People & Place: The Central Focus of the Kingdom

The Bible presents two main elements – topics of central focus – of God’s kingdom here on the earth – the place and the people. Let’s preview these now because they become central to the rest of the discussion of the kingdom moving forward. The Place of the Kingdom God’s kingdom on earth is moving. [...]

Eden as a Type of the Kingdom

When we pray “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” this is what we are praying for. We are praying for God’s kingdom and rule on the earth to be perfect, unopposed and complete, just like it is in heaven. The Garden of Eden, of which we read [...]

God’s Kingdom in Heaven

“This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Jesus taught his disciples to pray that God’s kingdom reign and will would be done on earth just like it is in heaven. So [...]

What the Kingdom is Not, Part 3

The kingdom of God is not just that of law fulfillment and conquering a la the Pharisees (Post 1) nor is it this false dichotomy of more Christians versus a social welfare gospel (Post 2). It is also not an earthly kingdom… yet. Psalm 2 declares, “I have installed my king on Zion” (Ps 2:6). [...]

What the Kingdom is Not, Part 2

The kingdom of God is coming. But it won’t, as I outline in the previous post, be the kingdom the Pharisees had envisioned. It will also not be the kingdom that we typically envision either. While the Pharisees anticipated a kingdom of law fulfillment and conquering king, we, today, often have a very different perspective. [...]

What the Kingdom is Not, Part 1

Before truly understanding what the kingdom of God is and what it will be like when it fully comes, it is helpful to first clarify what we are not talking about. Over the course of three short posts, I will outline three major faulty understandings of the kingdom… Pharisaical Understanding of the Kingdom At the [...]

The Two Senses of the Kingdom

Continuing on in the study of the kingdom, there arises an important distinction to make. That is, the Bible seems to talk about the kingdom is two different ways. The tension is that God is the Creator and King over all. It’s all his. And yet, somehow, the Bible seems to talk about the kingdom [...]

The Big Question: What is the Kingdom of God?

Jesus is declared to be king both at his birth and at his death (see Post 1 in this series). But he also says that his kingdom is not of this world and that we are to be praying for his kingdom to come on the earth (into this world) as it in heaven. So [...]

Kingdom Dynamics

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on the earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Concurrent with my current blog series on the kingdom of God, I have been teaching a class at Covenant Life Church on the kingdom. Following are my notes and audio recordings of my lessons from that class. Week [...]

Kingdom of God vs. Kingdom of Heaven: A Meaningful Difference?

Having seen in the prior posts (1 | 2) the priority of the kingdom in the gospels – both in declaring Jesus the rightful king over all and in Jesus’ own preoccupation with the kingdom – we must ask an important question. Is there a meaningful difference between the term “kingdom of God” and “kingdom [...]