Sermon Cover
Corona Friends Church

The Kingdom You Didn't Expect

September 6, 2026
Matthew Dietz Upside Down Kingdom 2
Matthew 4:17-5:12
01 · THE QUESTION
HOLD ONTO THIS QUESTION
What if we're keeping score according to rules Jesus never gave us?
02 · THE KINGDOM COMES NEAR
📖 READ
Matthew 4:17
Matthew 4:23
Matthew 4:25, 5:1
✍️ MARK IT
Circle “kingdom” in 4:17 & 4:23.
Underline “large crowds” in 4:25.
Draw an arrow to “crowds” in 5:1.
THE MOVEMENT
Jesus announces that God's reign and rule are breaking into the world. The crowds gather around Him, and now the King is about to tell them what His Kingdom is like.
03 · A DIFFERENT SCOREBOARD
📖 READ
Matthew 5:3–10
Read through the Beatitudes.
✍️ MARK IT
Circle “Blessed” each time Jesus says it.
THE MOVEMENT
Jesus' list of people who are “blessed” doesn't look much like the world's list of people who are winning.
KEY IDEA
Jesus isn't the rankings;
He's the scoreboard.
04 · POOR IN SPIRIT
📖 READ
Matthew 5:3
✍️ MARK IT
Box the entire verse.
THE MOVEMENT
Before Jesus tells His disciples how Kingdom people live, He begins with their dependence on God.
KEY IDEA
Being poor in spirit means coming before God recognizing I don't have myself what I need to myself.
05 · EMPTY HANDS
📖 READ
Matthew 5:3
Matthew 5:10
✍️ MARK IT
Circle “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” in both verses.

Connect the two phrases.
THE MOVEMENT
The same promise surrounds the Beatitudes: “theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” Jesus says the Kingdom is theirs now, not someday if they perform well enough.
KEY IDEA
The Kingdom is received by people who come to the King with .
06 · MY RESPONSE
💭 RESPOND
Where am I asking Jesus to help me in a Kingdom He's actually calling me to ?
07 · THOSE → YOU → YOU ARE
📖 READ
Matthew 5:10
Matthew 5:11
Matthew 5:13
Matthew 5:14
✍️ MARK IT
5:10 — Circle “those”
5:11 — Circle “you”
5:13 — Circle “you are”
5:14 — Circle “you are”
THE MOVEMENT
Jesus moves from describing “those” people to speaking directly to “you.” Kingdom life isn't theoretical anymore.
NEXT WEEK
Who you ARE in the Kingdom comes before what you DO for the Kingdom.
Salt & Light · Matt 5:13–16
Personal Takeaways
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Did You Know?
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