What is the Kingdom of God?

The phrase “kingdom of God” appears frequently in the New Testament, specifically in the gospels and the apostolic letters. It references all the areas on Earth and in heaven where God is sovereign, and Jesus reigns as king. Jesus taught about the kingdom of God both before and after his crucifixion and resurrection, and the apostle Paul wrote about God’s kingdom in his letters to the believers in Europe and Asia Minor. 

But the kingdom of God is not merely a New Testament concept. The Old Testament does not explicitly call it the “kingdom of God,” but kingdom language is woven throughout. Before Israel demanded an earthly king, God ruled Israel directly. Indeed, God’s plan of salvation hinges on his Messiah taking back the throne of Israel to reign forever. And that Messiah, of course, is the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Sharing the good news about God’s kingdom is part of Groundwork’s primary mission. We invite you to explore the Groundwork series and episodes listed below to deepen your understanding of the Kingdom of God.

Groundwork is a weekly, half-hour audio program for radio and podcast that digs deeply into Scripture as the foundation for our lives. Our current hosts, Scott Hoezee and Darrell Delaney, cultivate our understanding of God’s Word by unpacking the richness of the Bible in casual conversation and applying it with insight to today’s world. Groundwork is great for personal or group study. 

The Kingdom of God (series). Jesus spent much of his time teaching about the kingdom of God. In this series, we compare and contrast the spiritual truth with our earthly reality and unpack what it means to live here and now as citizens of God’s kingdom.

Jesus' Ministry (series). Jesus went around proclaiming the good news of God’s kingdom. This series examines four aspects of Jesus’ ministry: teaching, preaching, casting out demons, and healing—all signs of the revealed kingdom of God.

The Sermon on the Mount: Famous Teachings of Jesus (series). Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount offers a kingdom perspective on everyday matters such as prayer, money, worry, and more. In this series, we learn how our daily lives reflect God’s kingdom on earth here and now.

The Kingdom Parables (episode). Discover what Jesus reveals about how things work in the Kingdom of God as we study four short parables he used to teach his disciples.

The Kingdom of God (episode). What is life in God’s kingdom like? When will it finally and fully be a reality? Join us as we study Scripture to discover how the kingdom is both already here and not yet fully realized.

God is in Charge, Now and Forever (episode). Daniel’s apocalyptic dreams and prayers assure us of God’s constancy and power; only God’s kingdom will endure forever.