Pastor Virgil Lee
Throughout history, kingdoms have been built through war, conquest, and political maneuvering. Some have lasted, but many man-made kingdoms have faded within a few generations, like sand blown by the wind. In Judea, at the time of Christ, people longed for a human kingdom that would restore the glory of King David. Christ came with a different vision: a spiritual kingdom meant to endure forever.
If you follow Jesus as Lord and Savior, you are a citizen of that kingdom. The apostle Paul puts it plainly in Philippians 3:20 (NLT): “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.” That citizenship carries expectations. The Kingdom of God has a code of life: values, priorities, and behaviors that shape how people relate to God and to one another.
Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, recorded in Matthew 5-7, turns many common assumptions on their heads. He offers guidance on prayer and fasting, on anger and forgiveness, on loving enemies, and on handling money and worry. He warns against judging others and lays out the foundation for authentic discipleship.
New Life Church’s current series, Kingdom Living explores those teachings in great detail. The goal is to shape people into citizens who are humble, merciful, peacemakers, faithful in prayer, generous toward the poor, and steadfast through trials. The emphasis is not simply on admiring Jesus’ words but on embodying them: on inner transformation and the work of the Holy Spirit, not just outward conformity.
Living as a citizen of this upside-down kingdom means valuing things the world often rejects, seeing weakness as strength, sacrifice as true gain, and mercy as power. It also means recognizing that belonging to Christ is a present reality, not only a future hope. That reality calls believers to serve others, love sacrificially, forgive freely, and trust God above all.
But here’s a thought-provoking question: If someone observed your daily life for a week, would they recognize you as a citizen of Heaven? Would your priorities, words, and actions reflect the values of God’s kingdom or the values of the culture around you? These are the kinds of honest reflections the Kingdom Living series invites participants to consider.
Over the course of the series, people are encouraged to examine their hearts, reorient priorities, and practice habits that make kingdom living tangible in everyday life. It’s not about perfection but about transformation. It’s about allowing Jesus’ teaching to reshape how we think, speak, act, and love in the real world.
The kingdom Jesus established isn’t waiting in some distant future. It’s present, active, and available today to all who choose to follow Him.
We would love to have you join us in person at New Life Church on Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m. at the Robson Ranch Clubhouse or watch the series online at newlifedenton.org.