Go to the source! Discover what the Bible says about …
These pages are designed to aid study or investigation for Christian discipleship through individual Bible study, Cell groups, Home groups, or meeting one to one. The questions could be used alone allowing each person to use their own Bible.
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 Cor 5:17
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Will be done
Introduction
Jesus’ teaching on the the kingdom is scattered throughout the first three gospels. It is not a structured set of teaching but a scattering of profound challenges to the way we see and live life. I have organised them along the structure of the Lord’s prayer which brings together most of the elements.
On this page is a short summary of Jesus teaching for each of the main elements. At that point there is a pointer to a page which will give a more exhaustive view.
Bible Zone
- Our Father - King Jesus directs attention and prayer to our Father.
- Hallowed be your name - The values of the king, summarised by holiness.
- Your kingdom come - We work to extend the reach of the kingdom.
- Your will be done - The kingdom is worked out in obedience that comes from within.
- Give us this day - We look to the king to provide for us each day.
- Our daily bread - Jesus himself, broken for us is our bread.
- Forgive us - We need to be reconciled to the king.
- As we forgive - The king looks for us to forgive as we are forgiven.
- Lead us not into temptation - Testing abounds in life. We look for protection
- Deliver us from evil - The king has an enemy. We need protection from him.
Establishing the rule of the Kingdom
As Jesus travelled and ministered, there were certain characteristic results of his ministry. The will of the King was being achieved.
- What actions do you see here that characterise the kingdom?
Matthew 4:23-24 Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. News about him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon possessed or epileptic or paralyzed—he healed them all.
On earth as in heaven
When Jesus went out in his ministry he did not go alone but went and ministered in community.
- Who was with Jesus?
- What were the characteristics of the people who went with Jesus?
- Why do you think these people went with Jesus?
Luke 8:1-3 Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.
The Kingdom and the Word of God
Some think of the Kingdom teaching as something that will supersede everything else. The Lord is clear, that the whole of the Word of God is valued. This point is illustrated by a reference to the Pharisees who kept some elements of the law strictly, but ignored others.
- How did Jesus express value for the older parts of the Scriptures?
- What is the better righteousness that would enable someone to enter the Kingdom of Heaven?
Luke 16:15-17 Then he said to them, "You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God. "Until John the Baptist, the law of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. But now the Good News of the Kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is eager to get in. But that doesn't mean that the law has lost its force. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the smallest point of God's law to be overturned.
Matthew 5:17-20 "Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God's law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. "But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!
Your Kingdom come
Our perception of the Kingdom and entry to it are dependent on our spiritual state.
- How does Jesus relate our spiritual state with our ability to see the kingdom of God?
- What does it mean to be born of water and the spirit?
- What do you think Jesus meant by the words, born again?
John 3:3 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, unless you are born again,* you cannot see the Kingdom of God."
4 "What do you mean?" exclaimed Nicodemus. "How can an old man go back into his mother's womb and be born again?"
5 Jesus replied, "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.*6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.*7 So don't be surprised when I say, 'You* must be born again.'8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can't tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can't explain how people are born of the Spirit."
Your Will be done
Entrance to the Kingdom is not a matter of having the correct vocabulary or doing ministry in God’s name. The Lord is concerned with those who are concerned to live His way.
- What characteristics does Jesus draw out that identify the person who will stand well before him at the last day?
- What does Jesus dismiss as not contributing to a persons’ standing?
- What link is there between doing the Father’s will and knowing Jesus?
Matthew 7:21 21 "Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.22 On judgment day many will say to me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' 23 But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws.'
Jesus’ words in the text above are given an example by a man of understanding who is only ‘not far from the kingdom.’.
- What had the teacher of law understood?
- How was the man commended?
- Why didn’t Jesus say, you are in the Kingdom of God?
Mark 12:32-34 The teacher of religious law replied, "Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other.33 And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law."
34 Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Not only do we pray for God’s will to be done on earth, we are also to put it into practice. This requires the King to trust his subjects.
- What is entrusted to Peter?
- How did Peter demonstrate his trustworthiness for the task entrusted?
- How does the King propose to back up the decisions made within this trust?
Matthew 16:15-19 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”
Give us this day
Our Daily Bread
Forgive us
As we forgive
Lead us not into temptation
Deliver us from evil
There is an evaluation at the end
At the end of the age those who are worthy of the Kingdom will enter it, while those who are not will be rejected.
- What is the Kingdom equated to in this parable?
- What is the distinction that is made between those kept and those discarded?
- What is the outcome for those discarded?
Matthew 13: 47 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. 48 When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away. 49 That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, 50 throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 Do you understand all these things?”