Kingdom Over Culture

Subtitle: Choosing Heaven’s Influence in a World of Competing Voices

Series: Building the Kingdom

🎬 Opening Paragraph with Hook Phrase

In 2019, a young professional named Tyler Moon signed up for a 10-mile race in Minneapolis. Wanting to share his faith, he replaced the name on his race bib with the words “Jesus Saves.” Halfway through the race, Tyler collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest. Out of the thousands running that day, the man who rushed to his side and began CPR was a nurse — whose name, incredibly, was Jesus (pronounced “Hay-soos”). Tyler survived, and his story went viral as a reminder that God’s influence can break through in ways we could never script.

We live in a world shaped by countless forces — our culture, our friends, our past, our fears — but only one influence can truly save and transform us: the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus came to offer an unshakable Kingdom that rises above every cultural tide and political wind. The question is: Which influence has the loudest voice in your life right now?

Today, we’re going to walk through four progressive steps for living under the Kingdom’s influence:

Hearing the Call of the Kingdom — recognizing God’s invitation to leave lesser influences.

Entering the Kingdom — turning from sin and experiencing new life in Christ.

Living Daily in the Power of the Kingdom — walking in Spirit-filled obedience.

Carrying the light of the kingdom forward — keeping the light of repentance burning for the next generation.

Hook Phrase: When the Kingdom shapes you, the culture can’t shake you.

Hearing the Call of the Kingdom

Matthew 3:1–2 ESV

1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

The Kingdom doesn’t arrive in whispers or mystical feelings — it comes with a herald. In Jesus’ day, that herald was John the Baptist, prophesied centuries earlier as “the voice of one crying in the wilderness” (Isaiah 40:3). John’s assignment was clear: prepare the way for the King by calling people to repentance and announcing that the Kingdom of Heaven was near.

Isaiah 40:3 NKJV

3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.

A Prophetic Herald

John the Baptist fulfilled God’s promise to send a messenger (Malachi 3:1), boldly proclaiming the arrival of the King. His voice broke through the religious and political noise of the day with one simple, urgent message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2).

Malachi 3:1 ESV

1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.

A Present Heralding

Romans 10:15 reminds us that “how are they to hear without someone preaching?” The Kingdom call continues today — not through angels in the clouds, but through believers who open their mouths, share the Gospel, and invite others to live under King Jesus’ rule.

Romans 10:13–15 ESV

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

📷 Story Illustration:

Last week, When Kim and I were flying home, a gate agent suddenly grabbed the microphone. You could hear the urgency in her voice: “Final boarding call for Flight 327 to Dallas. All remaining passengers must proceed to the gate immediately. The doors are closing.” She repeated it twice, scanning the terminal for stragglers. Moments later, a man came running full speed, his bag bouncing behind him. He made it just before the door shut. If that agent had stayed silent, he would have missed his flight.

John the Baptist was that kind of gate agent for the Kingdom — sounding the final call before the King stepped onto the scene. And now, every time you and I share the Gospel, we step up to the mic with that same urgency: The Kingdom is here. Don’t miss it.

Application: Don’t wait for people to stumble into the Kingdom by accident. Open your mouth. Share the message. Be a modern-day herald so others can hear and respond.

Hook: When the Kingdom shapes you, the culture can’t shake you.

Entering the Kingdom Through Repentance and New Birth

Matthew 3:5–8 ESV

5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

The Kingdom’s call demands a response — and the doorway in is repentance and new birth. This is not a half-step or an emotional nod toward God. It’s a total change, where the old self is left behind and a new life in Christ begins.

Repentance: Putting Off the Old and Putting On the New

Repentance is more than regret; it is a decisive turning away from the old nature and its influences, and embracing the new identity given in Christ. Paul describes it in Ephesians 4:22–24. John the Baptist called for in Matthew 3:8 — visible evidence that a real transformation has taken place.

Ephesians 4:21–24 ESV

21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

New Birth: A Spiritual Awakening

Being “born again” means rejecting Adam’s nature and receiving Christ’s nature, moving from death to life (John 3:5–8). It’s a transformation the Holy Spirit works in us, producing a new heart, new desires, and a new direction.

John 3:5–8 ESV

5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

📷 Story Illustration:

There was a man who had worked for years in construction. He always wore the same work boots, the same worn-out jeans, and the same old flannel shirts — even on weekends. But one day he was promoted to a supervisor role, and with that new position came a new uniform: clean khakis, a collared shirt, and a hard hat instead of a tool belt. His coworkers noticed the change immediately. It wouldn’t have made sense for him to keep wearing his old gear — that wasn’t who he was anymore.

That’s repentance and new birth — you can’t keep wearing the old identity when the King has given you a new one.

Application: Don’t drag the rags of your old life into the Kingdom. Put them off, and put on the new life Christ offers.

Hook: When the Kingdom shapes you, the culture can’t shake you.

Living Daily in the Power of the Kingdom

Matthew 3:11 ESV

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Once you’ve entered the Kingdom and put on your new identity in Christ, you’re not meant to live it out in your own strength. Kingdom living requires Kingdom power — the daily influence of the Holy Spirit and the refining work of God shaping your life into Christ’s likeness.

Baptism of Water for repentance: Identification with Christ

This is the outward declaration that you belong to the King. It’s a public testimony of dying to the old self and being raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3–4).

Romans 6:3–4 ESV

3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Baptism of the Spirit: Empowerment for Kingdom Living

This is the inward reality that fuels Kingdom life. The Spirit indwells and empowers believers to resist worldly influences and become influencers for the Kingdom.

Baptism of Fire: Refinement by the Lord – Fire purifies and tests.

Malachi 3:2–3 ESV

2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.

📷 Story Illustration:

In a silversmith’s shop, the craftsman heats the silver until impurities rise to the surface, skimming them off until the metal is pure. Someone once asked how he knew when the process was complete. He replied, “When I can see my reflection in it.”

That’s the baptism of fire — the refining work of God that removes what doesn’t belong until He sees the reflection of His Son in us.

Application: Don’t just identify with Christ or be empowered by the Spirit — allow God to refine you, removing anything that keeps you from reflecting Him.

Hook: When the Kingdom shapes you, the culture can’t shake you.

Carrying the Kingdom Light Forward

Matthew 4:12 ESV

12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.

Matthew 4:17 ESV

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

From the beginning, the Kingdom message has carried one central call: Repent — turn from sin, turn to God, and live under the reign of King Jesus. This is the thread that runs through every Kingdom herald, from John the Baptist, to Jesus Himself, to Peter at Pentecost and now through us.

The message has never changed.

John’s Call – “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). John prepared the way for the King by calling people to turn from their old ways and bear the fruit of repentance.

Jesus’ Call – After John was imprisoned, Jesus took up the same message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). The King Himself proclaimed that entry into His Kingdom begins with a change of heart and direction.

Peter’s Call – On the day of Pentecost, after declaring Jesus as the risen Lord, Peter echoed the same words: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…” (Acts 2:38).

The message must go on.

Romans 10:14–15 ESV

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

📷 Story Illustration:

Before electricity, lighthouses depended on keepers to keep their lamps burning through the night. One keeper’s shift would end, and another would step in to ensure the light never went out. If the lamp was neglected, ships could be lost in the darkness, crashing against unseen rocks.

John lit the lamp with the call to repent. When his voice was silenced in prison, Jesus kept it burning. After His ascension, Peter shined it into the nations at Pentecost. And now, the light is in our hands. If we let it go dark, the message of repentance will not reach those still navigating the darkness.

Application: The repentance message is the light that guides people safely into the Kingdom. Keep it burning. Declare it with clarity and compassion wherever God has placed you.

Hook: When the Kingdom shapes you, the culture can’t shake you.

🏁 Conclusion

The voices of this world will keep calling for your attention, but only one voice leads to life. The Kingdom of Heaven is not just a future hope — it’s a present reality for all who repent, are born again, and walk under the Spirit’s influence.

When the Kingdom shapes you, the culture can’t shake you.

✅ Next Steps (C=DxVxF>R Applied)

Dissatisfaction – Identify and reject the worldly influences pulling you away from God.

Vision – Picture your life fully led by the Spirit — flourishing in love, purpose, and peace.

First Step – This week, make one intentional choice that reflects Kingdom influence: forgive someone, share your faith, or prioritize Scripture over social media.

🙏 Altar Call / Gospel Invitation

Friend, whose influence are you living under today? You are being shaped by something — whether you realize it or not. It may be the pull of culture, the weight of your past, the opinions of others, or your own desires. But there is only one influence that will lead you to life, peace, and eternal hope: the Kingdom of God under King Jesus.

From John the Baptist to Jesus to Peter, the message has never changed: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” That’s not a word of condemnation — it’s an invitation. Repentance means turning away from what’s destroying you and turning toward the One who loves you enough to die for you.

Jesus Christ gave His life on the cross, bearing your sin and shame. He rose again to give you new life — a life where you are forgiven, set free, and filled with His Spirit. And today, He stands ready to bring you into His Kingdom. But the door is not automatic. You must respond to the call.

Some of you here today need to make that decision for the very first time — to confess Jesus as Lord, believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, and surrender your life to His reign. Others of you are believers, but you’ve been living under the influence of the wrong voices. Today is your moment to return fully to the King and let Him shape every part of your life.

Challenge: Will you be the next herald of the Kingdom? Will you keep the light burning in your generation so others can find their way home? This week, choose one person you will intentionally speak to about Jesus. Carry the message forward — because if the Kingdom shapes you, the culture can’t shake you.

Prayer Over the Congregation

Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for Your Kingdom — unshakable, unstoppable, and full of grace and truth. Today, I pray for every person in this room. For those who do not yet know You, draw them by Your Spirit to repentance and faith. Break every chain that holds them back from surrendering to King Jesus. For those who already belong to You, fill them afresh with Your Spirit’s power. Refine them like silver until Your reflection shines through their lives. Give us boldness to speak the message of the Kingdom with clarity, love, and urgency. And may this church be a lighthouse in a dark world, guiding many safely into Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Youtube synopsis:

In a world full of competing voices, how can you live under the right influence? In this message from Matthew 3, Pastor Bill Sizemore unpacks how repentance, new birth, and Spirit-filled living can free you from destructive influences and align your life with God’s Kingdom. Discover how the call to repent has echoed from John the Baptist to Jesus to Peter — and now to us — and learn how to carry the Kingdom light forward in your generation

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#KingdomOfGod #Sermon #Repentance #HolySpirit #ChristianLiving #Faith #BibleTeaching #JesusChrist #GospelMessage #KingdomOverCulture