Kingdom life (A)
Jesus, the Son of God was temporarily on earth, when He said, My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place. John 18:36
In Romans 14:17 we read: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Question 1
After reading these two verses, are we sure that Jesus and Paul speak about a location, or about a time period, or about (moral) values? Can you imagine that The Bible shows us ways to get prepared for a future kingdom? A kingdom with Jesus as king?
Question 2
How should we seek high moral values beyond the ordinary daily things? Are we able to seek them apart from God? Or are we, as humans, limited by our sinful nature state?
Colossians 1:13–14 says: 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Question 3
Describe the two spiritual kingdoms in this world.
Question 4
How do we transition from one to the other?
The new kingdom from Jesus’ lips
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people (Matthew 4:23).The new kingdom on one of the apostles’ lips
But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women (Acts 8:12).
Question 5
Was what Jesus communicated in the beginning of His ministry different from what the apostles proclaimed?
Question 6
List what was similar and what was different.
Question 7
If we are followers of Jesus, what should we do in our age?
How should we live
The apostle Paul said in Ephesians 5:8-10 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord.
Question 8
Pick one of the above qualities of “light” and say how it has changed or could change something in your normal daily life.
How does the kingdom of Heaven affect our talking
Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body (Ephesians 4:25).
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29).
If possible, consider the following before you discuss question 9. In a silent/private prayer, ask the Holy Spirit to show you if there are areas of improper speaking or viewing or listening to “immoral, impure…obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking”
Question 9
Share in the group how your speech has changed since you know more about God’s moral standards.
Save this sheet by pressing the EMAIL button
Close in prayer.
Jesus, the Son of God was temporarily on earth, when He said, My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place. John 18:36
In Romans 14:17 we read: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Question 1
After reading these two verses, are we sure that Jesus and Paul speak about a location, or about a time period, or about (moral) values? Can you imagine that The Bible shows us ways to get prepared for a future kingdom? A kingdom with Jesus as king?
Question 2
How should we seek high moral values beyond the ordinary daily things? Are we able to seek them apart from God? Or are we, as humans, limited by our sinful nature state?
Colossians 1:13–14 says: 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Question 3
Describe the two spiritual kingdoms in this world.
Question 4
How do we transition from one to the other?
The new kingdom from Jesus’ lips
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people (Matthew 4:23).The new kingdom on one of the apostles’ lips
But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women (Acts 8:12).
Question 5
Was what Jesus communicated in the beginning of His ministry different from what the apostles proclaimed?
Question 6
List what was similar and what was different.
Question 7
If we are followers of Jesus, what should we do in our age?
How should we live
The apostle Paul said in Ephesians 5:8-10 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord.
Question 8
Pick one of the above qualities of “light” and say how it has changed or could change something in your normal daily life.
How does the kingdom of Heaven affect our talking
Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body (Ephesians 4:25).
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29).
If possible, consider the following before you discuss question 9. In a silent/private prayer, ask the Holy Spirit to show you if there are areas of improper speaking or viewing or listening to “immoral, impure…obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking”
Question 9
Share in the group how your speech has changed since you know more about God’s moral standards.
Save this sheet by pressing the EMAIL button
Close in prayer.