This week we got to listen and learn from Sarah Keasler as she shared her story for Asian American and Pacific Islander month. She shared about 3 influential people over history and her life that played significant roles in her faith journey. She is such a gifted speaker and we are excited to have her and her family be a part of our community.
We continued in our vision and values series looking at the Kingdom of God. Here is what we learned:
- As disciples of Jesus we must know what Jesus taught.
- The main theme of Jesus teaching and preaching ministry is the Kingdom of God (Mt. 4:17, 23, 9:35; Mk. 1:14-15; Luke 4:42-44, 8:1, 9:1-2, 9:10-11, 10:8-9; Acts 1:3).
- Jesus was the original proclaimer of the good news of the gospel and chose to use the language of the kingdom (Mark 1:14-15).
- The Kingdom of God primarily means the rule and reign of God. This is something God does. We do not build the kingdom.
- Jesus intentionally chose this language of the Kingdom of God because it was biblical. Language of kingship and rule/reign is all over the OT ( 1 Ch. 29:11; Ps. 22:28, 96:10, 103:19; Daniel 2:44, 6:26-27; 2 Samuel 7:12-16).
- Jesus came fulfilling the promises and hope of the OT.
- The Kingdom of God (the rule and reign of God) has broken into history through Jesus' birth, incarnation, life, teachings, miracles, death, resurrection, ascension, and his sending of the Spirit to his people.
- Jesus taught that the Kingdom is NOW and NOT YET. It is present and it is future.
- The Kingdom is now (Mk. 1:15; Mt 12:28; Luke 17:20-21)
- The Kingdom is future (Mt. 8:11, 25:31-34; Lk 22:17-18)
- The gospel of the Kingdom has two comings, and both are characterized by Jesus. See the graphic below.
- As the church we live in the tension of the now and the not yet of the Kingdom.
- There are present blessings we have received, but also future blessings we look forward to.
- This is the good news of the Kingdom that Jesus taught and embodies.
- When God rules and reigns his will is done, people flourish, and life is the way it was intended to be.
- This is why Jesus taught us to pray for God's rule more on earth as it is in heaven in Matthew 6:10 and to seek his rule and reign in our lives in Matthew 6:33.
https://redeemerwichita.church/
