LESSON 9

THE KINGDOM

Present and Future

TEACHING AIM: To gain a clearer understanding of Jesus’ teaching on the kingdom of God, how it informs our relationship to Christ and His kingdom, and what it means to be a citizen of this Kingdom.

WHY STUDY THIS LESSON:Jesus often taught about the kingdom of God, calling everyone to enter in and live as citizens of that Kingdom.

DESIRED OUTCOME: To understand that our response to Jesus’ call to enter the Kingdom means we surrender our lives to the kingship/lordship of Christ. Our work and our values should reflect what God desires in this world. We labor as good stewards of what has been entrusted to us so that God’s kingdom may be advanced.

Background Passage: Mark 1:1-20

Focal Passage: Mark 1:14-15

  • Jesus began His preaching ministry in Galilee after the arrest of John the Baptist (v. 14)
  • Proclaiming that prophecy was fulfilled and the Kingdom of God had arrived, Jesus called on people to repent of their sins and embrace the good news message (v. 15).

Memory Verse: Thetimeis fulfilled, andthekingdom of Godhas comenear. Repent andbelieveinthe good news!(Mark 1:15).

Preparing to Teach

How do you cover a topic as massive as the kingdom of God in one lesson? You could spend weeks exploringthe topic, but for today, you’ll introduce some vital steps toward understanding and participating in God’s marvelous plan. You’ll start with Old Testament, continue to the New Testament with John the Baptist’s preparation, and witness the beginning of the promised Kingdom as Jesus proclaimed, “The kingdom of God has come near” (Mark 1:15). Finally, you will examine the current spiritual realm of God’s kingdom leading to the future culmination of God’s promise, the physical reality of His everlasting kingdom.

As you study theVenture In Travelogue, ask God to reveal areas of weakness in your own grasp of the subject. Pray that the Holy Spirit will use you to communicate this important lesson, especially to those who have never sought to know about the kingdom of God.

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Teacher Helps

Visit for a video commentary by Dr. Ed Stetzer. Enter the Scripture passage, Mark 1:15, then go to the Cross Reference box and click on Video Player Tool. The video is titled “The Kingdom of God.”

In preparation for the session:

  • Procure a large map of the United States. Attach to a board or focal wall.
  • Bring your birth certificate and/or passport.
  • Prepare four tear sheets for the parable activity. Using the parables in Matthew 13, print the title of one parable and the appropriate Scripture reference on each tear sheet; then write the headingsInsights into the kingdom and Insights about Jesus, leaving space to write responses. Underneath the headings, print Modern parable. (See pp.93-94 of the Travelogue for examples.)
  • Secure a Middle Tennessee Initiative brochure for yourself, if needed, and for class members/visitors who would like to have a copy.

Teaching Suggestions

WALK LIKE A CITIZEN

Greetclass members and visitors. Call attention to the map of the United States you displayed. Ask: How many of you were born in one of these 50 states? Allow for class to raise their hands, then continue: You are a citizen of the United States, subject to the privileges and responsibilities accorded to that status.

Hold up your birth certificate and/or passport and say: These documents confirm your citizenship. You may live in another part of the world, but your citizenship status remains the same.

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Teaching Option

If you have a naturalized citizen in your class, ask about the process and requirements to become a U.S. citizen. If you have someone from another country in your class, ask about the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship in that country.

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Explain that today you will be studying another type of citizenship. Say: If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are a citizen of another realmcalled the kingdom of God. From the day you repented of your sin and called on Jesus to be Lord of your life, you became a permanent citizen. Unfortunately, we tend to live too much in the physical reality of this world and not enough in the spiritual reality of God’s kingdom.

Pray, asking that our eyes would be opened to the eternal value of living in the kingdom of God.

THE KINDGOM OF GOD IS…

Ask: What do we mean by the kingdom of God? Is it something we have now or something we will have in the future? What are the rights and responsibilities of citizenship? Allow for responses, then say: Let’s go back 700 years before Jesus’ birth, whena prophet spoke of the kingdom of God.

Call on three volunteers to find and read Isaiah 2:2-4; 9:2-7; and 11:1-10. After each passage is read aloud, ask: How was this news perceived? Was the response always positive? Why or why not?

Continue: Now let’s move to the New Testament and the ministry of John the Baptist.Ask a volunteer to read Matthew 3:1-3. Note that John was quoting from Isaiah 40:3. Discuss the role of John the Baptist as one who prepared the way.

Say: We read that prophets foretold the arrival of the promised Messiah and the kingdom of God. John announced, “It’s almost here! Get ready!” But it wasn’t until after John was imprisoned that Jesus made His proclamation.

Read Mark 1:14-15; then work together to complete the activity in the Travelogue, page 90: Identify at least four things you discern about the kingdom of God from these two verses. (Jesus was bringing the good news; prophecy was being fulfilled; the kingdom of God had arrived; and it was timeto repent and receive the good news.)

Say: We know thatJesus is the personification of the good news and that the kingdom of God has come. But the people had expected a much different Messiah and a radically different kingdom. Throughout His ministry, Jesus redefined the people’s understanding and perceptions—and He still does.

Explain that we may not relate to the idea of a kingdom, but for the sake of comparison, you will refer to our nation. Ask:What’s necessary for a kingdom to exist? (people and a realm in which the people live) Point to the map of the United States and continue: We know the population of the United States is over 316 million, so we certainly have the people required for a kingdom. Indicate the borders of our country, including Alaska and Hawaii, and say: This is our realm.

Contrast the nation of the United States of America with the kingdom of God. Ask: Who are the people? (all who have submitted their lives to Jesus Christ as Lord) What is the realm? (It is not a physical area, but a spiritual realm that exists in the hearts of those who live under the sovereign rule and authority of Jesus.)

Read Matthew 12:22-29 and ask:According to this passage, what provedthat the kingdom of God arrived with Jesus? (He defeated Satan’s control of a demon-possessed man by casting out demons and restoringhis speech and sight.)What proof do you see today that the kingdom of God is a present reality? (Miracles still occur, but we can’talways see the impact of Christians ministering to those who are Satan-oppressed. People continue to trust Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.)Encourageclass members to record their responses in their Travelogue, p. 92.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS LIKE…

Read the definition of parable in Travelogue, page 93: A parable is a story that uses what is known and makes a comparison to teach a lesson about what is unknown.Say: Jesus used everyday objects or experiences to teach about important topics. One topic He covered thoroughly is the kingdom of God (or heaven).

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Teacher Help

The kingdom of heaven, as used in the Book of Matthew, is interchangeable with kingdom of God. Matthew used kingdom of heaven in view of the Jewish practice of respecting God’s name by never speaking it.

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Read Matthew 13:10-13 and discuss Jesus’ use of parables. Say: Even Jesus’ disciples were confused about His use of parables and sought further explanation.Read verse 13 againand discuss what Jesus meant by His explanation. (He was challenging people to think and explore for themselves, to step outside the box, to recognize for themselves what He was trying to illustrate. He wanted people to truly seek the kingdom of God.)

Divide the class into four groups and direct them to four tear sheets posted around the classroom.(See the instructions under “Preparing to Teach.”) Instruct the groups to read the Scripture and record insights from their assigned parable; then direct groups to brainstorm a common current object or experience that could illustrate a truth about the kingdom of God. (Groups do not need to write out the parable but should be able to share their parable with the class.)

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Teacher Help

Example: Matthew 13:24-30

  • Kingdom insights: The kingdom of God will overcome the evil in the world.
  • Jesus insights: Jesus brings protection and salvation to the citizens of His kingdom.
  • Modern parable: The kingdom of God is like a vaccine. A bacteria or virus enters a person’s body and causes a contagious illness, which spreads and leads to an epidemic. When a vaccine to prevent the disease is developed and applied, the epidemic is quelled and people are protected.

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Teaching Option

For this activity, a team needs to be at least two people or up to five people. If your class is too small for four groups, examine the parables together and determine ideas to illustrate Jesus’ teaching. Record the ideas on board or tear sheets. If your class consists of more than 25 people, create additional teams by duplicating the parables.

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Allow five to seven minutes for this activity, then call groups back together and ask each group to share its results. Note that some ideas may not be fully developed due to time restraints. Keep the focus on Jesus’ purpose in using parables to teach about the kingdom of God.

Commend each group for their efforts.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOW, BUT NOT YET

Consider the lesson writer’sdescription of the kingdom of God as “now but not yet.” Ask the class what they think she meant. Conclude the discussion by reading her explanation (Travelogue, p. 96): The kingdom of God is a spiritual reality now but everything is not yet under Christ’s rule. The kingdom awaits its final consummation when Jesus returns in full glory and establishes His eternal kingdom. The certainty of the “not yet” fulfillment of the kingdom should influence every aspect of our “now.”

Ask: If this is true, what is the first step we must take to be good citizens of God’s kingdom? Read Matthew 6:13b: “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.”Continue: If we sincerely pray as Jesus taught us, then we believeHis words. If we believe His words, we willinglysurrender our pride and selfish desires.

Call on class members to share ways they and others are active participants in God’s kingdom work. Write examples on the board (raising a God-serving family; participating in mission trips; witnessing; volunteering for church-sponsored and other Christ-honoring ministries; giving offerings.) Summarize that although the kingdom of God is a spiritual realm, it is on display through our physical involvement.

Conclusion

Hold up a copy of theMiddle Tennessee Initiativebrochure,which outlines the scope and vision of Brentwood Baptist Church. Point out the simple explanation (pp. 14-15), outlining the Needs of the region (evangelism, poverty, education, healthcare); the Call for church growth; and the Response (equip, expand, engage). Relate the growth and expansion to Acts 1:8: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Pass out Middle Tennessee Initiative brochures to those who do not have a copy. Encourage class members and visitors to read this material and prayerfully seek God’s will and direction for their lives.

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Teaching Option

As a closing option for young adult classes, watch “The Kingdom of God” video by Paul Baloche:.

Close in prayer, asking God to lead each person present toward more active involvement in His kingdom.

Follow Through

  • Emailor text reminders to read or reread Middle Tennessee Initiative. Ask: Are you moving forward as a citizen of the kingdom of God?
  • Ask God to call to mind any members or visitors who seem unsure about the lesson on the kingdom of God. Call or email to ask whether they have questions or concerns they wish to share.

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