Kingdom Influence Part 10 with Discussion Guide

BySteve

Kingdom Influence Part 10 Discussion Guide

Summary

This sermon focuses on the fourth Beatitude: ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.’ The pastor explains that righteousness is not about doing good deeds but about being restored to the image of God through Christ. It’s an identity term rather than a performance term. Jesus’ death and resurrection made it possible for us to become image bearers again, reflecting God’s character to the world. The sermon emphasizes that we should hunger for true righteousness, not just the appearance of being righteous, which leads to self-righteousness and judgment.

The pastor warns against the dangerous ‘off-ramp’ of self-righteousness that has plagued the church for centuries. True righteousness produces humility and makes us ambassadors for Christ, not judges. When we cultivate a spiritual appetite for God and His righteousness, we experience the paradox that the hungrier we become for Him, the more satisfied we are in Him. The direction of our hunger determines the direction of our lives, so we must examine what we’re truly craving and press into God with all our being.

Intro Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come before You this morning grateful for Your grace and mercy. As we gather together to study Your Word, we ask that You would open our hearts and minds to what You want to teach us today. Help us to be honest about our own spiritual hunger and to examine what we’re truly craving in our lives. Holy Spirit, reveal to us areas where we may have settled for less than Your best, and stir in us a deep hunger and thirst for righteousness – not self-righteousness, but the true righteousness that comes from being restored to Your image. May we be open to Your correction, encouragement, and transformation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Ice Breaker

What’s your favorite comfort food when you’re really hungry, and what’s the story behind why it became your go-to meal?

Key Verses

  • Matthew 5:6
  • 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
  • Matthew 6:33
  • Romans 5:19
  • Ephesians 4:24
  • John 6:35

Questions

  • The pastor mentioned that most of us know what our next meal will be, unlike people in Jesus’ time. How does this cultural difference affect our understanding of what it means to ‘hunger and thirst’ for righteousness?
  • What’s the difference between hungering for righteousness and hungering to appear righteous? Can you think of examples of each in your own life or in the church?
  • The sermon describes righteousness as ‘being who you’re supposed to be’ rather than just doing good things. How does this definition change your perspective on what it means to live a righteous life?
  • What does it mean to be an ‘image bearer’ of God? How should this identity affect the way we interact with others daily?
  • The pastor warns about the ‘off-ramp’ to self-righteousness that makes us judges instead of ambassadors. What are some signs that we might be taking this wrong turn?
  • Jesus said, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry.’ How have you experienced this promise in your own spiritual journey?
  • The sermon asks us to examine what we’re actually hungry for by looking at our calendar, conversations, and thought life. What do these areas of your life reveal about your true desires?
  • How can we cultivate a genuine spiritual appetite for God and His righteousness without trying to manufacture fake hunger?

Life Application

This week, take an honest inventory of what you’re truly hungry for. Look at how you spend your time, what dominates your thoughts, and what you find yourself craving most. Ask God to reveal areas where you might be settling for lesser things instead of hungering for His righteousness. Choose one specific way to ‘press in’ to God this week – whether through prayer, Scripture reading, worship, or serving others – and commit to pursuing Him with the same intensity you would pursue food when you’re truly hungry.

Key Takeaways

  • Righteousness is about being restored to the image of God, not just doing good deeds – it’s an identity, not a performance.
  • We must hunger for true righteousness, not just the appearance of being righteous, which leads to self-righteousness and judgment.
  • True righteousness produces humility and makes us ambassadors for Christ, not judges of others.
  • The paradox of spiritual hunger: the more we hunger and thirst for God, the more satisfied we become in Him.
  • The direction of our hunger determines the direction of our lives – we must examine what we’re truly craving and press into God with all our being.

Ending Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for this time of fellowship and learning together. We’re grateful that through Your death and resurrection, we can be restored as image bearers of God. Help us to hunger and thirst for true righteousness – not to appear righteous to others, but to genuinely reflect Your character in our daily lives. Forgive us for the times we’ve taken the off-ramp to self-righteousness and become judges instead of ambassadors. Stir in us a deep spiritual appetite that can only be satisfied by You. As we go into this week, help us to press into You with the same intensity we would pursue food when we’re truly hungry. May our lives be shaped by our hunger for You, and may we find our deepest satisfaction in being who You created us to be. In Your precious name, Amen.

Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.

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