Flourishing: The Way of the Kingdom

Kicking off a new summer series on the Beatitudes, Pastor Scott Engebretson introduces what it truly means to live a life that flourishes. Transitioning into Trinity Sunday, Scott contrasts cultural and academic definitions of human flourishing—like Harvard University's Human Flourishing Project—with the countercultural vision cast by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Drawing a linguistic link from Psalm 1, he notes that the biblical concept of being "blessed" is deeply tied to an internal, rooted state of flourishing. Scott explains that just as Moses climbed Mount Sinai to receive the law, Jesus went up on a mountainside in Matthew 5to reframe, fulfill, and deepen our understanding of God's instructions. Ultimately, Scott challenges the community to move beyond the drudgery of legalism or human willpower, reminding us that we cannot live out the Beatitudes in our own strength. Instead, we must actively pursue Jesus through a posture of daily repentance, allowing Him to refresh our souls and empower us to flourish right where life is lived—not on the mountaintops, but in the valleys. For more information about the church, please visit northwestvineyard.org.