The Kingdom

According to the Synoptic Gospels, proclamation of The Kingdom of God, in word and deed, was central to Jesus’ teaching. As evident in the Gospels, the kingdom originates with God, it draws its character from God, and it precedes any human response to it, even though its presence invites (or demands) a response. In the time of Jesus, it was difficult for the Jewish people to understand how God’s kingdom could be present while they were living under foreign rule, yet the Hebrew Bible attests to the understanding of God’s rule as everlasting and real even when it was not self-evident. Jesus built on this understanding found in Jewish Scripture: God’s kingdom is God’s activity - creating, providing, leading, sending, calling, liberating, caring; God’s kingdom is God’s domain - inclusive of the whole cosmos; God’s kingdom evokes a response from its subjects; and God’s kingdom is already-present and will be revealed in its completeness in the future. God’s rule is revealed through Jesus Christ, and the nature of God’s kingdom is exhibited through Jesus’ engagement and interactions with people and His teachings.

On the first Sunday (Service for the Departed), we will come to understand the wonderful promise that the kingdom is for sinners; though sinfulness came through Adam to all, the gift of grace came through Jesus Christ all the more.

On the second Sunday, through the question of the Pharisees, we will discover that the kingdom is near, and perceive its evidence.

On the third Sunday, we will experience the kingdom is peace through members who edify one another and walk in the Spirit.

On the last Sunday of June, the kingdom is proclaimed along with our responsibility to live as witnesses and proclaimers of it.

The midweek service will focus on how the kingdom is grace - the sufficiency of “the God of all grace” in our suffering and struggle with the evil one.