The Kingdom | Week One
From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17
“Basileia” – Royal Power. Rule. Reign.
The kingdom is anywhere that God, the King, rules and reigns: in heaven, on earth and in the human heart. It is here now and available to anyone. And yet it is still to come when the resurrected Jesus returns and makes it complete. In the meantime, Jesus has left a church to keep building this Kingdom: God‘s people in God‘s place living under God‘s rule and blessing.
From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:15
“All the preliminaries have been taken care of, and the rule of God is now accessible to everyone. Review your plans for living and base your life on this remarkable new opportunity. (Dallas Willard, “The Divine Conspiracy”)
The Kingdom is Now
The Kingdom is Not Yet
The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever. Revelation 11:15
Next Steps:
- Entering the Kingdom
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.” Matthew 5:3
“Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” John 3:5
- Aligning my kingdom with His
Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10
- Bringing His Kingdom here