The Kingdom Framework: Part 2 — Living It Out

Series: Building The Kingdom

🎯 Title: The Kingdom Framework: Part 2 — Living It Out

Subtitle: Jesus moves us from internal alignment to outward influence.

Text: Matthew 5:7–16

🎬 Opening Paragraph with Hook Phrase: In 1989, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, people expected the Church in Eastern Europe to be crushed. For decades, Christians had worshiped underground, pastors had been imprisoned, and Bibles were smuggled in at great risk. From the outside, it looked like persecution had silenced the Gospel.

But when the wall came down, something unexpected happened. Reporters discovered that the Church had not died—it had grown. Small underground gatherings had multiplied into networks of believers. Songs of worship had been whispered in basements, and when freedom finally came, those whispers turned into a roar.

The Kingdom didn’t advance by political power or cultural conquest. It flourished through believers who chose mercy, purity, peace, and endurance. Their quiet faith in hidden rooms turned into a public witness that changed nations.

That’s exactly what Jesus shows us in Matthew 5. He begins with the inward attitudes that shape the heart, but He ends by looking His disciples in the eye and saying, “Blessed are YOU.” The Kingdom isn’t just an idea—it’s a calling. It moves from the inside out.

Road Map for Today

Reflect the Kingdom in Relationships (vv. 7–9) — mercy, purity, and peace shape how we treat others.

Stand When It Costs You (vv. 10–12) — faithfulness that flourishes under pressure.

Be the Difference (vv. 13–16) — salt and light that make the Kingdom visible in the world.

Phrase of the Day: When the Kingdom shapes you, the world sees Him.

🧭 Sermon Outline

📌 Reflect the Kingdom in Relationships

Matthew 5:7–9 ESV

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

These verses move us from private faith to public posture. Jesus teaches us how Kingdom people treat other people—with mercy, purity, and peace.

Give Mercy — Be a Conduit of Compassion (v. 7)

Mercy is God’s heart on display (Luke 6:36)

Luke give us more detail on mercy from the words of Jesus.

Luke 6:35–36 ESV

35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Mercy restores broken lives with grace (John 8:1–11)

God’s mercy aways proceeds His grace. He’s dealing with sinners.

Mercy is freely given so grace can be freely received.

Clear the Lens — Let Purity Shape How You See God and Others (v. 8)

Matthew 5:8 ESV

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Purity is single-minded devotion (Psalm 24:3–4, James 4:8)

Psalm 24:3–4 ESV

3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.

Purity of heart clears spiritual vision

Matthew 7:3–5 ESV

3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Make Peace Your Mission — Be a Bridge in a Broken World (v. 9)

Matthew 5:9 ESV

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Peacemakers initiate reconciliation

Hebrews 12:14 ESV

14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Jesus is the ultimate Peacemaker.

Ephesians 2:13–17 ESV

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.

📷 Illustration: In John 8, a woman caught in adultery was thrown before Jesus. The crowd demanded judgment, but Jesus chose mercy: “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more.” That moment displayed Kingdom compassion, purity of vision, and the pursuit of peace all at once.

Application: Just as Jesus released mercy, clarity, and peace to the woman in John 8, Kingdom people are called to do the same. We don’t just receive God’s mercy, purity, and peace—we release them. Flourishing happens when compassion, clarity, and reconciliation overflow from us into the lives of others.

📌 Stand When It Costs You — Stay Faithful When It Hurts

We move from “blessed are the” to “blessed are those” to “Blessed are you”.

Matthew 5:10 ESV

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Persecution comes with faithfulness.

2 Timothy 3:12–14 ESV

12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it

Matthew 5:11–12 ESV

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Endurance reveals reward

1 Peter 4:12–14 ESV

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

📷 Illustration: Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor and theologian, stood courageously against Nazi ideology when many in the church stayed silent. He helped lead the Confessing Church, trained pastors in secret, and declared that allegiance to Christ outweighed allegiance to Hitler. Arrested in 1943, he spent two years in prison writing letters and prayers that still inspire believers today. In April 1945, just weeks before Germany’s surrender, he was executed at Flossenbürg concentration camp. Though he lost his life, he was never silenced—his faithfulness under persecution continues to call the church to courageous discipleship. His legacy still speaks.

“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship, 1937

Application: Kingdom advancement doesn’t come without cost. In America we consider cost as time, talent, and treasure. But in many places around the world today the cost is suffering, solitude, and sacrifice. What are you willing to pay to see the gospel advance.

📌 Be the Difference — The Kingdom Is Personal Now

Matthew 5:13 ESV

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

🗣 Note on “Ye”: In the King James Bible, "ye" is the second-person plural pronoun, meaning Jesus wasn’t just talking generally—He was directly addressing His disciples. It’s the biblical version of saying, "Y’all are the salt. Y’all are the light."

Salt preserves and adds flavor

Colossians 4:6 ESV

6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Salt has that “POP” factor when it hits your tongue. It wakes up the taste buds.

When we speak it should be seasoned with the love of God that causes people to wake up and want more.

Light reveals and guides others to truth

Matthew 5:14–16 ESV

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Salt is your conversation

Light is your action.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

📷 Illustration: Think of an outpost. It’s not the capital city; it’s a forward place of refuge and refreshing. An outpost is where weary travelers find shelter, safety, and renewal before continuing their journey. It’s a beacon in the wilderness, a place where light shines in the darkness and where people know they can be renewed.

That’s what Jesus meant when He said, “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.” The church is called to be an outpost of the Kingdom—a place where people encounter mercy, peace, and the presence of God.

And that’s what our Outpost Project is all about. This isn’t just a new building; it’s a Kingdom outpost for our community. It’s where the hurting will find healing, the lonely will find family, and the exhausted will find rest. It’s where the light of Christ shines so brightly that people can’t help but be drawn in.

Application: Just as an outpost provides safety, refreshment, and light for weary travelers, the church is called to do the same for the world around it. We are not called to blend in or remain hidden—we are called to be a refuge, a beacon, and a place of renewal. Let your life, and our church together, shine as a Kingdom outpost where others can see Him clearly and be drawn to His presence.

🧩 Conclusion

Jesus begins the Beatitudes with inward posture but ends with outward presence. He moves from “Blessed are the…” to “Blessed are they…” and finally to “Blessed are you.” The Kingdom is not just a philosophy—it’s a calling. It’s not just what you believe—it’s how you live. When the Kingdom shapes you, the world sees Him.

✅ Next Steps (C = DxVxF)

Dissatisfaction: Where have you been living privately what God has called you to live publicly?

Vision: Imagine our church as a true outpost—mercy flowing, purity shining, peace spreading, faith standing. What would our city look like if we lived this way?

First Step: Choose one outward Beatitude to practice this week. Show mercy. Pursue purity. Make peace. Stand firm. Shine brightly.

🙏 Altar Call / Gospel Invitation

The Beatitudes don’t just describe a different way of life—they describe a different kind of Kingdom. And the door into that Kingdom is open today.

If you don’t yet know Christ, hear this: Jesus isn’t waiting for you to clean yourself up before He calls you blessed. He meets you in your brokenness, your guilt, your weariness, and says, “Come to Me, and I will give you rest.” Today can be the moment you step from darkness into light, from wandering to belonging, from striving to flourishing.

If you already know Christ, hear this: these blessings aren’t meant to stay private. Jesus looks His disciples in the eye and says, “Blessed are you… You are the salt… You are the light.” Maybe you’ve hidden your light. Maybe you’ve blended in when you were called to stand out. Today is your moment to renew your calling—to be a refuge, a voice of mercy, a peacemaker, a light that cannot be hidden.

So come.

Come if you need salvation in Christ for the very first time.

Come if you need courage to live your faith out loud.

Come if you’re weary and need the refreshing presence of God.

Come if you’re ready to say: “Here I am, Lord. Shape me, and let the world see You through me.”

When the Kingdom shapes you, the world sees Him.