The Kingdom of God - Matthew 5-7

During His 3 years of earthly ministry and teaching, Jesus spoke more about the Kingdom of God than any other subject.  

In contrast to what religious or political leaders might claim, Jesus wanted his followers to see what living under God’s rule really looks and feels like.  He also wanted to show how much better it is to choose Him as King over our lives, compared to mankind’s relentless attempts to build and sustain our own little personal kingdoms - and all the damage and heartache that this causes.    

Matthew - a firsthand eye-witness and later gospel writer - chose to compile much of this teaching into what we now call the ‘Sermon on the Mount’;  which might also be called Jesus’ Kingdom Manifesto.  Through this Jesus engages eternal truth with real-life issues and describes a way of living that cares for all people, protects the most vulnerable, builds strong communities and best honours God.  

The aim of this new sermon series is not so much to engage our minds - by simply try and rationally agree with this manifesto.  Rather I want us to engage our hearts with this message - inviting us to a new and deeper love for the kingdom of God in our lives and in those around us.  

God’s desire is not for a people who merely mentally agree with Him.  Neither is God after a people who will blindly do as they are told but rather the first and greatest commandment is to ‘Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.'  He is after a people convinced from the heart that God’s way and God’s rule is the very best for us all; as individuals, families, churches, communities, even nations.  

Jesus taught us to pray ‘Let your Kingdom Come’ and my hope is that through this journey into Matthew 5 - 7, we will feel inspired to pray that prayer more regularly, more wholeheartedly and more joyfully as we teach our hearts to love His Kingdom more and more. 

Ben Martin