The Kingdom of God

How often do you think about the kingdom of God? Maybe you’ve heard the phrase in a worship service, in a song, or during a Bible study, but for most of us, the concept of a kingdom is not typically part of our daily life. Yet both Jesus and the apostles spent a lot of time teaching and preaching about the kingdom of God. Join Groundwork for our series, "The Kingdom of God," and together we’ll study what the Bible teaches us about God’s kingdom and unpack what it means to live here and now as citizens of his kingdom.

The Kingdom of God in the Bible

We most often see the phrase “kingdom of God” in the New Testament, specifically in the gospels or the apostolic letters. The phrase itself may vary. Matthew, for example, typically uses the phrase the “kingdom of heaven.” Either way, the idea references all the places God is sovereign, where Jesus reigns as king. We know the concept is important for us to think about and understand because Jesus taught his disciples about it both before and after his crucifixion and resurrection. Similarly, it is the subject of the apostle Paul’s teachings too. 

The kingdom of God is not merely a New Testament concept. It may not be explicitly called the kingdom of God in the Old Testament, but kingdom language is woven throughout the Old Testament. God was the sovereign of Israel until they requested an earthly king. Israel is called a nation. Throughout our study, we’ll see how the concept of the kingdom of God is woven throughout the whole Bible, from the beginning in Genesis to the end in Revelation.

Characteristics of the Kingdom of God

Earthly kingdoms give us a basic understanding of what God’s kingdom means. They help us understand how people relate to their king and what a king’s responsibility is to his people. But earthly kingdoms also easily distort what we might expect God’s kingdom to be. Jesus’ disciples repeatedly show how they don’t understand as they reflect the common expectation of the day for the Messiah to deliver Israel from Rome’s occupation at that time. 

But the Old Testament stories, Jesus’ teachings, and Paul’s writings all teach us what to look for in the kingdom of God. In many ways, God’s kingdom is nothing like an earthly kingdom. It’s not about power and dominion, but about sacrifice, compassion, and humility. Studying what the Bible teaches us about God’s kingdom will give us greater ability to recognize its presence around us and to reflect it in our own lives. 

Recognize the Kingdom of God Around You Today

I invite you to spend some time thinking about and reflecting on God’s kingdom through our Groundwork series, "The Kingdom of God":

• God's Kingdom in the Whole Bible - Acts 1:1-8, Exodus 19:3-6, Psalm 10:16, 2 Samuel 7:11-16, Luke 19:37-38, Isaiah 9:6-7, 1 Peter 2:9-10, and Galatians 6:14-16
• Jesus Brings the Kingdom of God Near - Mark 1:14-15, Luke 4:16-21, Matthew 10:7-8, Matthew 8:1-13, John 3:1-15, Matthew 5:1-16, Matthew 6:9-10, and Luke 17:20-21
• Jesus' Kingdom Parables - Matthew 13, Matthew 20:1-16, Matthew 22:1-14, Luke 17:20-21, and Matthew 25:1-13
• Living as Citizens of God's Kingdom Now - Matthew 6:9-13, Romans 14:17, Micah 4:1-5, Matthew 25:35-40, Philippians 2:5-8, Acts 2:42-47, Revelation 11:15, and 1 Corinthians 15:58

...and together we’ll learn what it means to bear the mark of King Jesus as his people and to identify his kingdom around us in the world today.