The Good News of the Kingdom
About this series:
Throughout 2023 all our teaching series will be looking at The Kingdom Of God. The essential goal is to help people understand the Bible’s teaching on the kingdom of God and raise confidence in God’s plans for his kingdom’s expansion / multiplication.
Our first series on the kingdom starts with an introduction to the king and his kingdom and then develops that biblical theme from the establishing of God's kingdom in creation to his choosing of a special people who would be set apart for him, how God's kingdom clashes with that of the world and the choices we therefore have to make, how we're to be a blessing while we live in the world but not of it, the promise of a coming anointed king bringing to reality the rule of God in / through the life of his people, the coming of the kingdom in a new way in Jesus as promised in the OT, what Jesus expected life in the kingdom of God to look like, what Jesus taught about the kingdom in parables, how the church relates to the kingdom and the future kingdom.
Preaching about The Kingdom Of God is a great way to address life as a church community - this is how life together under God’s reign should look like. And to address our lives in the world - demonstrating to those in our sphere of influence the reality of God and what life looks like when God is your king.
About this talk:
Matthew 4:23
There has been much debate about whether the Bible has a single, unifying theme. Vaughan Roberts argues that the kingdom of God is that theme: ‘Any unifying theme that is used to help us to see how the Bible fits together must arise out of Scripture itself, rather than being imposed upon it; and it must be broad enough to allow each part to make its own distinct contribution. The theme of the kingdom of God satisfies both requirements.’
Graham Goldsworthy agrees: ‘the Bible speaks of the reality of the kingdom as its central issue. Other perspectives are simply that: other perspectives on the kingdom of God…The kingdom, then, functions as a hermeneutical grid for the whole of Scripture.’
It can be argued then, that the Bible’s message finds its focus in the kingdom of God - both as a present reality and a future prospect. God is king, he is actively reigning and he is redeeming a people from all nations who recognise his kingship in preparation for the day when everything will be perfectly submitted to him.
The Old Testament repeatedly makes it clear that God is king: “The Lord is King for ever and ever” (Psalm 10:16), “For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth” (Psalm 47:2), “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations” (Psalm 145:13).
He calls his people to live under his reign, according to his word and as a witness to the nations. This is good news to all who are called to belong to him. Jesus then comes announcing, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near,” and Matthew then records that Jesus, “went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and illness among the people” (Matthew 4:17, 23).
The announcement of good news is that Jesus has come to bring what was promised into being. To be in God’s kingdom is to acknowledge his divine rule, to submit to his rule and to enjoy the blessings of his rule. This is the salvation Jesus came to bring. Salvation is often defined too narrowly, as the forgiveness of sins so we can go to heaven. Rather, the NT uses a range of terms to describe what God has done for us in Jesus, all of which is to bring us into his kingdom, enjoying his reign.
With all the competing agendas and concerns of life, it is this we are to seek above all else. As Jesus said, “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).
Application:
We show how this good news announcement of the kingdom is the central message of the Bible.
We warn against a too narrow view of salvation, but one that encompasses the idea of being saved into the kingdom of God.
What would it look like for God to reign in every area of our lives and our church?
Audio only
