Matthew 4: Standing Firm Against the Enemy

The Beatitudes & the Upside-Down Kingdom

Welcome to the table! In this episode of our series on Matthew: The Way of the Kingdom of Heaven. Julie and Kimberly continue their journey through the Sermon on the Mount, settling into the opening words of Jesus in the Beatitudes. Together, they reflect on how these familiar verses reveal the heart of the kingdom of heaven—an upside-down kingdom built on grace, humility, mercy, and transformation. The conversation explores how the Beatitudes are not separate categories of believers, but a complete portrait of kingdom character that Jesus forms in all His followers. Julie and Kimberly wrestle honestly with past misunderstandings, religious baggage, and the tension of learning to live out the message of Jesus in a world shaped by performance, fear, and self-protection. In This Episode * Why the Beatitudes may be the "new Ten Commandments" for kingdom living * The connection between Jesus on the mountain and Moses on Mount Sinai * Understanding "poor in spirit" as the starting place of grace * Why the Beatitudes build upon one another as a unified picture of discipleship * Wrestling with persecution, suffering, and joy in the kingdom of heaven * Honest reflections on church culture, vulnerability, and creating safe spaces for broken people * The importance of confession, authenticity, and spiritual renewal in the church * Personal reflections on which Beatitude resonates most deeply right now Scripture Discussed * Matthew 5:1–12 — The Beatitudes * Philippians 2 — The attitude of Christ * Psalms 27 — Seeking the face of God * Exodus 24 — Covenant at Mount Sinai Thanks for listening! We'd love for you to share this episode with a friend. Whether you've been following Jesus for years, are just getting started, or are simply considering it, you're invited to join us at the study table. Subscribe to my Table 2 Newsletter [https://mailchi.mp/flourishministry/14kzdimctp] for study reflections, and visit Flourish Ministry [https://flourishministry.com] for free resources. Keep following the Table Flipper, and leave the table flipping to Jesus.

16 Minute Sermon

Welcome to the table! In this episode we're beginning to go through the Sermon on the Mount. This is Jesus' "kingdom manifesto." This is the way of the Kingdom of Heaven. Kimberly, my co-host, and I read through the entire sermon, Matthew 5–7, honestly wrestling with the tension, we feel over parts of it. These three chapters contain some of Jesus' most familiar words and arguably some of His most misunderstood words. We pause in between each chapter to talk about some parts that are hard to understand and hard to obey. The Sermon can be read in as little as 16 minutes. I'm inviting you to join us for the next couple of months reading it and coming back to the table for a series of episodes on the most important sermon of all time. Let's learn to live it out together! D.A. Carson said, "The more I read these three chapters– Matthew 5, 6, and 7 – the more I am both drawn to them and shamed by them. Their brilliant light draws me like a moth to a spotlight; but the light is so bright it sears and burns." Whether you've been following Jesus for years, are just getting started, or are simply considering it, you're invited to join us at the study table. Subscribe to my Table 2 Newsletter [https://mailchi.mp/flourishministry/14kzdimctp] for study reflections, and visit Flourish Ministry [https://flourishministry.com] for free resources. Keep following the Table Flipper, and leave the table flipping to Jesus.

Jesus is Jesusing

Season 4, Episode 11 — Matthew: The Way of the Kingdom of Heaven Text: Matthew 4:18-25 Welcome to the table! In this episode we discuss Jesus calling four fishermen to become His disciples. I give some background on the relationship between a rabbi and his disciples in the first century. Kimberly and I reflect on being disciples of Jesus in the twenty-first century. We discuss what's hard about it and what we misunderstood or didn't understand about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. "A Rabbi's work was to instruct the crowds, but his greatest goal was to raise up disciples who would carry on his teaching." Have you dropped your nets and started following Jesus? The Jesus Boat [https://youtu.be/zExozaN6Uss?si=21jla4Ny0lXBrAaE] Thanks for listening! We'd love for you to share this episode with a friend. Whether you've been following Jesus for years, are just getting started, or are simply considering it, you're invited to join us at the study table. Subscribe to my Table 2 Newsletter [https://mailchi.mp/flourishministry/14kzdimctp] for study reflections, and visit Flourish Ministry [https://flourishministry.com/] for free resources. Keep following the Table Flipper, and leave the table flipping to Jesus.

Unexpected Direction Galilee of the Gentiles

Season 4, Episode 10 — Matthew: The Way of the Kingdom of Heaven Text: Matthew 4:12–17 In this episode, Kimberly and I finally arrive at the moment when Jesus begins his public ministry. As we step into Matthew 4, we talk about Jesus leaving Nazareth for Capernaum and why Galilee—called Galilee of the Gentiles—matters so much to the story of the kingdom of heaven. We reflect on Jesus' rejection in his hometown, the way he flips expectations, and how the kingdom challenges our small worldviews. This conversation invites us to wrestle with nuance, loosen our grip on control, and consider who we're willing to sit with at the table as we follow the Table Flipper together. * Matthew 4:12–17 * Isaiah 9:1–2 * Luke 4:14–30 * Isaiah 61:1–2 Thanks for listening! We'd love for you to share this episode with a friend. Whether you've been following Jesus for years, are just getting started, or are simply considering it, you're invited to join us at the study table. Subscribe to my Table 2 Newsletter [https://mailchi.mp/flourishministry/14kzdimctp] for study reflections, and visit Flourish Ministry [https://flourishministry.com] for free resources. Keep following the Table Flipper, and leave the table flipping to Jesus.

Matthew 4: Standing Firm Against the Enemy

Welcome to the table! In this episode, we explore Jesus' temptation in Matthew 4 and what it reveals about spiritual warfare, identity, and endurance. As followers of Jesus, we are not merely passing through the wilderness — we live here. But this is not a place of defeat. Because Jesus triumphed, we can stand firm in His victory. What We Cover in This Episode * Why the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness * The parallels between: * Jesus and Israel in the wilderness * Jesus and Adam & Eve in the garden * The three categories of temptation: * Lust of the flesh * Lust of the eyes * Pride of life * How Satan twists Scripture — and how Jesus responds * What it means to stop saying, "I'm in a wilderness season" * Key Scriptures * Matthew 4:1–11 * Ephesians 6:10–18 * Exodus 15–17 * Numbers 14 * Genesis 3 * 1 John 2:15–17 * Romans 8:31–39 Thanks for listening! We'd love for you to share this episode with a friend. Whether you've been following Jesus for years, are just getting started, or are simply considering it, you're invited to join us at the study table. Subscribe to my Table 2 Newsletter [https://mailchi.mp/flourishministry/14kzdimctp] for updates and study reflections, and visit Flourish Ministry [https://flourishministry.com/] for free resources. Keep following the Table Flipper, and leave the table flipping to Jesus.