Introduction to Kingdom Living

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Jason: Thank you for listening and welcome to the podcast. I'm your host, Jason McConnell. What if I told you the most revolutionary speech ever given wasn't shouted from a throne or broadcast on a world stage, but spoken from the side of a hill in a dusty corner of ancient Galilee? There were no microphones, no cameras, no red carpets.

This episode is the beginning of a brand new series I'm calling Kingdom Living. Over the next nine episodes of this series, I plan to walk through Matthew Chapters five through seven and talk about what Jesus said and how it flipped everyone's life upside down and continues to do so today. Join me on this journey as I try to unpack the radical themes Jesus introduced and explore why the Sermon on the Mount matters maybe now more than ever.

So grab your coffee and your Bible and [00:01:00] settle in and enjoy learning what Jesus taught us about being citizens of the kingdom of heaven.

Setting the Scene: The Sermon on the Mount

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Jason: The air is cool and crisp. In the hills of Galilee, the sun is rising over the rugged landscape. You can hear birds singing and the soft murmur of a growing crowd.

People are gathering not out of obligation, but hunger and not physical hunger, although that's often present, but spiritual hunger. A deep longing for something more, more than the burdensome religious systems. They've inherited more than the cruel oppression of the Roman Empire, and more than the empty promises of worldly comfort.

This is the setting of the Sermon on the Mount. Let's begin in Matthew four, verse 23 through 25, where Matthew tells us what leads up to this pivotal moment. It says. [00:02:00] Jesus went throughout Galilee teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

News about him spread all over Syria and people brought to him all who were ill, large crowds from Galilee, the Decaps, Jerusalem, Judea, and the region across the Jordan followed him.

The Radical Message of Jesus

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Jason: What we're witnessing here is a spiritual explosion. The people aren't just interested in Jesus because of the miracles.

Something about his message is not like anything they've ever heard before. He isn't echoing the Pharisees or parroting Roman approved doctrine. He's proclaiming the good news of the kingdom. That's not political rebellion or religious reformation. It's cosmic, it's divine. And then he sits down on a mountain.

And now that detail might seem minor, but in the Jewish mind it meant everything. And their culture. When a rabbi [00:03:00] sat to teach, it was a position of authority, but this isn't just any hilltop homily. The mountain itself is symbolic throughout the Bible. Mountains are places of revelation. I mean, think about it.

God gave Moses the law on Mount Sinai. Elijah heard God's whisper on Mount Hori, and now here is Jesus God in the flesh, climbing a mountain to deliver a new kind of law, a higher ethic, not one etched in stone, but meant to be written on hearts. And this is no accident. The mountain links Jerusalem to the authority of Moses, but what he delivers will go far beyond.

He isn't abolishing the old law. He's fulfilling it. This moment happens early in Jesus's ministry. He hasn't yet turned water into wine and Cana, but he has called his first disciples, healed the sick and stirred the hearts of thousands. His fame is growing, but with it comes a defining [00:04:00] moment. What will he say when all eyes are on him?

The Authority of Jesus' Teachings

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Jason: Matthew five, one and two tells us now, when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him and he began to teach them. Did you notice that he begins to teach them his disciples, but the crowd is still there? That matters. The Sermon on the Mount isn't just a public address, it is a private conversation made public.

Jesus is forming the identity of his followers, those who will carry his message after he was gone. At the same time, he's inviting the crowd to consider a radical shift in how they view righteousness, justice, and godliness. Let's jump to the end of the sermon because this reaction tells us a lot about the tone and power of what Jesus did.

Look at Matthew seven, verses 28 and 29, [00:05:00] when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teachings because he taught. As one who had authority and not as their teachers of the law. What made Jesus so different? His authority. The scribes and teachers of the law on that day were bound to cite other rabbis relying on tradition and precedent to validate their interpretations.

But Jesus speaks with original authority. He doesn't say Rabbi so-and-so once taught. He says, you have heard it said, but I will tell you. And that phrase shows up repeatedly in the sermon. It, it's bold, it's shocking, and, and it's divine. Jesus is not simply interpreting the law. He is reframing righteousness itself.

The Heart of the Sermon: Internal Transformation

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Jason: Where the Pharisees taught external obedience, keeping rules, performing rituals, Jesus goes deeper. He speaks to motives, attitudes, and the heart. The religious leaders of the time measured [00:06:00] holiness by what you could see on the outside. And Jesus says, let's talk about what's happening on the inside. The people listening had lived under layers of religious expectations for generations, and they were weary.

Others were self-righteous. But Jesus levels the field. He calls the poor in spirit. Blessed he calls the merciful and the meek children of the kingdom. He redefines greatness and exposes. Hypocrisy and those, and for those under Roman rule, living in fear, waiting for deliverance. This message was electric.

The kingdom Jesus described isn't built on violence or politics. It's not one of Roman swords or Jewish rebellion. It is a kingdom that starts in the human heart and transforms the world from the inside out. David Guzzis commentary says it this way. The Sermon on the Mount is a picture of the [00:07:00] life in the kingdom of God, not a recipe for salvation.

It shows what the saved life looks like. Matthew Henry goes on even further. Pointing out Christ's sermon is not merely for admiration, but for application. In other words, this isn't just a, a beautiful moral essay, it's a battle cry for personal transformation. And Jesus isn't inviting us to admire his words from a distance.

He's calling us to live them out up close.

Living Out the Kingdom Values

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Jason: So as we begin this Kingdom Living series, we need to ask a question. What kind of authority do we allow to shape our lives? Are, are we content with outward conformity or are we willing to let Christ dig deep into our hearts? Are we following a religion or are we following the redeemer?

The sermon on the mount, it's not comfortable, but it's freeing. It confronts everything shallow in us and replaces it with something eternal. [00:08:00] And as we walk through these chapters together. We're not just studying Jesus's words, we're standing at the feet of our king learning how to live as citizens of his kingdom.

Now we live in a world that's louder than ever, from social media fees to the latest trends. A society is shouting, look at me. Follow your heart, build your brand. Do what feels right. Self-promotion has become the new virtue. Influence is measured in like success is tied to visibility. But into this noise, the words of Jesus from the mountainside still cut through with piercing clarity, because while the world says exalt yourself, Jesus said, blessed are the meek.

While culture urges us to seek comfort, Jesus blesses those who mourn while society celebrates vengeance in cancel culture, Jesus calls us to love our neighbor and pray for those who persecute us.

The Timeless Relevance of the Sermon

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Jason: So why is the Sermon on the Mount still important [00:09:00] today? It's radical counterculture. It doesn't stroke the ego, it confronts it, and that's exactly what makes it so powerful.

These aren't outdated moral lessons. They're eternal truths meant to shape people's lives differently. People who reflect the kingdom of heaven, not the kingdom of self. Let's be clear. Jesus didn't give us these sermons as a checklist. He never said, here are your 10 steps to getting into heaven. This message isn't about how to become a citizen of of the kingdom.

It's about what the kingdom citizenship looks like. It's a picture of the transformed life, not the entrance exam. Jesus is speaking to those already drawn to him, already awakening to the call of the kingdom, and what he says isn't focused on polishing our behavior. It's aimed at directly changing our hearts.

A Call to Heartfelt Devotion

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Jason: Lemme take anger. For example. The world tells us to manage our temper, maybe. Count to 10, Jesus. [00:10:00] He says, don't even let contempt settle in your soul. The world says, don't commit adultery. Jesus says, don't even look at someone with lust. The world says, give when it is seen. And Jesus says, give in secret. I mean, do you see it?

He's going after the internal, not the external. This isn't behavior modification, it's heart transformation. I think one of the most well-known verses from the sermon is Matthew six, verse 33, where Jesus says. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

This is the central call of the kingdom living to reorder our priorities to live not for earthly gain, but for eternal glory. To trust that if we pursue the righteousness of God, if we let him shape our hearts, he's gonna take care of the rest. And this mindset completely flips modern thinking, upside down.

We're told to go chase after things. Money, status, stability. [00:11:00] Jesus says, no chase after God, run after righteousness. Make the kingdom your first concern, not your last resort.

The Blueprint for Kingdom Living

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Jason: And what's beautiful about the sermon is how it's timeless. Every generation, first century or 20th century, or 21st century wrestles with the same temptations.

Pride, grief, lust, fear, the hunger for approval. Jesus' words expose those things. He doesn't flatter us. He frees us, but only if we let him speak past our surface and into our soul. That's why Romans 12 verse two is such a fitting companion to this teaching because Paul writes, do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Then you'll be able to test and approve what God's will is his good, pleasing and perfect will. The Sermon on the Mound is a tool for this very renewal. It resets our minds. It lifts our gaze from the world's mold and invites us to be [00:12:00] reshaped by Heaven's blueprint. Jesus isn't inviting us to blend in.

He's calling us to stand out, not for our own glory, but for his. Let's not miss this.

The Challenge of True Righteousness

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Jason: These teachings aren't easy. They challenge us. They push us to a higher standard, not to earn God's love. It's not it, but because we already have it. The wave of the kingdom is narrow. It's costly, but it's abundant and it leads to life.

When we live the way Jesus describes, we become living contradictions of the world. In a world of anxiety, we practice trust. In a world of self-indulgence, we walk in purity. In a world of re retaliation, we choose mercy. In a world obsessed with image, we live with integrity and people notice. Because we're shouting louder.

Because we're shining brighter. So why does the Sermon on the Mount still matter? Because the world still needs salt. It needs light. And those are Jesus's very [00:13:00] words to his followers, to you, and to me, it matters because you matter. In God's kingdom, your life is meant to be a beacon of what heaven looks like on Earth.

And these chapters, chapter five through seven of Matthew. These are your blueprint. So the question we need to ask ourselves is this. Are we building our lives on the values of this world or the values of his kingdom? Jesus isn't giving us a motivational speech. He's giving us marching orders, clear, bold, deeply personal, and he's inviting us not to try harder, but to surrender deeper.

The Sermon on the Mount still matters because holiness still matters. Humility still matters. The heart still matters, and most of all, Jesus still matters. If you've ever looked at a stained glass window, you have might have noticed it from afar. The colors seem beautiful, but maybe a little blurry. But when you move closer and the sunlight [00:14:00] hits it just right, you begin to see the full image, the brilliant details, the story.

That each panel tells that's exactly what the sermon on the mound is like from a distance. Matthews chapter five through seven might seem like a collection of wonderful moral sayings, but as you draw closer, as the light of God's spirit shines through the words, you begin to see something much deeper. A vision of life in God's kingdom, a life shaped by character, worship, and discernment.

The sermon is not just a, a list of spiritual deeds. It's a call to live with integrity from the inside out. I keep saying that, but it's true. It's important to, to know that this is not an external view, it's an internal view.

Embracing Kingdom Living

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Jason: Let's take a walk through these three chapters that make up this extraordinary teaching, beginning with Matthew chapter five, where Jesus introduce introduces the character of the kingdom citizens.

He starts not with commands, but with blessings. A series of [00:15:00] radical statements we know is a baditude. They flip the script of what we assume a blessing would look like. I mean, Jesus says, blessed are the poor in spirit. Those who mourn the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. This is kingdom upside, downness upside.

Jesus is describing people who rely on God, not themselves. These are not personality types. They're spiritual conditions. They reveal who we are becoming in Christ. Jesus then says something unforgettable in Matthew five, verse 14. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

What he's telling us here is that this new kind of character won't stay private. It shines, it has influence. Your life becomes a beacon of hope in a dark world. Jesus doesn't stop there. He goes deeper speaking about the law and he says something shocking. He didn't come to abolish it, but to fulfill it.

And then he begins to reveal a more intense standard, not one based on [00:16:00] ritual or performance, but the condition of the heart. Whether it's anger, lust, honesty, retaliation. Jesus consistently calls his listeners who righteousness that exceeds surface level behavior. This is the thread that ties the whole sermon together.

God is after our hearts. Then we move into chapter six, where the spotlight shifts to the heart of worship. Here Jesus begins exposing the motives behind our religious practices. He speaks about giving prayer and fasting, and his concern isn't whether we're doing them, but why we're doing them. Are we performing for other people's applause or are we honoring the father in secret?

And this is where we find the Lord's Prayer in Matthew six verses nine through 13 of prayer, not meant to be mindlessly repeated, but a guide to the posture of our hearts. And Jesus says, then this then is how you should pray. Our Father [00:17:00] in heaven, hollowed be your name. Your kingdom come, you will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Just these few lines are rich with submission, dependence, forgiveness, and spiritual vigilance. Jesus is inviting us into a communion with God that is deeply personal, reverend and transformational. He also reminds us that our treasure reveals our loyalty, whether we place our resources, where we place our resources, whether in earthly gains or eternal glory.

This says everything about the state of our hearts. He sums it up simply where your treasure is. There your heart will also be. It's Matthew 6 21. But then we move on to Matthew seven, where Jesus begins offering wisdom for discernment and spiritual foundation. He warns against hypocritical judgment, urging us to examine our own lives before correcting others.

He gives the famous analogy about noticing the speck in someone's eye and ignoring the plank in our own. But he also reassures us of God's goodness. [00:18:00] Matthew seven, verses seven and eight. He encourages us, ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find Knock and the door will be open to you. God is not distance.

He welcomes persistence. He desires relationship, but we, we have to seek him. Sincerely, I think one of the most sobering parts of this chapter is Jesus's emphasis on the narrow gate. He makes it clear not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom. Only those who do the will of the father.

There's a difference between saying we follow Jesus and actually following him with our lives. And Jesus concludes a sermon with a vivid imagery, Matthew 7 24. Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. I mean, this message is unmistakable.

It's not enough to admire Jesus's teaching. We must live it. We have to build a house. His words are not suggestions. They're foundations. We build it on. Throughout all [00:19:00] these chapters, we see Jesus is calling his followers to a radical internal righteousness. Not the righteousness of ritual, not the righteousness of reputation, but the righteousness that springs from a transformed heart.

Sermon on the Mount presents a holistic picture of what God desires, moral integrity, heartfelt devotion, and spiritual authenticity. These chapters are deeply personal, yet universally challenging. They expose our true selves, but more importantly, they invite us into something much greater. A life that reflects, reflects the goodness, purity, and mercy of the king himself.

So as we go deeper into the series, remember this. The Sermon on the Mount is not just a spiritual lecture, it's the heartbeat of kingdom living.

Conclusion

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Jason: If you were to read the Sermon on the Mount like a story, you'd notice something profound about how Jesus structured it. He opens with blessings or latitudes and then closes with obedience.[00:20:00]

This is his divine design. Jesus repeatedly challenges the mindset of his day and and the mindset of our day. The religious leaders focused on external acts. Fasting publicly, praying loudly, giving for applause, but Jesus confronts that He pulls back the curtains and says, that's not the righteousness God is looking for.

He teaches that kingdom righteousness isn't about how things appear, but about what's real in the heart. It's not how loudly we say, Lord. Lord, it's how closely our lives reflect the heart of our father. James 1 22 reminds us, do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourself. Do what it says. It's that simple.

Do what it says. And this verse from James could be the unofficial theme of the sermon on the mouth. Do what it says. That's the real measure of kingdom living. Let's also consider how Jesus. Confronts [00:21:00] worldly wisdom. Our culture tells us to look out for ourselves, to assert our rights, to gain results, to gain status.

But Jesus says, the blessed are the ones who make peace, who show mercy, who mourn over sin and thirst for righteousness. The worldly wisdom says, do whatever makes you happy. Kingdom wisdom says, be holy as your father is in heaven. The world says, build your life on what works. Jesus says, build it on what is true.

You see, Jesus isn't trying to shape our actions. He's reaching for our hearts. That's what makes a sermon on the Mount so vital. Still today, in a time when culture rewards self-promotion, Jesus calls us to humility. When the world urges us to choose comfort, he invites us to hunger and thirst for righteousness.

When society pushes us to conform, he challenges us to stand out, not for show. For him before the next episode, I really encourage you to read Matthew chapter five, the first chapter of the Sermon on the Mount. [00:22:00] Let the words of Jesus wash over you as if you were sitting on that mountainside with him listening to him.

Until next time, keep loving your neighbors. Dive into God's word daily and may the Lord bless you and keep you and fill you with his peace. Take care and God bless and I'll see you in the next episode.