Pursuing the Kingdom of God

Pursuing the Kingdom of God

(Preaching Outline)

1)      Matthew 4:23 (NKJV) — 23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.

a)      The importance of understanding the Kingdom of God!

b)      A simple explanation of the kingdom.

c)      The kingdom – power and understanding. Why so much teaching – seeing.

d)      Mark 1:14–15 (NKJV) — 14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

i)        One of the most important questions you need to decide is when the kingdom of God begins on earth.

ii)      If you believe it is a present reality, where is it?

e)      Luke 17:20–21 (NKJV) — 20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” – Do vs. Be/

2)      Matthew 11:12 (NKJV) — 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

a)      “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven breaks forth and those breaking forth are pursuing [seeking] it” (Matt 11: 12). This translation brings out the meaning of the Greek text.[1]

b)      The gentiles turning to Christ and Western Civilization.

3)      A picture of the Kingdom of God in John 7

a)      John 7:12–13 (NKJV) — 12 And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.” 13 However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.

b)      John 7:40–44 (NKJV) — 40 Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” 43 So there was a division among the people because of Him. 44 Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.

c)      (The anti-kingdom Jesus was setting people free from) Matthew 23:27 (NKJV) — 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.

4)      Another example of the Kingdom

a)      Matthew 20:25–28 (NKJV) — 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

5)      Our expectation of the kingdom of God

a)      Matthew 13:31–33 (NKJV) — 31 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32 which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” 33 Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”

6)      Why these things matter to us today.