CORE: Extending the Kingdom

“The Kingdom of God includes both God’s general sovereignty over the universe and His particular kingship over men who willfully acknowledge Him as King. Particularly the Kingdom is the realm of salvation into which men enter by trustful, childlike commitment to Jesus Christ. Christians ought to pray and to labor that the Kingdom may come and God’s will be done on earth. The full consummation of the Kingdom awaits the return of Jesus Christ and the end of this age.”
– Baptist Faith and Message 2000

Understanding The Kingdom of God:

• It is God’s reign, not His realm or people.
• It is best revealed in a crucified and risen King.
• It is both present and not yet.

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:10

1. Extending the Kingdom of God only happens through the .

“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20

“For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake. For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.”
2 Corinthians 4:5-6

2. Extending the Kingdom of God is about not .

“What do you want?” he asked her. “Promise,” she said to him, “that these two sons.  of mine may sit, one on your right and the other on your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?”  “We are able,” they said to him.”
Matthew 20:21-22 

3. Extending the Kingdom of God is done with a .

“Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:25-28

Marks of the Lordship of Christ:

1. Desire to be holy more than happy.
2. Seek to honor God with the whole of life.
3. Desire to see life from God’s point of view.
4. Would rather die right than live wrong.
5. Seek to suffer joyfully.
6. Intentionally grow with others in Christ.
7. Make decisions based on eternity.
8. Live life with a gospel mind.

(adapted from A.W. Tozer)