Weekend Message Takeaway: “Who Do You Want to Be?”

This past weekend, we kicked off “The Sermon that Changed the World,” our 11-week series through the Sermon on the Mount. In this message, Pastor Doug gave us a synopsis of the Beatitudes, explaining the presence of the Kingdom of God on earth and the power of the promises of God. 

Watch the video below to see a few highlights from the teaching and share it with your friends via social media. To watch the message in its entirety, click here.

 

FOR THE NOTE TAKERS
Let’s recap some of the key talking points from Pastor Doug's teaching this weekend:

The Kingdom of God Is “Already But Not Yet” (Matthew 3:2, 4:17, 5:3, 10): The Kingdom of God is already here; it is present wherever God’s will is done in and through us. It is the range of God’s effective will. God’s reign is all around you—it’s the natural home of your soul! Jesus is emphasizing that the kingdom of God is not far off and way later, but available and directly accessible to us through Him.

Consider how Jesus taught His disciples to pray: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10 NIV). Jesus is inviting us to stop waiting until we go to heaven, and pray that we may experience heaven come down. You see, we live in the space between—it’s present but not in its fullness. It’s already come down—in the form of salvation and redemption through Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit—but not yet fully realized, as we live in a fallen and lost world.

For Every Promise of God, the World Offers a Tempting Counterfeit (Matthew 4:1–11): What the world offers always looks beautiful, wondrous, and appealing, but the truth is it’s fake. It’s a counterfeit, a cheap knock-off, devoid of any true, lasting value. In Matthew 4, Jesus explains three temptations and lies the world offers: 1) to feed the flesh by gratifying the desires of the body (flesh), 2) to step outside God’s path and will in favor or our own selfish ambitions, and 3) to compromise our faith for fame, power, and wealth.

The pull of the world will always be toward these counterfeit things, these vain, empty pursuits that simply keep us distracted from all that we could experience of God’s heavenly kingdom. They pull us in different directions to take us off the path of God’s will and purposes. But in the end, these things never satisfy and always leave us emptier and further away from experiencing heaven on earth.

Jesus Invites Us to Live by Kingdom Values and Find Freedom (Matthew 5:1–10): While the world tries to sell us on the counterfeits, Jesus tells us that true happiness can be experienced when we live by kingdom values! When we live these kingdom values, we will know the life that is truly life, the life that God created us to experience, the free life Jesus came to set us free to live!

Freedom is the capacity to fully be who God created us to be. So, who are you going to be this year?

New Year’s Challenge: Read the Sermon on the Mount each week for the next 11 weeks. Let it soak into your soul and crowd out the voices of the world. Don’t be discouraged by what may be perceived as unattainable standards. Instead, be full of hope and joy knowing the Holy Spirit will lead you and empower you if you come with a humble heart, an available mind, and willing spirit to do what He directs you to do.

Quote to Remember: Don’t build your life on the counterfeit; invest in the real kingdom.—Pastor Doug Sauder


CONNECT EXPERIENCE
Times, Dates, and Locations Vary by Campus
This experience is designed to help you build relationships, grow in your faith, and find your fit here at Calvary. Throughout our time together, we'll take a deeper look at who we are as a church and where God is leading us as we unpack our mission to make disciples, how we've been called to carry it out, and how you can connect with us and be part of the work God is doing here. Click here to register.


DISCIPLEYOU CLASSES
New Block of Classes Starts January 14
DiscipleYou is a learning environment where your relationship with Jesus Christ becomes engaging, practical, relational, and real. From classes like Foundations of Faith, Financial Peace University, and Strong Marriage, DiscipleYou has something for everyone! For more info and to sign up, click here.


BEACH BAPTISM
Saturday, January 20, Starts at 8:30am and Every Half-Hour | 1 Block South of the Pompano Pier on A1A 
If you’ve recently made a decision to follow Jesus, getting baptized is the next step in your journey. Join us for our next baptism on the beach! Bring your Bible, a towel, and money for parking! For details, or to find out why baptism is such an important step in your life, click here.


ARISE AND GO: MISSIONS WEEK
January 31–February 7 | Various Times and Locations
“Arise and go” were the words God spoke to Jonah as He called the prophet to share His message with a different culture. Today, He’s calling us to do the same. Come find out how you can take up the call of God and be part of something amazing and life-changing. Get a closer look at how God is reaching the nations and expanding His kingdom through ordinary people who said “I will go!” Meet missionaries from various countries and hear their stories, learn about the persecuted church, human trafficking, and how to share your faith with the people you encounter every day.

For more info, contact Lysa McMillan or click here.


BEATITUDES DEVOTIONAL READING PLAN
Go in-depth into one of the most famous sermons ever preached by Jesus, the Beatitudes. This passage is filled with practical and profound wisdom that every Christian can benefit from. We pray that as you take the time over the next few weeks to study these ten verses, that you would hear from the Lord and experience a deeper relationship with Him! Click here to subscribe.


A LOOK AHEAD
This Wednesday, Pastor Doug will delve into the harrowing journey of Joseph. Study along with us as we see this son of Jacob go from slave to prisoner to second in command of Egypt. In this message, we'll explore the kind of attitude we should all have as we encounter trials and tribulations. 

This weekend we’ll be joined by special guest Gary Haugen, CEO of International Justice Mission, as we explore the humility of Jesus, God’s heart for the poor, and how we can be the hands and feet of Jesus to those who are hurting.

About the Author

Danny Saavedra

Danny Saavedra is a licensed minister who has served on staff at Calvary since 2012, managing the Calvary Devotional and digital discipleship resources. He has a Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling and Master of Divinity in Pastoral Ministry from Liberty Theological Seminary. His wife Stephanie, son Jude, and daughter Zoe share a love of Star Wars, good food, having friends over for dinner, and studying the Word together as a family.