Scripture Reference:
Mark 1:14-15 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
* note: the content of the following teaching is not my own, it is taken from excellent teaching by Gavin Porter from a series called God's Vision God's Mission. You can access the full teaching on YouTube by following this link: It is finished!
Reading Guide for Mom and Dad:
Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
John the Baptist's message was: Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand
Mark 1:14-15 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
Jesus has the same message as John: Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
In Mark it speaks of the Kingdom of God is at hand and in Matthew, it speaks of the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. There is no difference between the two - it's the same.
Matthew 4:13-17 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned." From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Jesus has been speaking in Synagogue before this, but this is really the beginning of Jesus's ministry. He starts in Capernaum amongst gentiles. He doesn't start in a Jewish area, which is very significant and He did it to fulfill prophecy.
His message was: Repent the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.
Before anything else, seek first the Kingdom of God. We need to hear the message of the Kingdom.
Matthew 13:11 He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them, it has not been given.
The mystery of the Kingdom refers to that part that was hidden before the cross, fulfilled at the cross, and revealed after the cross - but it is all connected to the Kingdom. (you are welcome to read more about The Mystery). The message of the Kingdom is the message that Jesus was preaching and the message that Paul was preaching. This is God's Vision: His plan and purpose are The Kingdom.
Matthew 10:7 "And as you go, preach, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand". "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Even the twelve disciples that were sent out in Matthew 10 - their message was: "the Kingdom of God is at hand"
Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.
Now Jesus sends the seventy. He says in verse 9 that the Kingdom of God is near to you:
Luke 10:9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, "The kingdom of God has come near to you"
Acts 1:3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
This passage is talking about the time(forty days) between when Jesus was resurrected and ascended.
Those forty days Jesus used to explain the Kingdom of God. This was a significant time and a significant message He was sharing with them.
Acts 8: 5-6 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
Verse 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.
Phillip is preaching Christ, the mystery of Christ - the mystery of the Kingdom, and it is accompanied by signs, wonders, and miracles.
People have to see the miracles and they have to hear the message. There is a connection between the message of the Kingdom and the miracles. Just as Jesus started to preach the Kingdom after he was baptized, He started to perform miracles. When the seventy went out the same happened and the miracles were connected to the message of the Kingdom that they preached.
Verse 6: And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
"Hearing and seeing" - it has to do with having your ears opened and your eyes opened by the message of the Kingdom and by signs and wonders. The two go hand in hand.
Acts 19:8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.
Paul is teaching on the Kingdom and miracles are accompanying the message.
He spoke for three months - on the Kingdom of God. Then he moved on to another place and taught for two years!
Acts 28:23-31 So when they had appointed him a day many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.
Verse 31: Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.
Right the way through Paul's ministry, from his conversion, He preached Christ. His eyes were opened and he got the revelation - and he started preaching the Kingdom and continued for the whole of his ministry. This is the message that we should be preaching: The Kingdom of God.
Over the years the message of the Kingdom became diluted and we ended up only preaching on salvation and not on the Kingdom. Salvation is very important because salvation is the first step into the Kingdom. But the message is not Salvation, the message is The Kingdom. Jesus wasn't going around preaching that people should come to Him to only be saved and to get their ticket to heaven. Jesus was preaching repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.
What does this mean?
The word "repent" doesn't mean to feel sorry for your sins. Repent means to change the way you think. Change your mind. We have to renew our minds.
"For the Kingdom of God is at hand" The word Kingdom means the reign or the rule of God: The Authority of God is at hand - it is within your reach.
So a modern translation of this could read: Change the way you think because the rule/authority of God is within your reach.
That is a radical message that Jesus brought!
He wasn't going around giving out tickets to heaven, Jesus was going around challenging people to begin to rule.
To be an extension of God's authority and to be an expression of God's character. Just like we saw God's Vision since the beginning: A Multitude In His Image, Ruling with Him over all creation. And Jesus came to restore that back to man. He didn't come to only save man to go to heaven, in fact, it says in the Word that we are saved and called. But we can't respond to our call unless we are first saved.
2 Tim 1:9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began
God's purpose was there since before the world began. He chose us in Christ right in the beginning and from that time He wanted us to be a Multitude, In His Image, ruling with Him over all creation. Because of sin and man's rebellion, we lost that. So Jesus came to restore us back to that: In Christ, we can be back in that place! We can be that Multitude In His Image, ruling with Him.
That is why He said: change the way you think, change your mind because the Kingdom of God (that rulership) is within reach again.
Conversation Starters with the little ones:
How do we renew our minds about something?
When Mia was little she thought the different chess pieces could move around on the chessboard just the way she wanted them to move. She would play with these chess pieces like little dolls on the board. This frustrated Divan who understood the way the pieces were supposed to move.
When Mia got older and started going for chess lessons, her mind was changed and she started to use the chess pieces correctly.
When we learn about a subject like chess, we get more confident in the way we understand the game.
When we spend time reading about chess, watching YouTube videos of Magnus Carlsen, or going for chess lessons, our minds get filled with the correct way we should play the game. It takes time to renew our minds and to understand a game like chess. Then we don't play like a toddler would play.
How then do we renew our minds regarding the Kingdom of God? By learning about the Kingdom. Spending time talking about the Kingdom with Mom and Dad every day. By reading our Bibles and praying for understanding. By asking the Holy Spirit to renew our minds. We can all pray this, even when we are little, God is faithful and He hears every prayer that we pray.
Teach them to Rule and Multiply:
Let your older children read this scripture: Luke 10:9 and Luke 10:17. Make it a priority to pray together for people who are ill, who lost their jobs, or who are going through something difficult. Create gentle opportunities for the little ones to offer their own prayers of healing when they know of a friend or family member that is sick. Where possible lay hands on each other when praying. Let the Holy Spirit teach them and show them His faithfulness.
You are welcome to download this visual aid for your own personal use:
Kettle Prayer Suggestion:
Lord Jesus, please reveal the Kingdom message to my little ones. Let them see Your healing power in their lives. Renew our minds with Your Truth. May your Kingdom come in our lives, here on earth as it is in heaven. Amen
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