That has been the general sentiment of Americans since at least 1774 when King George instigated the Intolerable Acts. It is extremely important, however, for us to realize that not every king of England was like George III. The reason is not historical accuracy. Rather, I am saying it is important to our faith toContinue reading “We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ King”
Category Archives: Kingdom
Growing the Kingdom of Christ
John 18:33-37. Jesus is a great King (v. 37), but his kingdom is not of this world (v. 36, twice). Rather, it is from “above,” from God (cf. John 3:3, 5; 8:23). This means God is ultimately the one who establishes and extends the kingship of Christ (Isaiah 9:7; Daniel 2:44; Mark 4:26-29). Remarkably, however,Continue reading “Growing the Kingdom of Christ”
What it Means to be a Christian
Surprisingly, the word “Christian” only occurs three times in the New Testament. Believers and disciples are much more common terms. Still, the word is used to describe us (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16), and it is important for us to replace society’s negative understanding of what a Christian is with a biblical perspective. OneContinue reading “What it Means to be a Christian”
Parables of the Kingdom 6
Treasure and Pearl. The parables of the treasure in a field and the pearl of great value are unique to Matthew (13:44-46). Their meaning is clear enough. The kingdom of God is of unparalleled worth. As a result, everything must be sacrificed to obtain it. In ancient times people often hid money or other valuablesContinue reading “Parables of the Kingdom 6”
How Jesus Changed the World 3
His Focus on the Kingdom of God Before we consider some specific aspects of how Jesus changed the world, it is important for us to notice that the general way he did so was by establishing and growing the kingdom of God. The Old Testament gives some important background for this emphasis. In several passagesContinue reading “How Jesus Changed the World 3”
Being a Citizen
Independence Day, 2021. In spite of all the problems in our country, I am thankful to be an American. The problems discourage me, but never to the point that I want to move to Iraq or China. In Jeremiah 29:7 Jeremiah tells the people to “seek the welfare” of their city and “pray forContinue reading “Being a Citizen”
The Story of God’s Kingdom 12
The Eternal Kingdom. We could trace the idea of kingdom all the way back to the beginning, because God himself has always been king (Psalm 47). During the Old Testament, for a while, he also exerted his reign through the kings of Israel (Psalm 2). But it seems to me that the kingdom proper unfoldsContinue reading “The Story of God’s Kingdom 12”
The Story of God’s Kingdom 11
Where are the Better Days? In the first post of this series, we noted the Old Testament prophecies that say better days are coming. God promised he would intervene and bring deliverance, mercy, forgiveness, and peace. He would pour out his Spirit on all who submit to him and would bring about fear of theContinue reading “The Story of God’s Kingdom 11”
The Story of God’s Kingdom 10
Living a Life Worthy of the King. We cannot enter the eternal kingdom unless we live a life worthy of the King. Some of us will be bothered by that statement because of the way we have come to think about God’s mercy and grace. Yet Scripture emphasizes both God’s grace and obedience. Let’s beginContinue reading “The Story of God’s Kingdom 10”
The Story of God’s Kingdom 9
The Right Response to the King. The reality of God’s reign among us through Christ is not just interesting. It is extremely significant. It is not merely to be understood and discussed. It is meant to revolutionize our lives. You may remember that the prophecies about the kingdom describe God bringing better days among us.Continue reading “The Story of God’s Kingdom 9”
Empowering Subjects 