Sep 28, 2025  

GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH

Neil McClendon, Lead Pastor
Grand Parkway Baptist Church

The Inward Life of the Kingdom
Matthew 5:21-26

Four lenses for the rest of this chapter…
a) Jesus is more concerned with motive than checking the box
b) Christians are held to a higher ethical standard
c) The Gospel always invites us to think deeper
d) Truth turns radishes into carrots

1. Life in the Kingdom calls for integration, v. 21-22
a) name calling- “You fool!” 
b) insults
c) angry

Here is what we need to understand about anger…

1) anger manifests when your illusion of control is exposed
2) anger justifies your response to people and things with which you do not agree
3) anger requires something of others but never you
4) anger happens when you don’t know what to feel- anger is the soldier we send out to protect us.
5) anger is typically connected to fear

2. Reconciliation is inconvenient, v. 23-24

3. Integrated people can agree quickly, v. 25-26

Mental worship…

1. Are you more of a radish or a carrot when it comes to integration?
2. Have you dehumanized anybody lately in how you treated them or talked about them? 
3. Does anybody have something against you right now? 
4. How often are you inconvenienced in the name of obedience? 
5. Is there anything you know you need to do and are running out of time to do it?