Worship Center
Road Trip - Part 1: "Downside Up Kingdom"
Locations & Times
Worship Center
2384 New Holland Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 11:00 AM
Monday 7:00 PM
The life God offers is not just a final destination but a firsthand discovery of his goodness all along the journey.
Proverbs 12:28 NLT
28 The way of the godly leads to life; that path does not lead to death.
28 The way of the godly leads to life; that path does not lead to death.
Psalms 119:35 NLT
35 Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found.
35 Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found.
Matthew 5:1-12 NKJV
1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Ecclesiastes 1:2 NLT
2 “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!”
2 “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!”
1. True happiness is found in saying, "Lord, I need you."
Matthew 5:3 NKJV
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Luke 18:9-14 NLT
9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer (18:11 Some manuscripts read stood and prayed this prayer to himself.): ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer (18:11 Some manuscripts read stood and prayed this prayer to himself.): ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
2. True happiness is found in embracing brokenness.
Matthew 5:4 NKJV
4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
Isaiah 61:1-3 NKJV
1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
3. True happiness is found in trusting God no matter what.
Matthew 5:5 NKJV
5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
Psalm 37:3-11 NKJV
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. 6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. 7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. 6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. 7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Celebrate and Care:
Have each person share a high and low from this past week.
Have each person share a high and low from this past week.
Big Idea:
The life God offers is not just a final destination but a firsthand discovery of his goodness all along the journey. In the Downside Up Kingdom, true happiness is found in saying, “Lord, I need you”, embracing brokenness, and trusting God no matter what.
The life God offers is not just a final destination but a firsthand discovery of his goodness all along the journey. In the Downside Up Kingdom, true happiness is found in saying, “Lord, I need you”, embracing brokenness, and trusting God no matter what.
Open Up:
Share a story from your most memorable road trip.
Share a story from your most memorable road trip.
Discuss:
Choose one or two questions for your group to discuss as time allows.
- Read Psalm 119:35. How does walking along the path of God’s commands lead us to happiness?
- Which of the beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) stands out to you as an offer of the Downside Up Kingdom and why?
- How can we find happiness in saying, “Lord, I need you”?
- Why can we take heart if we are feeling broken?
Choose one or two questions for your group to discuss as time allows.
- Read Psalm 119:35. How does walking along the path of God’s commands lead us to happiness?
- Which of the beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) stands out to you as an offer of the Downside Up Kingdom and why?
- How can we find happiness in saying, “Lord, I need you”?
- Why can we take heart if we are feeling broken?
Engage:
Spend 1-2 minutes in silence with these questions then share your thoughts.
Where do you find it challenging to trust God in your personal journey?
Read Psalm 37:3-11. What can you do to allow him to meet you right where you are at?
Spend 1-2 minutes in silence with these questions then share your thoughts.
Where do you find it challenging to trust God in your personal journey?
Read Psalm 37:3-11. What can you do to allow him to meet you right where you are at?
Close together in prayer.
Pray that God gives us a greater understanding of the downside up kingdom to live out in our real lives.
Pray that God gives us a greater understanding of the downside up kingdom to live out in our real lives.