God’s Kingdom is Within Us and Among Us

Friends, today I reminded us to set aside the temporary and focus on the eternal, to look for the source of peace and justice in the midst of a noisy world. I returned to three cornerstones: God’s justice comes without violence; God stays with the wounded and oppressed; and God’s people witness most clearly by how they live. Reading Scripture through the lens of Christ—the Emmaus way—lets the greater story of God’s love settle the hard tensions and apparent contradictions we find in the text.

I named a pressing question Christians face today: do we keep faith confined to the sanctuary, or do we become the grace the world needs? That question sits behind a recent conference resolution confronting Christian nationalism—the idea that Christianity and the state should be indistinguishable, or that America must embody one narrow religious identity. At first glance such claims can sound harmless: moral norms, civic pride, national narratives. But when faith is used to justify wielding government power to exclude or judge, it drifts away from the kingdom Jesus describes.

The beatitudes and Jesus’ words in Luke 17 push us in another direction. The kingdom Jesus points to does not come with trumpets, monuments, or state-backed gates. It appears quietly—in shared bread, forgiven enemies, small acts of justice, communities shaped by mercy rather than authority. I used the park story to show the danger of building impressive gates while leaving the field empty: the kingdom is made when ordinary people start living it now, not when officials finish a monument.

From an Anabaptist lens, the work is not national aggrandizement but faithful discipleship: welcome to all, mercy practiced in the hard moments, humility instead of coercion. I invited conversation about the resolution and how we, as a congregation in southeast Idaho, can show Christ’s blessing to everyone—without confusing witness for political dominance. The charge is simple and demanding: stop waiting for a visible, political sign of God’s reign and instead deepen faith so that mercy, truth, and humble love make the kingdom known among us.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s kingdom is already here When people choose mercy, forgive enemies, and practice quiet justice, the kingdom is not a future event but a present reality. This reality is not erected by power or proclamation but emerges from repeated, ordinary acts that align our lives with Jesus’ way. Expect the kingdom to show up where relationships are healed, not where banners are raised.
• 2. Faith must shape public life Faith that withdraws from civic life abdicates witness; faith that seeks to control the state betrays the gospel’s call to humility. True discipleship influences public life by forming character—patience, truth-telling, restraint—not by enforcing belief through law. The church’s political vocation is to embody alternatives, not to monopolize power.
• 3. Welcome without requiring agreement Hospitality does not mean theological or moral blandness; it means loving people even when we disagree. Practicing this requires self-control and a discipline of nonjudgment that protects the dignity of others while holding to convictions. Such welcome becomes a prophetic witness precisely because it resists the easy chord of exclusion.
• 4. Practice mercy over monument building Spectacle convinces the proud but leaves the hurting unchanged; mercy transforms everyday life. Invest in relationships, relief, and reconciliation rather than symbols designed to prove identity. The living park—people gathered around bread and care—is the truer sign of God’s reign.

1. According to Matthew 5:1-12, what kind of people does Jesus declare "blessed," and what promises are associated with each blessing?
2. In Luke 17:20, how do the Pharisees expect God's kingdom to appear, and how does Jesus correct their understanding?
3. The sermon mentioned that the Beatitudes "paint a picture that doesn’t reflect empire." What specific blessings in Matthew 5 challenge the values or methods of earthly power structures?

1. The sermon contrasted the Pharisees' expectation of a visible, political kingdom with Jesus' statement that "God's kingdom is already among you" (Luke 17:20). What does this contrast imply about how believers should understand and pursue the kingdom of God today?
2. The pastor described the "park story" where people made the park alive by playing in it, not by waiting for a monument. What does this story interpret about the difference between "monument building" and "practicing mercy" in making the kingdom visible?
3. The sermon challenged the idea of using government power to impose a singular belief, stating that "Christ’s love is for all people – regardless of... religious identity." How does this interpretation of Christ's love inform the church's role in public life, especially when faced with differing moral or social views?
4. The sermon suggested that "faithful discipleship influences public life by forming character—patience, truth-telling, restraint—not by enforcing belief through law." What does this mean for how the church should engage with societal issues and political discourse?

1. The sermon states that God's kingdom "emerges from repeated, ordinary acts that align our lives with Jesus’ way." What is one "ordinary act" of mercy, forgiveness, or quiet justice that you can intentionally practice this week to make the kingdom a present reality in your immediate relationships or community?
2. Pastor warned against faith that withdraws or seeks to control the state, instead advocating for forming character (patience, truth-telling, restraint). In what specific public or civic interaction (e.g., social media, community meeting, conversation with a neighbor) can you intentionally demonstrate patience, truth-telling, or restraint this week, rather than seeking to impose your views?
3. The sermon emphasized "loving people even when we disagree" and practicing "self-control and a discipline of nonjudgment." Think of someone in your life or community with whom you have significant disagreements. What is one concrete way you can extend genuine welcome and hospitality to them this week, without compromising your convictions or seeking to change theirs?
4. The sermon encouraged investing in "relationships, relief, and reconciliation rather than symbols designed to prove identity." What is one relationship in your life that needs intentional investment, or one specific act of relief or reconciliation you could initiate, that would prioritize mercy over outward display?
5. Pastor charged us to "stop waiting for a visible, political sign of God’s reign and instead deepen faith so that mercy, truth, and humble love make the kingdom known among us." What does "deepening faith" look like for you personally in a way that directly leads to more mercy, truth, or humble love in your daily interactions?
6. The sermon mentioned that "God’s justice comes without violence" and that "the violence of scripture is a result of humanity’s flawed nature." How does this understanding of God's justice influence your response when you encounter injustice in the world, and what non-violent action might you consider taking?
7. Pastor asked, "How long can we be comfortable allowing our faith to sit comfortably in church, while the world outside is hurting?" What is one specific area outside the church walls where you feel called to "become the grace that someone desperately needs" this week?