Engaging with the Active Reign of God's Kingdom
Summary
In our time together, we explored the profound reality of the Kingdom of God, emphasizing that it is not a political entity or merely a personal sentiment but the active reign of God in the world. The Kingdom is God's rule, His governance, and His invitation to us to participate in His divine order. Jesus did not come to announce the existence of the Kingdom but to offer entry into it, a transformative journey that encompasses every aspect of our lives. This Kingdom is not confined to our hearts but is a tangible reality that we are invited to engage with fully.
We delved into the misconception that the Kingdom of God is a political order or a mere personal feeling. Instead, it is the dynamic presence of God, expressed through His actions, His Spirit, His Son, His Word, and His people. The Kingdom is about aligning our lives with God's will, allowing His rule to permeate every aspect of our existence. This alignment is not about adhering to a set of rules but about living in the reality of God's presence and power.
We also discussed the importance of understanding the Kingdom as an all-encompassing reality that includes everything in our lives. It is about trusting God with every aspect of our being, knowing that He is in control and that His Kingdom is a perfectly safe place for us to be. This trust allows us to live without anxiety, knowing that God is working all things for our good.
Furthermore, we examined the role of the Church in manifesting the Kingdom of God. The Church is not just a gathering of believers but a community that embodies the reality of the Kingdom, living out the teachings of Jesus and demonstrating His love and power to the world. Our mission is to make disciples, immersing them in the reality of the Trinity and teaching them to live in the fullness of the Kingdom.
Finally, we reflected on the greatness of Christ and the unfathomable riches of His Kingdom. Jesus is the master of the moral life, the one who understands the depths of human existence and offers a way to true goodness and fulfillment. His Kingdom is a place of security and hope, where we are invited to experience the fullness of life in Him.
Key Takeaways:
- The Kingdom of God is not a political entity or a personal sentiment but the active reign of God in the world. It is about aligning our lives with God's will and participating in His divine order. [05:10]
- Jesus came to offer entry into the Kingdom of God, a transformative journey that encompasses every aspect of our lives. This Kingdom is a tangible reality that we are invited to engage with fully. [13:40]
- Trusting God with every aspect of our being allows us to live without anxiety, knowing that His Kingdom is a perfectly safe place for us to be. This trust is rooted in the reality of God's presence and power. [15:14]
- The Church is a community that embodies the reality of the Kingdom, living out the teachings of Jesus and demonstrating His love and power to the world. Our mission is to make disciples and immerse them in the reality of the Trinity. [38:03]
- Jesus is the master of the moral life, offering a way to true goodness and fulfillment. His Kingdom is a place of security and hope, where we are invited to experience the fullness of life in Him. [54:35]
YouTube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:17] - The Continuing Presence of Jesus
[01:18] - Understanding the Kingdom of God
[02:52] - The Misconception of a Political Kingdom
[04:04] - The Gospel of the Kingdom
[05:10] - God's Rule and Governance
[06:59] - The Battle of Kingdoms
[09:09] - The Reality of God's Reign
[13:10] - Living in the Kingdom
[15:14] - Trusting God with Everything
[20:44] - Seeking First the Kingdom
[22:27] - Aligning with God's Kingdom
[28:22] - Proclaiming the Kingdom
[31:00] - The Unsearchable Riches of Christ
[38:03] - Making Disciples in the Kingdom
[54:35] - Jesus as the Master of Moral Life
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Kingdom of God
Bible Reading:
1. Acts 1:6-8
2. Matthew 6:25-34
3. Colossians 3:1-17
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Observation Questions:
1. In Acts 1:6-8, what question do the disciples ask Jesus, and how does He respond to their understanding of the Kingdom? [02:52]
2. According to Matthew 6:25-34, what examples does Jesus use to illustrate why we should not be anxious about our lives? [17:50]
3. In Colossians 3:1-17, what characteristics does Paul encourage believers to "put on" as part of their new life in Christ? [11:11]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of the Church in manifesting the Kingdom of God? [38:03]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does Jesus' response in Acts 1:6-8 suggest about the nature of the Kingdom of God compared to the disciples' expectations? [02:52]
2. How does the teaching in Matthew 6:25-34 challenge common human concerns about security and provision? [17:50]
3. In Colossians 3:1-17, how does Paul’s description of the Christian life reflect the reality of living in the Kingdom of God? [11:11]
4. The sermon mentions that the Kingdom of God is not just a personal sentiment but a tangible reality. How does this understanding affect the way believers live out their faith? [09:26]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you viewed the Kingdom of God as a personal sentiment rather than a tangible reality. How did this perspective affect your actions and decisions? [09:26]
2. Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:25-34 not to be anxious about life. What specific worries do you need to trust God with, and how can you practice this trust daily? [15:14]
3. The sermon emphasizes the Church's role in embodying the Kingdom. How can you contribute to your church community to better reflect the teachings of Jesus? [38:03]
4. Consider the idea that the Kingdom of God is a perfectly safe place. How does this belief influence your response to life's challenges and uncertainties? [15:59]
5. Paul describes a life of compassion, kindness, and humility in Colossians 3:1-17. Which of these virtues do you find most challenging, and what steps can you take to cultivate it in your daily interactions? [11:11]
6. The sermon suggests that living in the Kingdom involves aligning with God's will. Identify one area of your life where you struggle to align with God's will and discuss practical ways to address this. [22:27]
7. How can you actively participate in making disciples and immersing them in the reality of the Trinity, as described in the sermon? [38:03]
Devotional
Day 1: The Kingdom of God as Divine Governance
The Kingdom of God is not a political entity or a personal sentiment but the active reign of God in the world. It is about aligning our lives with God's will and participating in His divine order. The Kingdom is God's rule, His governance, and His invitation to us to participate in His divine order. This Kingdom is not confined to our hearts but is a tangible reality that we are invited to engage with fully. Understanding the Kingdom as God's dynamic presence means recognizing His actions, His Spirit, His Son, His Word, and His people as expressions of His rule. Aligning our lives with God's will is not about adhering to a set of rules but about living in the reality of God's presence and power. [05:10]
"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you actively participate in God's divine order today, allowing His governance to influence your decisions and actions?
Day 2: Entry into the Kingdom as a Transformative Journey
Jesus came to offer entry into the Kingdom of God, a transformative journey that encompasses every aspect of our lives. This Kingdom is a tangible reality that we are invited to engage with fully. The invitation to enter the Kingdom is not just about acknowledging its existence but about embarking on a journey that transforms our entire being. This transformation involves aligning our lives with God's will and allowing His rule to permeate every aspect of our existence. It is a journey that requires us to trust in God's presence and power, knowing that His Kingdom is a perfectly safe place for us to be. [13:40]
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life that needs transformation through the power of God's Kingdom? How can you begin this journey today?
Day 3: Trusting God with Every Aspect of Our Being
Trusting God with every aspect of our being allows us to live without anxiety, knowing that His Kingdom is a perfectly safe place for us to be. This trust is rooted in the reality of God's presence and power. When we trust God fully, we acknowledge that He is in control and that His Kingdom is a place of security and hope. This trust enables us to live without fear or anxiety, confident that God is working all things for our good. It is an invitation to experience the fullness of life in Him, knowing that His Kingdom is a place of peace and joy. [15:14]
"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved." (Psalm 55:22, ESV)
Reflection: What is one burden you are carrying today that you need to entrust to God? How can you practically cast this burden on Him and experience His peace?
Day 4: The Church as a Manifestation of the Kingdom
The Church is a community that embodies the reality of the Kingdom, living out the teachings of Jesus and demonstrating His love and power to the world. Our mission is to make disciples and immerse them in the reality of the Trinity. The Church is not just a gathering of believers but a community that reflects the Kingdom of God. It is called to live out the teachings of Jesus, demonstrating His love and power to the world. The mission of the Church is to make disciples, teaching them to live in the fullness of the Kingdom and to experience the reality of the Trinity in their lives. [38:03]
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)
Reflection: How can you contribute to your church community in a way that reflects the reality of God's Kingdom? What specific action can you take this week to encourage and support others in your church?
Day 5: Jesus as the Master of Moral Life
Jesus is the master of the moral life, offering a way to true goodness and fulfillment. His Kingdom is a place of security and hope, where we are invited to experience the fullness of life in Him. Jesus understands the depths of human existence and offers a path to true goodness and fulfillment. His teachings provide guidance for living a moral life that aligns with God's will. In His Kingdom, we find security and hope, knowing that we are invited to experience the fullness of life in Him. This invitation is an opportunity to embrace the greatness of Christ and the unfathomable riches of His Kingdom. [54:35]
"For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps." (1 Peter 2:21, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you follow Jesus' example in your daily life, embracing His teachings as the path to true goodness and fulfillment? What specific step can you take today to align your actions with His example?
Quotes
The Kingdom of God is simply God's ruling. It's His ruling, it's His governing. That's the Kingdom of God. And what Jesus came to preach was not that there is a Kingdom of God. What Jesus came to make available was entry into the Kingdom of God. [00:05:04]
The basic reality of the Kingdom of God is simply the person of God and the instrumentalities by which He rules. They are, of course, God's own direct action, they're His Spirit, they're His Son, they're His Word, they're angels. [00:06:12]
The Kingdom of God is all-inclusive. It takes in everything. It means we can trust God with everything, that whatever we let Him have charge of in our lives, He will take that into the Kingdom of God. [00:14:07]
Trust God. Don't worry about things, anything. That's what it means to trust Jesus, is to believe that He's in charge of everything that you let Him be in charge of. And if something happens you don't like, He'll bring something good out of it. [00:15:04]
Seek first His Kingdom. Now that means find out what God is doing and doing with Him. What is God doing? Do that with Him. Now see, I like to suggest wordings for language that we don't commonly associate any meaning with. [00:19:29]
The whole human project now is to get the human being aligned with what God is doing. That's God's Kingdom, and that includes, of course, things that we do in ministry. It would include all of the things that we associate with manifesting the presence of the Kingdom. [00:22:35]
You make a disciple by ravishing people with the reality of the Kingdom. See, now that's why Jesus gave you the two parables, the parable of the treasure in the field and the parable of the great pearl. [00:28:49]
Once you understand who Jesus is and what it means for your life, you realize that discipleship to Jesus is the greatest opportunity you will ever have in life. That puts a different cast on things. [00:30:10]
The unsearchable riches of Christ, the greatness of Christ. You may have seen a book by J.B. Phillips called "Your God is Too Small," and J.B. Phillips laid his finger on a chronic problem, and that is the failure to think God is as big as He is. [00:31:54]
The Church is a community that embodies the reality of the Kingdom, living out the teachings of Jesus and demonstrating His love and power to the world. Our mission is to make disciples and immerse them in the reality of the Trinity. [00:38:03]
Jesus is the master of the moral life, offering a way to true goodness and fulfillment. His Kingdom is a place of security and hope, where we are invited to experience the fullness of life in Him. [00:54:35]
If we preach the unsearchable riches of Christ rightly, we are ready to move into that plan. If we do not, we can never go there, and we'll have to do something else. And my dear friends, that is the history of the Church, very largely doing something else. [01:39:59]
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