The Upside Down Kingdom

What if following Jesus means turning everything you thought you knew about success, status, belonging, and winning upside down? In “The Upside Down Kingdom,” Pastor Bill LaMorey explores Mark 9:30–50, where Jesus challenges His disciples—and us—to live according to a radically different set of values. The world tells us to climb higher, protect our position, stick with our own tribe, and hold tightly to what we value. But Jesus introduces a Kingdom where the first become servants, outsiders are welcomed, and sometimes losing is actually winning. In this message, discover: • Why greatness in God’s Kingdom looks like humility and service • What Jesus meant when He said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last” • Why Christians should resist tribalism and work together for the Gospel • How followers of Jesus can welcome and honor people others overlook • Why surrender is an essential part of following Christ • What Jesus’ difficult warnings about sin and judgment really mean • How to live differently enough that people notice—and wonder why Jesus doesn’t call us to simply add Him to the world’s way of living. He invites us into a completely different Kingdom. UP IS DOWN. True greatness is found in serving others. OUTSIDERS ARE INCLUDED. The body of Christ is bigger than our individual churches, denominations, cultures, and traditions—and the invitation to God’s Kingdom is extended to everyone. LOSING IS WINNING. Jesus challenges us to surrender anything that repeatedly pulls us away from Him. We aren’t saved by eliminating every sin from our lives; we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus. But our willingness to surrender reveals that we are genuinely following Him. The more we live according to the values of God’s Upside Down Kingdom, the more our lives should stand out—and give us opportunities to point people toward King Jesus. 📖 Scripture: Mark 9:30–50 🎙️ Message: The Upside Down Kingdom 👤 Speaker: Bill LaMorey 📅 Date: September 27, 2026 If this message encourages or challenges you, LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE it with someone who needs to hear it. One Life Church meets Sunday mornings at 10 AM at: 3939 Webber St, Sarasota Learn more about One Life Church in Sarasota, FL here: https://onelifesarasota.org #TheUpsideDownKingdom #Mark9 #KingdomOfGod #Jesus #ChristianSermon #BibleTeaching #GospelOfMark #FollowJesus #ChristianLiving #ServantLeadership #Faith #Discipleship #Grace #BibleStudy #ChurchOnline #Sermon #BillLaMorey