Living in the Tension: A Study on the "Now and Not Yet" Kingdom of GodSample

Living as Citizens of the Kingdom Now

Questions to think through:

1. The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) describe the character of those who belong to the Kingdom of heaven. Choose two or three of these descriptions and discuss how they differ from the world's values.

2. How does understanding that our "citizenship is in heaven" (Philippians 3:20) influence our priorities, our ambitions, and how we engage with the culture around us?

3. Ephesians 2:19 says we are "fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." How should this truth shape our relationships with other believers?

4. In what practical ways can you live out one of the Beatitudes in your relationships, work, or community?

Our citizenship in the Kingdom of God is not just a future inheritance; it has profound implications for how we live today. The Sermon on the Mount, particularly the Beatitudes, provides a beautiful and challenging portrait of Kingdom life. It's a life characterized by humility, mercy, a hunger for righteousness, and a commitment to peacemaking. These are not a list of rules to earn our way into the Kingdom, but the natural outflow of a heart that has been transformed by the King. As citizens of heaven, we are called to live as ambassadors of a different kind of rule—one of love, grace, and sacrificial service. Let the values of the Kingdom permeate every area of your life. In a world that prizes power and self-promotion, let us be known by our gentleness and our pursuit of what is right in God's eyes.