Kingdom (Small Group Study)
Small Group Study, week commencing 28 September.
Click here for a PDF version of these questions.
1. What word associations come to mind when you think about the phrase ‘a Kingdom’?
2. The Kingdom of God was central to Jesus’ teaching. You may like to look up some of these verses together as an introduction to your discussions.
This Kingdom can be entered (Mark 9:47), a person may be in the kingdom (Matthew 13:43), or near it (Mark 12:34) or far from it (Matthew 23:13). When we encounter the Kingdom it can be desired and possessed (Luke 12:31, Mark 10:14).
Mark 1:15 is a one verse summary of the heart of the message of Jesus.
3. The Kingdom of God is about God’s rule and reign. Ellen said that ‘when Jesus speaks of the Kingdom he wasn’t thinking in terms of a locality but a place of authority’.
Read Luke 17:20-21:
Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, “Here it is,” or “There it is,” because the kingdom of God is in your midst.’ (Or ‘among you’, or ‘within your grasp’).
How does this help us understand the nature of the Kingdom of God?
4. Andy used an analogy with two hoops to help us understand the now and the not-yet of the Kingdom. Was that helpful? Are there other analogies or explanations that help you make sense of Jesus teaching that the Kingdom is here but still to come?
5. We are called as disciples to demonstrate the Kingdom like Jesus did. Ellen quoted from John Wimber the founding leader of the Vineyard movement:
‘It bothers me that so much of the Church of Jesus Christ today is so ineffectual in doing the deeds of Jesus. It bothers me that we are so preoccupied with the word that we forgot the works. It bothers me that we are such good students that we forgot to graduate and go out and begin doing the things we have been studying about.’
Why is it so tempting to remain a ‘student’? What do we need to help us ‘graduate’ and be demonstrators of the Kingdom?
6. During this pandemic how have you seen Christians and churches be part of bringing the Kingdom to bear?
7. In these uncertain days we need a kingdom mindset more than ever.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:17).
How was Paul able to say these words in the face of such difficulty?
Pray together and encourage each other to have a kingdom perspective this week and in the weeks to come.
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