Session 10
The Shepherd and His Kingdom
Here is the Kingdom of God described in the easiest possible terms. John Wimber gave this description: ‘The Kingdom is primarily a realm over which a king exercises authority’. On this basis, when we read through the Bible, we will see that the ‘Kingdom of God’ is the place where Jesus is King. Everywhere we see the Shepherd proclaiming the Kingdom, manifesting the Kingdom and teaching the people about the Kingdom, we see the enormity of God ’s effective will, revealed.
The Kingdom of God, was, is and always will be, the central message that the Shepherd proclaimed and demonstrated in His life here on the earth. Since Pentecost and throughout the years leading up to today, the Holy Spirit has been activating people to do the works of Jesus in their generation.
There are four sub-sections of the Kingdom, we need to look at: The proclamation of the Kingdom, the parables of the Kingdom, the promise of the Kingdom, and the power of the Kingdom.
Proclamation. Read 1 Corinthians 4:20.
Parables. Read and discuss: Matthew 13:1-9, Matthew 13:31-32, Matthew 13:33, Matthew 13:44, Matthew 13:45-46, Matthew 13:47-50, and Matthew 25:31-46.
Promise. The promised future Kingdom invaded the present, in the form of a small baby wrapped in baby clothes and lying in a manager. This baby came to change everything.
Around thirty years after this baby’s birth, we hear Jesus say, “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
This future Kingdom has already been inaugurated. In the mighty resurrection of Jesus, God has abolished death and has, for all who have eyes to see, shown the whole of creation, the life of the Age to come.
Power. Read Matthew 16:18:
Questions:
- How does it feel to know that Jesus’ promise of the Kingdom, is a real promise? In the truth of that, how would you change the way you live your life today, if at all?
- How do you respond to the four statements, ‘the proclamation of the Kingdom, parables of the Kingdom, promise of the Kingdom and power of the Kingdom’? Can you put it into your own words?
The Shepherd Speaks 