The Upside-Down Kingdom

The Setup

• Jesus gave this word to the committed, not the crowd,
• These are not prerequisites for discipleship; they are proofs of it.

The Contrast

Blessings Woes

Poor (20) Rich (24)

Hungry (21) Full (25)

Weep (21) Laugh (25)

Hated (22) Accepted (26)

The Evaluation

• If you’re not dependent on God, you’ve decided you don’t need Him now or forever.
• If you’re not hungry for God, something else is filling you.
• If you’re not broken over sin, you’re comfortable with it.
• If you’re not willing to be rejected, you’ve chosen the world’s approval over God’s.

The Response

• Surrender: You get all of Christ when you come to the end of yourself.
• Start: New life creates a new hunger for what truly satisfies.
• Stop: The more you know God’s heart, the less you can tolerate what breaks it.
• Share: When you’ve found eternal peace, you’ll sacrifice temporary comfort to make it known.

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• Does your life look upside-down to the world, or just like it?

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