Here we are, week 2 and I am so inspired by YOU. Thank you for your interaction and comments and for encouraging each other!

If you are just now joining us, so glad you are HERE! You can read more about my new book Just RISE UP! HERE.

**You can read last week’s online study notes by clicking HERE.

Be Kingdom Minded

I know this is a big ol’ topic that we in now way could cover in one week. But, let’s jump in anyway, ok? This week we will discuss something that helps me zero in on what’s most important every day. I am still wrapping my mind around what it means to be Kingdom minded and I know we won’t ever fully grasp until we see Jesus face to face. In the meantime, let’s RISE UP! and seek His Kingdom which is…

our ULTIMATE reality.

Check out my thoughts in the video below as we chat about the bigger picture.

***IF you are reading this via email, click HERE to watch the video***

 

Dig IN!

Let’s refresh with some worship and circle back to Psalm 145. Grab your Bible and read all the way through verse 13.

All creation will stand in awe of You, O Eternal One.
Thanks will pour from the mouths of every one of Your creatures;
Your holy people will bless You.
They will not be silent; they will talk of the grandeur of Your kingdom
and celebrate the wonder of Your power
Until everyone on earth who has ears to hear knows Your valiant acts
and the splendor of Your kingdom.
Your kingdom will never end;
Your rule will endure forever.
[You are faithful to Your promise, and Your acts are marked with grace.]
(Psalm 145: 10-13 THE VOICE)

~After you get a chance to read my thoughts on the Kingdom as our future reality and present reality, write out your definition of a Kingdom perspective. See if you can incorporate some Scripture references by using the concordance in the back of your Bible. Start with verse Psalm 145 to get you thinking about the enduring nature of God’s Kingdom.

On page 30 of Just RISE UP! I shared this…

Every kingdom has a king. But where most kings rule out of self-elevation and pride, our King came and served us first. He set the bar for us to follow as servants, and we can do that with the utmost dignity because we live and serve the King who defines the words good, beautiful, mighty, merciful, and grace. (Just RISE UP!)

In order for us to even begin our conversation on being Kingdom minded, we simply MUST celebrate this King that we serve, right? Jesus is our ultimate example. We are invited to not only serve, worship and make much of Jesus, but to also imitate Him. Oh yes, the bar is set high. We might feel tempted to think that we will never measure up. Never be holy enough. Never be good enough. Never be humble enough.

Here is the good news! It is not about us. It is about Jesus and His Spirit with in us.

Soak in this passage from Philippians. Soak in the idea that this King is alive and powerful and His Kingdom is REAL.

In other words, adopt the mind-set of Jesus the Anointed. Live with His attitude in your hearts. Remember: Though He was in the form of God, He chose not to cling to equality with God; 7 But He poured Himself out to fill a vessel brand new; a servant in form and a man indeed. The very likeness of humanity, 8 He humbled Himself, obedient to death—a merciless death on the cross! 9 So God raised Him up to the highest place and gave Him the name above all. 10 So when His name is called, every knee will bow, in heaven, on earth, and below. 11 And every tongue will confess “Jesus, the Anointed One, is Lord,” to the glory of God our Father! (Philippians 2:5-11 THE VOICE)

~There is so much to unpack in this passage. Take some time to read through it in a couple different translations. (BibleGateway is a great resource online!) What about this passage gives you new vision about the character of Jesus, our King?  Does it give you new perspective about who it is that we worship and serve?

Journal through IT!

Let’s keep working through the idea that we have a place in God’s Kingdom, the bigger picture. We take our place when we first imitate the nature of Jesus…that humility and servant nature. Our place in the Kingdom starts with loving God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength and loving others as ourselves. The way to this lifestyle of Kingdom perspective is to allow God to sanctify our entire existence. We talked about this in the section above.

On page 40 I started a journal conversation surrounding Hebrews 10:10. Read that journal question and this passage…

By God’s will, we are made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus the Anointed once and for all time. (THE VOICE)

~Take some time to journal through your thoughts on Jesus and His holiness.

Praise Him for it.

Ask Him to show You more of His glory.

Ask Him for forgiveness for any ways that you might turn your back on His holiness.

Write it out. Write out anything you might feel about taking YOUR place in the Kingdom. What excites you? What scares you or freaks you out? Take it all to the King…He wants your praise…

He is WORTHY!

Share IT!

I would be so honored if you would share these graphics on social media to encourage your friends on Instagram or Twitter or Facebook! ***Be sure to use #JustRISEUP

 

 

 

Talk About IT!

I want to hear from YOU. I loved reading your comments last week and interacting with you.

Leave a comment below with any thoughts regarding the questions above OR anything you have on your mind as you read chapter 2 of Just RISE UP! Do you have any questions? Any additional thoughts? I want to hear from YOU!

Also, feel free to comment on each other’s thoughts in the comments. Let’s get a good discussion going, ok?

I would love to connect with you through out the week. Here is where you can find me!!

Facebook: LIVE IT OUT! community

Twitter: @sarahfmartin

Instagram: @sarahfmartin