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The Progress of God’s Kingdom in the New Testament

1. CONNECT

   10min
   In our previous session, we learned about the people of God’s kingdom, including both Christ himself and his church. In this session, we’ll consider Christ’s teaching about the progress of God’s kingdom. This teaching was so radical in the first century that most Jews rejected it — and him. Jesus explained that he was bringing the last stage of God’s kingdom to the earth, but in a way that no one expected. Rather than suddenly transforming the entire world into the kingdom of God, he declared that the kingdom would unfold over a long period of time. He would inaugurate the last stage of the kingdom in his earthly ministry, it would continue to grow throughout the history of the church, but the kingdom would come in its fulness only when he returned in glory.

2. Reflection

   Followers of Christ often have difficulty believing that Jesus fulfills God’s kingdom purposes because we have been waiting for the kingdom to come to earth as it is in heaven for more than 2000 years. Faith in Christ means that we must trust in what Christ did to inaugurate the final stage of God’s kingdom in his life, death, resurrection, ascension and the outpouring of his Spirit. We must also trust that, despite the troubles of the world, Christ has continued to expand God’s kingdom more and more throughout the history of the church. When we trust, we are able to keep our hope alive — the hope that one day Christ will bring God’s kingdom to its consummation by making all things new when he returns in glory.

3. Guiding Question

   What evidence do you see of the progress of God’s kingdom in the world today?

4. WATCH

   15min

5. DISCUSS

   15min
   1. Review the elements of the Parable of the Mustard Seed in Matthew 13:31-32. How did this parable challenge Jewish expectations about God’s kingdom in the first century?
   2. How does Ephesians 2:20 distinguish the inauguration of Christ’s kingdom from the rest of the New Testament age? Name some of the differences between this period of inauguration and our day.
   3. Describe the state of the world at the consummation of Christ’s kingdom in Revelation 11:15. How does this vision of the future reflect the fulfillment of God’s kingdom purposes in the Primeval History and during the history of Israel?

6. APPLY

   15min
   1. How does the Parable of the Mustard Seed in Matthew 13:31-32 encourage you as you wait for the kingdom of God to come to earth as it is in heaven?
   2. What priority should Christians give to seeking the kingdom of God according to Matthew 6:33? How can we seek God’s kingdom before everything else?

7. CHALLENGE

   Write down your thoughts about God’s kingdom, including how your thoughts about the kingdom may have changed since the beginning of this study. Finish with a time of prayer.