Living the Grandeur of God's Kingdom

 

Summary

In the exploration of Romans 14:17, the focus is on understanding the essence of the Kingdom of God, which transcends mere earthly concerns such as dietary laws or specific observances. The Apostle Paul elevates the discussion from the realm of argumentation to a broader understanding of Christian life, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a sense of proportion and balance. The Kingdom of God is not about meat and drink but about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. This perspective challenges believers to remember their identity as citizens of God's Kingdom, which is characterized by surrender and obedience to God's rule.

The Kingdom of God is distinct from earthly kingdoms, as it is governed by divine principles rather than human opinions or rights. This requires a transformation in thinking, where believers must learn to think in a Christian manner, aligning their thoughts with the mind of Christ. The Apostle Paul warns against reducing Christianity to a set of rules or moral codes, as this diminishes the grandeur of the Kingdom. Instead, believers are called to reflect the fullness and glory of God's Kingdom in their lives, avoiding the pitfalls of legalism or narrow-mindedness.

The sermon challenges Christians to examine the impression they give to others about the Kingdom of God. It is crucial to convey the vastness and beauty of God's Kingdom, rather than presenting it as something small or negative. This reflection is vital for effective evangelism, as the perception of Christianity as a grand and glorious reality can draw others to the faith. Ultimately, the call is for believers to live in a way that honors the greatness of God's Kingdom, allowing its principles to guide every aspect of their lives.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Kingdom of God Transcends Earthly Concerns: The Kingdom of God is not about external observances like dietary laws but about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. This perspective calls believers to focus on the spiritual essence of their faith rather than getting entangled in minor disputes. [02:00]

2. Citizenship in God's Kingdom Requires a New Mindset: Being part of God's Kingdom means adopting a new way of thinking, one that aligns with the mind of Christ. This transformation involves moving away from worldly wisdom and embracing the divine principles that govern God's Kingdom. [13:29]

3. Avoid Reducing Christianity to Rules or Morality: Christianity is not merely about adhering to a set of rules or being moral. While these are aspects of the faith, the Kingdom of God is much more expansive, encompassing the fullness of God's glory and grace. [36:00]

4. Reflect the Grandeur of God's Kingdom: Believers are called to live in a way that reflects the vastness and beauty of God's Kingdom. This involves avoiding legalism and narrow-mindedness, and instead, embracing the richness of the Christian faith. [26:43]

5. The Impression of Christianity Matters: The way Christians live and speak about their faith can significantly impact how others perceive the Kingdom of God. It is essential to convey the greatness and glory of God's Kingdom, as this can draw others to the faith and enhance evangelistic efforts. [41:26]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:14] - Introduction to Romans 14:17
- [00:53] - The Dispute in the Church at Rome
- [01:30] - The Importance of Proportion and Balance
- [02:37] - Understanding the Kingdom of God
- [03:59] - The Role of Jesus in the Kingdom
- [05:05] - Citizenship in the Kingdom
- [06:44] - The Rule and Government of the Kingdom
- [09:12] - The Character of the Kingdom
- [12:29] - Thinking in a New Way
- [15:07] - The Problem of Old Thinking
- [18:24] - Implications for Church Governance
- [21:36] - Avoiding Political Democracy in the Church
- [26:43] - The Danger of Small Thinking
- [31:05] - The Impression of Christianity
- [41:26] - The Impact on Evangelism

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 14:17-19

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Paul mean when he says, "The kingdom of God is not meat and drink"? How does this relate to the disputes in the church at Rome? [02:54]

2. How does the sermon describe the difference between earthly kingdoms and the Kingdom of God? [03:09]

3. What are some examples given in the sermon of how Christians might reduce the Kingdom of God to something small or negative? [26:00]

4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of being a citizen of the Kingdom of God? [05:05]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of the Kingdom of God challenge the way believers think about their rights and opinions? [17:26]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Christians might misrepresent the Kingdom of God to others? [31:05]

3. How does the sermon explain the importance of having a new mindset as citizens of God's Kingdom? [13:29]

4. What does the sermon imply about the role of legalism and narrow-mindedness in the Christian faith? [26:43]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you might be focusing too much on "meat and drink" rather than righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit? How can you shift your focus? [02:54]

2. How can you cultivate a mindset that aligns more closely with the mind of Christ in your daily decisions and interactions? [13:29]

3. Think about the impression you give to others about Christianity. What steps can you take to ensure you are reflecting the grandeur and beauty of God's Kingdom? [31:05]

4. Are there any personal opinions or rights you hold onto that might be hindering your full submission to God's rule? How can you address this? [17:26]

5. Consider a recent situation where you might have been legalistic or narrow-minded. How can you approach similar situations differently in the future? [26:43]

6. Identify one way you can demonstrate the vastness and beauty of God's Kingdom in your community this week. What specific action will you take? [26:00]

7. How can you ensure that your participation in church life reflects the principles of the Kingdom of God rather than worldly systems like democracy or hierarchy? [21:36]

Devotional

Day 1: The Kingdom of God is Spiritual, Not Earthly
The Kingdom of God transcends earthly concerns and focuses on spiritual matters such as righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. This understanding calls believers to rise above minor disputes and focus on the spiritual essence of their faith. The Apostle Paul, in Romans 14:17, emphasizes that the Kingdom is not about external observances like dietary laws but about living a life that reflects God's righteousness and peace. This perspective encourages Christians to prioritize their spiritual growth and relationship with God over getting entangled in trivial arguments. By doing so, they can experience the true joy that comes from the Holy Spirit and live as authentic citizens of God's Kingdom. [02:00]

"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: What earthly concerns or disputes are currently distracting you from experiencing the righteousness, peace, and joy of the Holy Spirit? How can you refocus on the spiritual essence of your faith today?


Day 2: Transform Your Mindset to Align with God's Kingdom
Being a citizen of God's Kingdom requires a transformation in thinking, where believers adopt a mindset that aligns with the mind of Christ. This involves moving away from worldly wisdom and embracing divine principles that govern God's Kingdom. The Apostle Paul calls for a renewal of the mind, urging Christians to think in a new way that reflects their identity in Christ. This transformation is not just about changing thoughts but also about allowing God's truth to shape one's entire worldview. By aligning their thoughts with God's principles, believers can live out their faith more fully and effectively, demonstrating the values of the Kingdom in their daily lives. [13:29]

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways does your current mindset reflect worldly wisdom rather than the mind of Christ? What specific steps can you take to renew your mind and align it with God's Kingdom today?


Day 3: Embrace the Fullness of God's Kingdom Beyond Rules
Christianity is not merely about adhering to a set of rules or moral codes. While these are aspects of the faith, the Kingdom of God is much more expansive, encompassing the fullness of God's glory and grace. The Apostle Paul warns against reducing Christianity to legalism, as this diminishes the grandeur of the Kingdom. Instead, believers are called to reflect the fullness and glory of God's Kingdom in their lives, avoiding narrow-mindedness and embracing the richness of the Christian faith. By doing so, they can experience the transformative power of God's grace and live in a way that honors the greatness of His Kingdom. [36:00]

"For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians 3:6b, ESV)

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you have reduced your faith to a set of rules or moral codes? How can you embrace the fullness of God's Kingdom and experience His grace more deeply today?


Day 4: Reflect the Grandeur and Beauty of God's Kingdom
Believers are called to live in a way that reflects the vastness and beauty of God's Kingdom. This involves avoiding legalism and narrow-mindedness and instead embracing the richness of the Christian faith. The Apostle Paul encourages Christians to convey the grandeur of God's Kingdom through their lives, demonstrating its beauty and vastness to others. By doing so, they can draw others to the faith and enhance their evangelistic efforts. Living in a way that honors the greatness of God's Kingdom allows believers to be effective witnesses of His love and grace, impacting the world around them. [26:43]

"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16, ESV)

Reflection: How can you reflect the grandeur and beauty of God's Kingdom in your daily life? What specific actions can you take to demonstrate the richness of your faith to those around you today?


Day 5: The Impression of Christianity Matters
The way Christians live and speak about their faith can significantly impact how others perceive the Kingdom of God. It is essential to convey the greatness and glory of God's Kingdom, as this can draw others to the faith and enhance evangelistic efforts. The Apostle Paul challenges believers to examine the impression they give to others about the Kingdom of God, ensuring that it reflects its vastness and beauty. By living in a way that honors the greatness of God's Kingdom, Christians can be effective witnesses and draw others to experience the transformative power of God's love and grace. [41:26]

"Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: What impression do you think your life and words give to others about the Kingdom of God? How can you ensure that your actions and speech reflect the greatness and glory of God's Kingdom today?

Quotes


The great thing for us always to remember is the relationship between parts of a whole and the whole itself, and what he's really saying is that you must never emphasize any one part at the expense of the whole. But then he goes on, of course, and as I say, he puts this in the form of this statement. [00:02:20]

The kingdom of God must be our controlling thought. What does that mean in practice? Well, the kind of thing that the Apostle is telling these people, therefore, is this: we must always remember that we are people who belong to this Kingdom. We have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into this Kingdom of God's dear son. [00:04:47]

A kingdom does not consist of a collection of individuals. That doesn't make a kingdom. A rebel consists of a collection of individuals, but not a kingdom. Where you've got a kingdom, there is a cohesion, there is a general submission together to certain fundamental laws and rules, particularly submission, I say, to the king himself. [00:07:20]

The kingdom of God is entirely different from every other Kingdom that we tend to get into trouble. And that is why our Lord, as I said just now, gave such emphasis in his teaching to this matter of the Kingdom. Now take two illustrations of that which we had in that reading at the beginning out of the 20th chapter of The Gospel According to St. Matthew. [00:09:41]

The great problem of the Christian Life, this is indeed the theme of all the New Testament Epistles. All these Epistles have one great object, and that is to teach us how to think in a Christian manner. Now, the fact that you're born again doesn't mean that you do that automatically. [00:13:11]

The kingdom of God is Not meat and drink. Now, what does this mean? Well, what he's saying is you mustn't ever conceive of the kingdom of God as merely one aspect or one part of the kingdom of God. Indeed, you must not even think of it as a collection of parts or portions. [00:24:55]

The most terrible thing that you and I can ever do is to give the impression that Christianity is something small or that the church is something small. That's what makes this verse such a vital one. I believe there are so many people outside the Christian church today because you and I have given the impression that it's something small. [00:26:00]

Never give the impression that the kingdom of God is negative. Never give the impression that it's small, that it is just something narrow. Now, our Lord, you see himself, of course, was constantly having to deal with this whole thing. So much of his time was spent, as you remember, in argumentation and disputation with the Pharisees and scribes. [00:26:59]

The kingdom of God is not doing good. There are many, many people in the world who are doing great good and are sacrificing for it, but they are deniers of the Christian faith. That isn't the kingdom of God. The Christian does good, the Christian is moral, but you mustn't identify Christianity or the kingdom of God with just one aspect or one portion. [00:36:00]

The kingdom of God is neither speaking in tongues nor spiritual healing nor any one of these things. These may be parts of the Kingdom, but the kingdom of God doesn't consist in these things. Or to put it still more generally, and it's still true, it's perhaps not as true as it once was. [00:38:00]

The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking. Very well, my friend, my time has gone and perhaps something else as well, so we leave it at that for this evening. Now there you, in essence, is the negative aspect of all this. The kingdom of God isn't that. That's the point at which we've got to start. [00:39:39]

What impression are we giving of it? I'm so concerned about this because, to me, this is the thing that controls evangelism ultimately. You see all this interest in evangelism. People are outside. What can we do to get them in? And you begin to talk about details of how to approach and methods you imply and all the rest of it. [00:41:26]

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Transcript
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