GO BOLDLY: KINGDOM VISION

The Declaration of Independence contains a very powerful one sentence vision: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.   Vision is one of the most important factors for our lives.  How do you see yourself today? Or for a project? Or for your family? We all live out of a view of reality that impacts our lives.  It is not always spoken or written down.  It may be an idea, a dream, or an aspiration.  We all want the “good life” but what is a good life and how will we find it?  In our sermon series Go Boldly the sermon is Kingdom Vision.  God wants to give us a good life that is eternal and has an impact that will endure.  This week we turn to Matthew 5:1-12 these verses are often called the Beatitudes because they are “supreme blessings.”  Many of the people listening to the words of Jesus did not feel like they mattered to the world around them, or even to the religious authorities.  They wondered if they mattered to God!  Jesus came to remind them that they were very important to God.  He also wanted to share with them that in the hardness of human existence there is a “good life” that only God can share with them.  When we live into God’s life for us, then we begin to see the world through God’s eyes, instead of seeing God through the world’s eyes.  This is the vision that can transform all that we do and give us a strength and hope despite the adversity that we encounter.  Our prayer for you is that you will see the great power and invitation of Jesus’s words for you and you will sense how deeply your life matters to the eternal God! 

Matthew 5:1-12: Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them. He said: ³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. ⁵ Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. ⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. ⁷ Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. ⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. ⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. ¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.  (NIV)