and bring the presence of Jesus into the lives of the people around us. Kingdom activity flows from our kingdom identity, and the life we receive from God was never meant to stop with us. We are called to move toward others with truth, grace, compassion, and love as ministers of reconciliation and ambassadors for Christ. When we live as salt and light, our lives point beyond ourselves so others can see Jesus and glorify our Father in heaven.

Hannah Buchanan

Join us a Paul Murray finishes off our sermon series talking about forgiveness. 

Join us as Ben Pfeiffer continues our sermon series on the Upside Down Kingdom. 

Join us this week as Executive Pastor Dan Burrell finishes our series, The Upside Down Kingdom, with a sermon entitled: When Doing Right Goes Wrong. This week, Pastor Dan is in Matthew 5:10-12, teaching about the cost of spreading the Kingdom of God.

This week, Pastor Will reflects on the vineyard workers of Matthew 20, where the offense was never too little pay — it was watching someone else be made equal. What if the whole day was grace, and we've been too busy doing math to notice our hand is already full?Scripture References: Exodus 16:2-15, Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45, and Matthew 20:1-16“THIS IS AMAZING GRACE” -- CCLI Song # 6333821 |  Jeremy Riddle | Josh Farro | Phil Wickham  |  © 2012 Phil Wickham Music (Admin. by BMG Rights Management [c/o Music Services, Inc.]) |  Seems Like Music (Admin. by BMG Rights Management [c/o Music Services, Inc.])  |  Sing My Songs (Admin. by BMGRights Management [c/o Music Services, Inc.])  |  WC Music Corp. (Admin. by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.) |  Bethel Music Publishing  |  For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com  |  CCLI License # 2544867“WHO YOU SAY I AM” -- CCLI Song # 7102401  |  Ben Fielding | Reuben Morgan  |   © 2017 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)  |  For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com  |  CCLI License # 2544867"GO NOW IN PEACE" –  Words by Nancy Price and Don Besig -- Music by Don Besig -- Copyright (c) 1988 by Harold Flammer Music, a Division of Shawnee Press, Inc. -- International Copyright Secured   All Rights Reserved   |   © 2017 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) |  For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com  |  CCLI License # 2544867

Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Jesus saw the people who sat with him on the hillside as “the light of the world.” They were meant to reflect Jesus' light in the world around them. What was true for those who heard Jesus' Sermon on the Mount first is true for those of us who hear it today: Jesus sees us as “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). In this sermon, we'll look at some of the practical examples Jesus gives. The topics covered first by Jesus include anger, marriage, promises, retaliation, and dealing with enemies. Jesus has clear thoughts and straightforward direction on how to live our lives in a way that reflects his love and light. As we continue in the Sermon on the Mount, we see how Jesus animates righteousness and teaches and encourages us to do the same. As we continue to build good lives on the solid foundation of the person and teachings of Jesus, our look at the second half of Matthew 5 is an important stop! We are given clear, practical guidance on how to live righteous lives like Jesus. We are encouraged to hear the teaching and live out the teachings.

Hannah Buchanan

What if the life Jesus calls blessed looks completely different from the life the world tells us to pursue? As we begin Upside Down Kingdom Part 2, we return to the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus' radical vision for life in the Kingdom of God. In Matthew 5, Jesus begins with the Beatitudes and declares, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” While our world often measures the good life by success, status, power, comfort, and achievement, Jesus points us toward humility, surrender, mercy, righteousness, and dependence on God. His Kingdom only appears upside down because sin has distorted what we see as right side up. Over the next eight weeks, we're not simply going to read the Sermon on the Mount. We're going to let the Sermon on the Mount read us, challenge us, and transform the way we live.

Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Jesus saw the people who sat with him on the hillside as “the light of the world.” They were meant to reflect Jesus' light in the world around them. What was true for those who heard Jesus' Sermon on the Mount first is true for those of us who hear it today: Jesus sees us as “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). In this sermon, we'll look at some of the practical examples Jesus gives. The topics covered first by Jesus include anger, marriage, promises, retaliation, and dealing with enemies. Jesus has clear thoughts and straightforward direction on how to live our lives in a way that reflects his love and light. As we continue in the Sermon on the Mount, we see how Jesus animates righteousness and teaches and encourages us to do the same. As we continue to build good lives on the solid foundation of the person and teachings of Jesus, our look at the second half of Matthew 5 is an important stop! We are given clear, practical guidance on how to live righteous lives like Jesus. We are encouraged to hear the teaching and live out the teachings.

Hannah Buchanan

How does the Kingdom - the government - of God work? Not like ours. The wisdom of the Kingdom shows up to the least, the last, and the lost and is run on servanthood, not lording power over others.This way of the Kingdom is quite different not only from our political rulers, but from us. Where we want to rule with an iron fist and get what we want, Jesus says that true life comes from denying oneself to follow him. Which way will be our way? Come on Sunday to experience God's powerful upside-down Kingdom.- Series Description -  The Wisdom of the Kingdom, explores how God's Kingdom is not always obvious, but it is always available. Like wisdom crying out in the streets, the Kingdom advertises itself to us through the Spirit's beckoning: come live a different way — not on your own, but with the help of God. This is the way of wisdom. This first teaching series of the fall will be the foundation for a year of engaging God's wisdom about the Kingdom, other topics laid out in the Proverbs, and the way those topics impact us today. Wisdom cries out! Let's listen up.

In this episode, Pilate puts a sign on Jesus cross that says "Jesus of Nazareth: The King of the Jews." We discuss how this message is true, even though at the time Jesus seems to be anything but king!

Join us this week as Lead Pastor Daniel continues our series, The Upside Down Kingdom. Pastor Daniel teaches from Matthew 5:9 on how to be biblical peacemakers.

This series, The Upside Down Kingdom, will show you how to live by the values and culture of the kingdom of God.

Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Who are you?  Once we move beyond the polite answers such as our names, occupations, accomplishments, or even our collegiate football allegiances, the question becomes much more personal. It's a question many of us struggle to answer. Yet at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus offers a remarkable response.  Speaking to an ordinary, ragtag crowd gathered on a hillside, he tells them, "You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). What was true for them is still true for us today. Using the images of a city on a hill and a lamp on a stand, Jesus teaches that God's people are meant to reflect His light into the world. Just as the lights of a city shine far beyond its borders, what God is doing in our lives reaches far beyond us. The way we live becomes a witness to others, revealing God's character and love.  This passage challenges us to stay focused on what God has placed before us rather than becoming distracted by the many things competing for our attention. As we fix our eyes on Christ and allow him to transform us, our lives become a light that impacts others in ways we may never fully see.  If you've ever wondered, who am I? Jesus' answer is both simple and profound: You are the light of the world and a city on a hill that cannot be hidden.

Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. Who are you?  Once we move beyond the polite answers such as our names, occupations, accomplishments, or even our collegiate football allegiances, the question becomes much more personal. It's a question many of us struggle to answer. Yet at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus offers a remarkable response.  Speaking to an ordinary, ragtag crowd gathered on a hillside, he tells them, "You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). What was true for them is still true for us today. Using the images of a city on a hill and a lamp on a stand, Jesus teaches that God's people are meant to reflect His light into the world. Just as the lights of a city shine far beyond its borders, what God is doing in our lives reaches far beyond us. The way we live becomes a witness to others, revealing God's character and love.  This passage challenges us to stay focused on what God has placed before us rather than becoming distracted by the many things competing for our attention. As we fix our eyes on Christ and allow him to transform us, our lives become a light that impacts others in ways we may never fully see.  If you've ever wondered, who am I? Jesus' answer is both simple and profound: You are the light of the world and a city on a hill that cannot be hidden.

God’s views and values are upside down from the worlds.

God’s views and values are upside down from the worlds.

Upside Down Kingdom-Part 6

Join us as we lean in to God's teaching in Matthew 5:43-48 on loving our enemies, loving Him, and loving each other!

Discover the radical power of humility in this contemplative Christian devotional based on Luke 14:7-11. Learn why taking the lowest place leads to true exaltation in God's Kingdom. In Episode 243 of the 2 Minute Disciple podcast, Jesus reveals that those who grab for honor will be humbled, while those who humble themselves will be exalted by the host. This guided meditation and daily spiritual practice will challenge you to release your need for recognition and trust God to lift you up in His time. Perfect for anyone ready to abandon self-promotion and embrace the liberating freedom of genuine humility.

Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. When we read the Beatitudes, it is easy to miss how radical Jesus' words really are. Many of us have heard them so often that they sound familiar, but to Jesus' first audience, they would have seemed completely upside down. In a world where power, strength, status, and success appeared to determine who won and who lost, Jesus declared that the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, the peacemakers, and even the persecuted were blessed. His vision of life stood in sharp contrast to both the values of the Roman Empire and the assumptions of everyday people. This week's sermon invites us to consider whether Jesus is actually the one who sees reality correctly. If Jesus is truly the Son of God, then his teachings are not simply good advice; they are the words of the one who understands life better than anyone else. What appears upside down to us may actually be right side up, while the values of the world may be the ones that are inverted. Jesus calls us to trust his authority even when his teachings challenge our instincts or seem impractical. Most importantly, Jesus did not merely teach this way of life; he embodied it. He lived out the Beatitudes through his humility, mercy, righteousness, peacemaking, suffering, death, and resurrection. Because Jesus lived the life he calls us to live, he invites us to follow him into the upside-down kingdom that may not always make sense to the world but ultimately bears the fruit of a more abundant life. As we grow in faith and trust that God is with us, we are invited to embrace his way and allow him to transform us from the inside out.

Rev. Matt Tuggle | Click/tap here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide. When we read the Beatitudes, it is easy to miss how radical Jesus' words really are. Many of us have heard them so often that they sound familiar, but to Jesus' first audience, they would have seemed completely upside down. In a world where power, strength, status, and success appeared to determine who won and who lost, Jesus declared that the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, the peacemakers, and even the persecuted were blessed. His vision of life stood in sharp contrast to both the values of the Roman Empire and the assumptions of everyday people. This week's sermon invites us to consider whether Jesus is actually the one who sees reality correctly. If Jesus is truly the Son of God, then his teachings are not simply good advice; they are the words of the one who understands life better than anyone else. What appears upside down to us may actually be right side up, while the values of the world may be the ones that are inverted. Jesus calls us to trust his authority even when his teachings challenge our instincts or seem impractical. Most importantly, Jesus did not merely teach this way of life; he embodied it. He lived out the Beatitudes through his humility, mercy, righteousness, peacemaking, suffering, death, and resurrection. Because Jesus lived the life he calls us to live, he invites us to follow him into the upside-down kingdom that may not always make sense to the world but ultimately bears the fruit of a more abundant life. As we grow in faith and trust that God is with us, we are invited to embrace his way and allow him to transform us from the inside out.

Explore the radical truth of God's Kingdom in this contemplative Christian devotional based on Luke 13:28-30. Discover why spiritual hunger matters more than religious status, and learn how the last become first in God's Kingdom. In Episode 240 of the 2 Minute Disciple podcast, Jesus reveals that those who approach His table with genuine hunger and humility—not entitlement—will find their place at the feast. This guided meditation and daily spiritual practice will challenge you to examine your heart and replace assumption with authentic seeking. Perfect for anyone ready to abandon spiritual pride and come to God with desperate, genuine hunger.

Join us this week as Lead Pastor Danieo Bridgman continues our series, The Upside Down Kingdom, with a sermon entitled: Mercy. Pastor Daniel teaches from Matthew 5:7, focusing on remembering the mercy shown to us.

Hey! Join us as Pastor David preaches on the abundant life that Jesus offers. 

Join us this week as Lead Pastor Daniel Bridgman continues our series, The Upside Down Kingdom, with a sermon entitled 'Righteousness'. He's teaching from Matthew 5:6, focusing on what our soul desires.

What do you do when God doesn't work the way you expected Him to? In Matthew 11, John the Baptist finds himself in prison and begins to question whether Jesus really is the Messiah. The surprising part isn't that John has questions—the surprising part is how Jesus responds. Jesus doesn't shame John. He doesn't reject him. He answers him with kindness. This chapter reminds us that we can bring our questions to God. We can trust Him when life is difficult. We can repent when He reveals something that needs to change. And, most importantly, we can come to Jesus. Jesus says: "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." — Matthew 11:28 Whether you're tired, discouraged, confused, joyful, burdened, or simply don't know what to do next, the invitation is the same: Come to Jesus. In this message: God welcomes our questions Why following Jesus doesn't mean life will always be easy Trusting God when He doesn't work the way we expect The importance of repentance Staying teachable in our faith Finding rest in Jesus Learning to come to Jesus in every circumstance The Gospel of Matthew | Family Church 00:00 Introduction to Matthew 11 01:00 John the Baptist Questions Jesus 04:00 God Welcomes Our Questions 06:00 Jesus Praises John the Baptist 08:00 Hard Times With Jesus Are Better 10:00 The Upside-Down Kingdom 11:00 When God Doesn't Meet Our Expectations 13:00 Trusting God When We Don't Understand 15:00 Responding to Jesus 17:00 Repentance and Turning to God 18:00 Staying Teachable 21:00 Come to Jesus 23:00 Practicing the Presence of Jesus 

Join us this week as Lead Pastor Daniel Bridgman continues teaching in our series: The Upside Down Kingdom. Pastor Daniel is in Matthew 5:5, teaching on what meekness is and why it is not weakness, with a Sermon entitled 'Meek'

Preacher: Kailey Vanderbaan Title: The Upside Down Kingdom Sermon Series: A Life Given Away Scripture: Matthew 25:34-40 (NIV)

Join us this week as Lead Pastor Daniel Bridgman teaches a sermon entitled 'Mourn', continuing our series, The Upside Down Kingdom. This week, Pastor Daniel teaches on being poor in spirit in Matthew 5:4 and what it means to mourn like Jesus.

‘DYING TO LIVE' Upside-Down Kingdom — Week 2 - Mark 8:34–36 OPENING PRAYER Father, some of us are holding on so tightly. We're holding onto our plans, our security, our reputation, our comfort, our control. We're trying to protect the lives we've built, and sometimes we're exhausted from trying to keep everything together. So help us hear the words of Jesus this morning. Help us hear an invitation that sounds like death, but actually leads to life. Give us the courage to loosen our grip, to trust You, and to follow Jesus wherever He leads. In Jesus' name, Amen. INTRODUCTION There is something instinctive in every one of us that says: Save yourself. Protect yourself. Look out for yourself. Build a good life. Protect what you've built. Make yourself secure. Avoid unnecessary suffering. Hold onto the people and things that matter to you. And honestly, a lot of that sounds like common sense. Nobody wakes up in the morning thinking, How can I lose my life today? We spend our lives trying to preserve it. We buy insurance for the things we're afraid of losing. We save money because we don't know what tomorrow will bring. We protect our reputation because we care what people think about us. We make plans because uncertainty makes us uncomfortable. We try to stay healthy because we know these bodies don't last forever. We build lives—and then we spend enormous amounts of energy trying to keep those lives from falling apart. And then Jesus comes along and says something that turns all of that upside down. “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.” And then Jesus asks one of the most haunting questions in all of Scripture: “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?” You can almost hear Jesus asking: What exactly are you trying so hard to save? Because you can spend your entire life trying to save your life...and lose it. And you can surrender your entire life to Jesus...and finally find it. That is the paradox of the Upside-Down Kingdom. You have to die... to live. THE ROAD TO THE CROSS But to really understand what Jesus is saying, we need to back up a few verses. Because Jesus doesn't just walk up to the disciples one afternoon and randomly start talking about crosses. Something has happened. Earlier in Mark 8, Jesus asks His disciples: “Who do people say that I am?” They give Him some answers. John the Baptist. Elijah. One of the prophets. But then Jesus makes the question personal: “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter gets it right. “You are the Christ.” This is the moment. Peter understands who Jesus is. He is the Messiah. He is the King. He is the One Israel has been waiting for. But Peter is about to discover something: He knows who Jesus is, but he doesn't yet understand what kind of Messiah Jesus is. Because immediately after Peter's confession, Jesus begins explaining what is going to happen. Mark tells us: “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” And Peter doesn't like this. In fact, Peter pulls Jesus aside and rebukes Him. Think about that. Peter has just said, “You are the Christ.” And a moment later he's essentially saying: But Jesus, that's not how this is supposed to go. Messiahs don't lose. Messiahs don't suffer. Messiahs don't get rejected. Messiahs don't die. Peter wants the kingdom. He just doesn't want the cross. And I wonder how often we want the same thing. We want Jesus. We want salvation. We want forgiveness. We want peace. We want eternal life. We want the kingdom. But we'd really prefer not to have the cross. So Jesus turns to Peter and says: “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's.” That's strong language. Because Peter is thinking the way the world thinks. Win. Protect yourself. Avoid suffering. Preserve your life. And Jesus says: That's not how My Kingdom works. And then Jesus calls the crowd together with His disciples. And now the words make sense: “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” Do you see it? Jesus isn't asking His disciples to walk a road He refuses to walk Himself. Jesus goes first. Before He tells us to take up our cross, He has already set His face toward His own. Before He asks us to surrender our lives, He has already determined to surrender His. Before He tells us that life comes through death, He is preparing to demonstrate it through His own death and resurrection. The road of discipleship follows the road of Jesus. And that road leads through the cross. TAKE UP YOUR CROSS We've heard the phrase “take up your cross” so many times that it can lose its force. Sometimes we use “my cross to bear” to describe almost any inconvenience. A difficult coworker. A bad back. An annoying relative. Something in life we wish were different. But that's not what the people listening to Jesus would have pictured. When Jesus said cross, they knew exactly what He meant. A cross was an instrument of Roman execution. If you saw someone carrying a cross, that person wasn't heading toward inconvenience. He wasn't heading toward personal improvement. He wasn't heading toward a difficult season. He was heading toward death. The condemned man carrying his cross had lost his claim over his own future. And Jesus takes that horrifying image and says: That's what following Me looks like. Deny yourself. Take up your cross. Follow Me. In other words: Your life doesn't belong to you anymore. And that may be one of the hardest truths in Christianity. Because everything around us says the opposite. It's your life. Follow your dreams. Speak your truth. Do what makes you happy. Become whoever you want to be. Put yourself first. And Jesus says: Deny yourself. Now, let's not get confused. That doesn't mean hating yourself. It doesn't mean believing you have no value. It doesn't mean neglecting legitimate needs or allowing other people to abuse you. It means something much more fundamental, it means… I am no longer the lord of my own life. Jesus is. My life is His. My money is His. My time is His. My body is His. My gifts are His. My future is His. My plans are His. My reputation is His. My comfort is His. Everything I am belongs to Christ. That's discipleship. THE LIFE WE'RE TRYING TO SAVE And this is where Jesus' next words become uncomfortable. “Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it.” Because most of us are trying to save something. Maybe you're trying to save your reputation. You need people to think well of you. So you manage how people see you. You hide weakness. You avoid vulnerability. You don't admit when you're wrong. And eventually your reputation becomes a prison. Maybe you're trying to save your security. You need to know there's enough. Enough money. Enough savings. Enough certainty. Enough control over tomorrow. And prudence is good—but somewhere along the way, prudence can become fear. And fear begins making your decisions. Maybe you're trying to save your comfort. You don't want life disrupted. You don't want difficult conversations. You don't want costly obedience. You don't want to serve when it's inconvenient. And slowly comfort becomes more important than faithfulness. Maybe you're trying to save your independence. You don't want to need anybody. You certainly don't want anyone seeing you struggle. So you carry everything yourself. You refuse help. You keep people at a safe distance. And what you call independence eventually becomes isolation. Maybe you're trying to save your plans. You know how your life is supposed to go. You know what your career should look like. You know what your family should look like. You know how the next five or ten years are supposed to unfold. And then life doesn't cooperate. And suddenly you discover how tightly you were holding the blueprint. We all hold onto something. And here's the problem: The tighter you hold it, the more it begins to hold you. That's what Jesus understands. “Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it.” The life spent desperately protecting itself eventually becomes a life controlled by fear. Fear of losing money. Fear of losing status. Fear of losing health. Fear of losing relationships. Fear of losing control. Fear of losing life itself. And Jesus offers another way. LOSING YOUR LIFE “But whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.” Notice something important. Jesus doesn't simply say: Lose your life. There is nothing inherently Christian about loss. There is nothing inherently holy about suffering. And Jesus isn't telling us to become reckless or self-destructive. He says: “Whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.” That's the center of the whole thing. Jesus. Christian self-denial isn't about becoming less of a person. It's about surrendering ownership of our lives to Christ. It's saying: Jesus, You get to decide. You get my yes before I even know what You're asking. If obedience costs me comfort, I follow You. If obedience costs me popularity, I follow You. If obedience costs me money, I follow You. If obedience means forgiving someone I'd rather resent, I follow You. If obedience means serving someone who can never repay me, I follow You. If obedience means admitting I was wrong, I follow You. If obedience means giving when I'd rather keep, I follow You. If obedience means standing faithfully when everyone around me walks another direction... I follow You. That is taking up the cross. And most of the time, it doesn't look heroic. Nobody writes books about it. Nobody applauds. Nobody posts your sacrifice on social media. Sometimes dying to yourself looks like getting up tomorrow morning and faithfully doing what Jesus has called you to do. Serving your family. Loving your spouse. Caring for someone who needs you. Forgiving an offense. Keeping your word. Giving generously. Confessing sin. Speaking truth. Showing mercy. Putting someone else's interests ahead of your own. Cross-bearing usually happens in ordinary places. But every time we say, “Not my will, Lord, but Yours,” something in us dies. Our pride dies. Our demand for control dies. Our insistence on comfort dies. Our need to have everything our way dies. And strangely enough... that's where life begins. WHAT DOES IT PROFIT A MAN? Then Jesus asks: “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?” Imagine actually succeeding at everything the world tells you matters. You get the money. You get the house. You get the position. You get the recognition. You get the body. You get the followers. You get the retirement account. You get the comfort. You get people to envy you. You win. You gain the whole world. And then Jesus asks: Now what? What if you got everything you ever wanted... but in the process became someone you never wanted to be? What if you built the perfect life... and discovered you weren't really alive? What if you protected everything... except your soul? That's the question. And Jesus isn't saying money or success or comfort or accomplishment are inherently evil. He's asking: What are they worth compared to your soul? There is no exchange rate. There is no amount of success that compensates for losing yourself. There is no earthly kingdom worth missing the Kingdom of God. And there is nothing you possess today that is worth refusing Jesus. WHAT ARE YOU HOLDING? So I want to ask you a very simple question this morning. What are you holding onto? What is the thing you find hardest to put into the hands of God? Maybe you already know. Maybe as we've been talking, it came immediately to mind. Your money. Your reputation. Your future. Your children. Your career. Your marriage. Your health. Your comfort. Your plans. Your independence. Your need to be right. Your need to be respected. Your need to be in control. What makes your fist tighten when you imagine surrendering it? Because sometimes the thing we are most afraid to surrender reveals the place where we trust God the least. And Jesus isn't standing before you demanding that you throw something valuable away. He's saying: Give it to Me. Trust Me with it. Trust Me with your future. Trust Me with your family. Trust Me with your reputation. Trust Me with your security. Trust Me with the life you've worked so hard to build. Because the Christian life is lived with open hands. Not because nothing matters. But because everything belongs to Him. LEARNING TO LET GO And surrender usually isn't a single dramatic moment. Most of us will have to learn it over and over again. So maybe this week begins very simply. Name what you're holding. Be honest before God. Lord, this is the thing I don't want to surrender. Then ask yourself: What is holding onto this doing to me? Is it making me afraid? Angry? Anxious? Controlling? Jealous? Exhausted? Is my attempt to protect this thing actually keeping me from following Jesus? And then bring it to God. Maybe your prayer isn't eloquent. Maybe it's simply: “Lord, I don't know how to let this go. Part of me doesn't even want to. But I want to trust You more than I trust myself. So help me open my hands.” And then take one step of obedience. Not because you feel fearless. But because you trust Christ. Maybe you need to forgive someone. Maybe you need to apologize. Maybe you need to give. Maybe you need to serve. Maybe you need to ask for help. Maybe you need to stop pretending. Maybe you need to obey something Jesus has already made clear. Take the step. And then take another. That's discipleship. JESUS WENT FIRST But before we finish, there's something we cannot miss. Everything Jesus asks of us in this passage... He did first. Jesus denied Himself. Jesus surrendered His rights. Jesus took up the cross. Jesus gave His life. Jesus could have protected Himself. He could have walked away. He could have called down angels. Instead, He surrendered. Paul says in Philippians 2 that although Christ existed in the form of God, He did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, took the form of a servant, humbled Himself, and became obedient— even to death on a cross. Jesus lost His life. And then came Sunday. That's the part Peter couldn't yet understand in Mark 8. Jesus said the Son of Man would suffer. He would be rejected. He would be killed. And after three days He would rise again. Death would not have the final word. The cross would lead to resurrection. And that is why Jesus can ask us to follow Him. Because when Jesus tells you to die... He knows where that road leads. It leads to life. CONCLUSION We spend so much of our lives trying to save ourselves. We protect our reputation. We protect our comfort. We protect our money. We protect our plans. We protect our future. We protect the lives we've built. And Jesus stands before us and says: Give it to Me. Not because your life doesn't matter. Because it matters too much to spend it trying to save it. Jesus says: “Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.” That's the Upside-Down Kingdom. The world says: Hold on. Jesus says: Let go. The world says: Protect yourself. Jesus says: Trust Me. The world says: Your life belongs to you. Jesus says: Follow Me. And maybe that's the invitation for some of us this morning. Open your hands. Stop trying to control what was never really yours to control. Stop trying to save yourself. And trust the One who gave His life to save you. Because the moment I finally say, “Jesus, my life belongs to You,” is the moment I finally begin to live. Your life in His hands is safer than your life in your own hands. That's the paradox. That's the invitation. That's the Upside-Down Kingdom. You have to die... to live. CLOSING PRAYER Father, We come before You with clenched fists. Some of us are holding onto our plans. Some are holding onto our security. Some are holding onto our reputation, our comfort, our relationships, our future. And some of us have been holding on for so long that we're exhausted. Teach us to open our hands. Teach us to trust You. Give us the courage to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus. And when we're afraid to surrender, remind us that Jesus went first. He surrendered Himself. He carried the cross. He gave His life. And He rose again. Help us believe that the way of Jesus really is the way of life. And may we have the faith to say: My life is Yours. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Listen in this week as Lead Pastor Daniel Bridgman kicks off our new series   :The Upside Down Kingdom with a sermon enetitled Poor In Spirit, teaching from Matthew 5, focusing on the idea of God's favor coming to those who approach the Father with empty hands.

What if everything our culture says about success is backwards?In this powerful message from 1 Corinthians 4, Pastor Carl explores how God's Kingdom turns the world's definition of greatness upside down. While culture celebrates popularity, status, and self-promotion, Jesus calls His followers to humility, servant leadership, faithful endurance, and lives transformed by the Gospel. This sermon challenges us to stop asking, "How can I make my name greater?" and instead ask, "How can I point people to Jesus?"You'll discover:• What biblical success really looks like• Why humility is stronger than pride• How Jesus modeled servant leadership• The role of spiritual fathers and mentors• Why God's grace is exactly what our exhausted world needs• How to live and lead toward Jesus every day• One of the most powerful truths from this message: "God has an inexhaustible grace for an exhausted world."Whether you're a leader, parent, mentor, or simply trying to follow Jesus faithfully, this message will encourage and challenge you to embrace God's upside-down Kingdom.