Jesus the Messiah and the kingdom of God/heaven. We will explore Jesus’ description of the kingdom, the nature of the gospel, kingdom parables, kingdom ethics, as well as conflict between Jesus and other kingdoms. We will touch on living in the “now” and “not yet” of the kingdom, with attention to the fullness of the kingdom in the New Testament as described in Hebrews and Revelation.
Mark 1:15; Matthew 4:23; 9:35; 5-7; John 18:33-36; Hebrews 11:10, 13, 14; Revelation 7:9-10; 21:1-6
SERMON OUTLINE
“Jesus said, ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’” (Mark 1:15)
Jesus and the Gospel of the Kingdom (Luke 4:16-21; Mark 1:14-15; Matthew 4:23; 9:35)
- Fulfilling the promise
- Proclaiming the kingdom
- Calling for repentance
- Bringing healing and salvation
- Telling stories of the kingdom
Jesus, the Kingdom, the Cross, and the Resurrection
- The King crucified: representative and sacrifice (Mark 15:22-24; Galatians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25)
- The King and the powers: conflict and victory (John 18:33-38; Colossians 2:13-15)
- The King resurrected: the first step of total renewal (Mark 16:1-8; 1 Corinthians 15:20-24)
The Church and the Kingdom
- The church witnesses to the kingdom by the Holy Spirit’s power (Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 8:12; 19:8)
- The church lives in the kingdom of God as both now and not yet (Mark 1:15; 1 Corinthi- ans 6:9; James 2:5)
The Fullness of the Kingdom Yet to Come
- Living for the kingdom yet to come (Hebrews 11:10, 13, 14)
- Two visions of the eternal kingdom (Revelation 7:9-10; 21:1-6)
Key themes of the kingdom of God in the New Testament
- Jesus is King and God’s kingdom has arrived
- In His crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus brings salvation, healing, and victory in God’s kingdom
- God’s people play a part as witnesses to God’s kingdom before the nations
- God’s kingdom has come, yet its fullness is yet to come
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- When you hear the words “king” and “kingdom” what comes to your mind? How is that helpful or not helpful in considering the kingdom of God?
- This week we continue our series “The Kingdom of God” by looking at the theme of the kingdom of God throughout the New Testament. Begin your study in prayer, asking God to speak to you through His Word.
- Read Mark 1:14-15. What do you think Jesus was trying to say? Why do you think repentance is an appropriate response to this announcement?
- What do you think “the gospel of the kingdom” is all about from what you read in Matthew 4:23, 9:35, and Luke 4:16-21?
- How might this have been different than other approaches to the hope of God’s kingdom in Jesus’ day, such as:
- The Pharisees – religious separation
- The Essenes – withdrawal from society
- The Zealots – violent revolution
- The Sadducees – political compromise with occupying Roman forces
- How does Paul’s description of the crucifixion of Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:18-25) and the resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:20-24) relate to what we are discussing about the kingdom of God?
- Read Acts 1:3, 8; 8:12; 14:22; 19:8; 28:23, 31. How does the concept of the kingdom of God inform the expanding mission of the church?
- Many theologians describe the Christian life as living in the tension between the kingdom of God that is here but is still to come in its fullness. What does that mean to you?
- Read Revelation 7:9-10 and 21:1-6. What aspects of our future hope most speak to you from these verses and why?
- What is one thing God is speaking to you through this study of the kingdom of God? If you are on your own, write that down. If you are in a small group, discuss your answers with one another. Close in prayer. Choose one person in your life with whom you will share something you learned through this study
DIG DEEPER
- Memorize Mark 1:15.
- Take a break (fast) from social media, news, and perhaps other media in order to draw near to God. In place of the time you normally give to those forms of media, take time to explore the theme of God’s kingdom in the New Testament. You could re-read passages from the sermon outline or use word search tools to explore the theme on your own.
- Watch the Bible Project video “The Gospel of the Kingdom”
- Read Mark 1:14-15 or Matthew 4:23. Respond creatively to the text in some way, such as lettering the verses, drawing or painting the scene, chalking your or sidewalk with the verses, or journaling. Let God speak to you as you creatively respond to the verses.
- If you are interested in a big-picture understanding of the kingdom of God in Scripture, read Vaughan Roberts’ God’s Big Picture: Tracing the storyline of the Bible.