What is the Kingdom of God?“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:15Jesus compares Kingdom of God to:

• a mustard seed - Matthew 13:31-32• yeast mixed with flour - Matthew 13:33• a hidden treasure in field - Matthew 13:44• a valuable pearl - Matthew 13:45-46• a net with all kinds of fish - Matthew 13:47-50

3 Questions:

• What exactly is the Kingdom of God?

• Is the Kingdom of God really here?

• How should we live in light of God’s Kingdom?

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”Matthew 6:10

What is the Kingdom of God?

Kingdom of God: God’s Kingship dynamically breaking into creation

“The primary meaning of the Hebrew word malkuth in the Old Testament and the Greek word basileia in the New Testament is the rank, authority and sovereignty exercised by a king … the Kingdom of God is also the realm in which God’s Reign may be experienced.”

George Eldon Ladd

What exactly is the Kingdom of God?

What is the Kingdom of God?

“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together … The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” Isaiah 11:6-9

What exactly is the Kingdom of God?

What is the Kingdom of God?

What exactly is the Kingdom of God?

The Old Age (sin, death,

injustice)

The Age to Come (eternal life, peace, justice)

The Day of the Lord (Old

Age ends)

from “Kingdom Come” by Allen Wakabayashi

What is the Kingdom of God?

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19

What exactly is the Kingdom of God?

What is the Kingdom of God?

“Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” Matthew 11:3

Is the Kingdom of God really here?

“But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.”

Luke 11:20

“So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Matthew 24:44

What is the Kingdom of God?

Old Age

Is the Kingdom of God really here?

Old Age continues

Age to Come begins

Age to Come forever

Old Age no more

Jesus’ first coming

Jesus’ second coming

The Kingdom of God

from “Kingdom Come” by Allen Wakabayashi

What is the Kingdom of God?

It should reshape the way we pray …

How should we live in light of God’s Kingdom?

We are praying for God’s kingship to reign and invade the present while praying for God’s kingdom to come in all its fullness

What is the Kingdom of God?

It should reshape the way we minister to others …

How should we live in light of God’s Kingdom?

God’s reign needs to be demonstrated in all our encounters and relationships – whether they may be spiritual or not

What is the Kingdom of God?

It should reshape how we share God’s message …

How should we live in light of God’s Kingdom?

Christ came to restore it all - our relationship with God, our relationships with each other and His intended harmony within His created order

What is the Kingdom of God?

• Something’s not right with us and our world

The Kingdom Gospel Message:

• The world was originally meant to be good

• Sin and its effects has distorted the world we live in

• In Jesus, God took the initiative to restore what was broken • God will one day make all things right again

• Meanwhile, God continues to redeem his creation

• You can respond to God’s offer of new life

from Allen Wakabayashi, “Kingdom Come”

What is the Kingdom of God?