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What is the Kingdom of God?
The kingdom of God is a central theme in the Bible. The phrase “the kingdom of God” itself does not appear in the Old Testament but the concept is very clearly attested through direct references to God as King along with His rule as King. In the New Testament, the kingdom of God was taught by Jesus. The phrase “the kingdom of God” occurs 68 times in 10 New Testament books. A semantically similar phrase, “the kingdom of heaven”, occurs 32 times and exclusively in Matthew. The references occur most frequently in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) while the Epistles refer many times to the concept and more frequently, to applications of the concept.
Simply put, the kingdom of God is the rule of God over everything. It is God’s sovereign reign over all things. It transcends space, time and boundaries. God is king over all. It does not matter whether man believes in God or not. He is the King!
The kingdom of God is the first and primary entity or realm that believers relate to. Believers are born into God’s kingdom first and only then do they become part of other entities like the church.
What do the following verses tell you about God as king?
Psalm 47:2,7
Psalm 103:19
Psalm 145:11-13
1 Timothy 6:13-16
What do these verses tell us about Jesus’ authority and status?
Colossians 1:15-18
Revelation 17:14
Revelation 19:11,16
Jesus and the Kingdom
When Jesus began His public ministry, what was he teaching about? (Matthew 4:17)
In the forty days before He ascended to heaven, what was Jesus teaching His disciples? (Acts 1:3)
What can you conclude about the importance of the kingdom of God for us today?
What Jesus taught about the Kingdom of God
There is much that Jesus taught about the kingdom of God. He often taught by using parables (stories or short sayings with parallel meanings).
How did Jesus describe the kingdom of God in the following passages?
Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23
Matthew 13:24-30
Matthew 13:31-32
Matthew 13:44
Matthew 13:45-46
Matthew 13:47-52
Why did Jesus teach about the kingdom of God in parables? (Matthew 13:10-17)
Take some time to reflect on what these parables teach about the kingdom and what the kingdom means to you today. Jot down your thoughts here.
Jesus made clear that the kingdom of God is organic and not organizational. It grows like a seed and it works like leaven: secretly, invisibly, surprisingly, and irresistibly.
—Os Guinness
The Kingdom of God and the Christian
According to Jesus, how does a person enter the kingdom of God? (John 3:3,5)
What does it mean to be ‘born again’?
What should be the priority of the Christian as he lives his daily life? (Matthew 6:33-34)
How should we view and handle earthly treasures? (Matthew 6:19-20)
People often think that they can have two masters concurrently — money and God. What was Jesus’ warning? (Matthew 6:24)
What about our basic needs? (Matthew 6:25-32)
If a person is already inside the kingdom by faith in Jesus, why do you think Jesus is calling the person to keep seeking the kingdom?
As we grow in faith, it is easy to get side-tracked into false spirituality. What does Romans 14:17-18 warn us about superficial and peripheral issues? What should be more important?
NOTE In Romans 14 the Apostle Paul highlights some issues of false spirituality when people judge others by religious rules about what others eat, which day they worship, or using what is ritualistically clean or unclean. These are externals.
In 1 Peter 2:9-10, what does the adjective ‘royal’ mean for God’s people in terms of their identity? What are their corresponding ministry and duties for God?
1 Peter 2:9-10 is based on Exodus 19:6. What does that mean for you as a Christian?
Review your answers to the questions then respond to the following:
Is the kingdom of God real to you?
If it is real, who is your King?
What is God speaking to you about how you should live as a citizen of the kingdom of God?