L. UNDERSTANDING THE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE

Over the years, there have been stories about ancient kingdoms that were formed, where kings ruled and knights were valiant and brave.  The message was that everyone was happy and content as this was happening. In the Bible, we read stories about David, who killed Goliath, the giant, who was made king, and all of Israel rejoiced. Unfortunately, over time, David did not listen to God wisely, weakening his kingdom. The stories of kingdoms are everywhere. However, the history of these kingdoms starts and ends. Even today, stories of kingdoms or governments rule for a period of time and then they end in sadness and disgrace. Encouragement comes as stories from the Bible explaining how God wanted the earth to be his Kingdom in which all the people would submit to his rule. The story shows how men chose not to submit to God’s will, became rebellious, and made their own decisions.  To remedy this, he planned to establish a kingdom that would last. Jesus began to speak of this when he came to the earth 2000 plus years ago. Let’s look at these verses to understand more.

Luke 4:42-44

² At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. ⁴³ But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” ⁴⁴ And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

Acts 28:28-31

²⁸ “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” 

³⁰ For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. ³¹ He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!

I Corinthians 15:1-11

15 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. ² By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

³ For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance^[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas,^[b] and then to the Twelve. ⁶ After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, ⁸ and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

⁹ For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. ¹¹ Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

1. What do you think the gospel of the kingdom means from this passage?

2. What was so important about it?

3. When Jesus says, “This is why I came”. What do you conclude from that?

4. What does the Kingdom of God that Paul taught have to do with Jesus?

5. What does the author of I Corinthians describe as the gospel?

6. How and why does this gospel save us? What are we saved from?

7. What are the historical facts in I Corinthians that describe this Kingdom and the King?

1. What does it suggest you do if you believe this is true and that the good news about the Kingdom is real?

2. What struggles do you have in grasping the gospel of the Kingdom of God?

3. Do you want Christ to be the King of your life?

4. What stops you from believing this truth about who Jesus is?

5. What will be your next step in exploring this?