Reflections on The Kingdom, by Sam Berg (Days 1 – 6)
Sam Berg has chosen to share his views on The Kingdom of God as Christ taught in the Sermon on the Mount.
We find these reflections of particular interest to our Missional Church Network. Thanks, Sam, for allowing us to share these here.
Day 1 — Life in the Kingdom; Some reflections on Jesus’ teachings. December 27, 2024
Matthew 4:17 – From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
This is Jesus’ opening declaration of his message. He invites us to live in His kingdom. Repentance is the turning of one’s mind towards the kingdom and thus a turning away from whatever might distract from that. However, the emphasis is on what is there to be turned to, not on what one is turning from. The Greek “metanoia” – change of mind – suggests the same kind of transformation as does “metamorphosis,” the biological transformation – change of form – that brings forth a butterfly. This change of mind is required if one would live in this kingdom. This kingdom is near, that is, it is not far off, either in time or in space. It is now available as the dwelling place for those who would inhabit it. So … what are we invited to when we are invited to repent?
Day 2 — Life in the Kingdom; Some reflections on Jesus’ teachings. December 28, 2024
Matthew 4:18-19 – As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishers. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
The first step into repentance (v.17) is the answer to the call to follow Jesus. To repent is to become a Jesus-follower. “Who are you?” is answered now by “I’m a Jesus-follower.” Such people have been identified by many other terms. The most common one is “Christian.” Many other terms have been used to describe them – denominational terms, theological words, sectarian labels. “Evangelical” is a popular one among the people I spend time with. These we use to differentiate among ourselves. The common denominator for all must be following Jesus. Today, again, I listen and hear the words, “Follow me” and I get up and “leave” everything to follow. Where? How? Looking forward to this day!
Day 3 — Life in the kingdom: December 30, 2024
Matthew 4:19 – “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
The word “people” translates the Greek word anthropos from which we get the English word anthropology. Many English versions of the bible translate is as “man” but it is properly understood as referring to the human race generally and inclusively. .
Entering the kingdom, and following Jesus, means we will “fish” for people. The message of Matthew gives us a broader vision of this than simply helping people find Jesus so they’ll go to heaven when they die. “Making disciples” in ch. 28 means teaching them to obey what Jesus commanded – to love one another, to love the neighbour, indeed, to love the enemy! This means engaging people in relationships and in community and that’s the much broader vision. In Mark 2, Jesus calls Levi to follow, and then end up at Levi’s house with Jesus’ followers and Levi’s friends. Every time we engage in a conversation, or have an encounter, we are “fishing.” The ultimate goal is to engage in a relationship, a conversation, a connection, however brief it might be. Because if we are following Jesus, that is where he has led us. So, then, what kind of people are we invited to be for this to happen? To find out, tomorrow, we’ll look at the beatitudes in ch. 5.
Day 4 — Life in the Kingdom; Some reflections on Jesus’ teachings. December 30, 2024
Matthew 5:1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
Jesus takes the teacher’s pose by sitting down. Following Jesus includes listening to and taking in his teachings. Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his Cost of Discipleship beautifully describes how this happens in the presence of the crowds – the crowds are within earshot of Jesus’ words.
A disciple is one who has committed to a discipline. For the Jesus-follower that discipline is the rule of life that we have been invited into by virtue of our turning towards the kingdom. In the three chapters to come, which have been called “The Sermon on the Mount” Jesus expands in amazing and expanding detail what that discipline involves. This teaching begins with a description of human flourishing – i.e., “blessed are those” – that I intend to reflect on in the coming blurbs.
In the meantime, I want to see myself as having come, with the disciples, out of the crowd and with open ears standing there listening to his Teachings.
Day 5 — Life in the Kingdom; More reflections on Jesus’ teachings. January 2, 2025
Matthew 5:3 – He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
In his book, The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing: A Theological Commentary, Jonathan Pennington says that the best English word to understand the idea of “blessed” in the beatitudes is “flourishing.” Thus, “Flourishing are the poor in spirit….” The root of this word is the same for that of flower. It is as we live in the kingdom that our lives can flower, and thus produce the fruit that follows the flowering. Life in the kingdom, begun as a turning towards the kingdom, enables us to flourish. This leads me to ask myself how I envision flourishing. How is being poor in spirit an experience of flourishing? Here’s a tentative idea: being open to the delight that is available in life in the kingdom requires a recognition that I’m incomplete in myself. For me it was a movement from knowing God provides what I need to knowing that in Jesus He is what I need. Flourishing means the kingdom is where I am given my home.
Day 6 — Life in the Kingdom; More reflections on Jesus’ teachings. January 3, 2025
Matthew 5:4 – Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
To translate: Flourishing is promised in the presence of mourning.
This second beatitude flies in the face of cultural promises. We’re surrounded by an ethos of happiness – through the right products, the right experiences and the right relationships.
The way of Jesus, however, promises a fellowship of suffering (Philippians 3:10). Comfort comes from those who have received comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-7).
There is more companionship, more oneness, and more unity in shared tears than in shared joys.
As my younger brother has posted: “The individual is a phantom — in wonder and blunder we receive our selves through the eyes of others. Meaning, dear reader, my personal fulfillment is in your flourishing.”
This page by: Ron Richmond
First published: 2025/01/06
Latest revision: 2025/03/25