The Kingdom of God
Your Kingdom Come – On Earth as It Is in Heaven
Jesus proclaimed the gospel of the Kingdom of God. His message and mission extend far beyond our personal life of faith or the church: God's rule is meant to become visible on the earth.
As Christians, we can unconsciously reduce our mission to the church. But God loved the world. Jesus taught us to pray for His Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. And in the Great Commission, Jesus commands His disciples to make disciples of all nations – with the vision that not only individuals, but entire nations would learn to follow Jesus.
This fundamentally changes the way we see the Kingdom of God.
The church is not the final destination of the Kingdom of God. It is called and equipped by Jesus to proclaim, represent, and make His Kingdom visible. Wherever His rule gains influence, people, relationships, and ultimately every area of society are meant to be touched by His presence, truth, and order.
This seminar therefore provides a holistic understanding of the Kingdom of God and our mission within it. We will explore God's purpose for the world, the earth, and the nations, and rediscover what it means to live as ambassadors of His Kingdom in our families, churches, workplaces, and society.
The Kingdom of God does not end at the walls of the church. Jesus desires to make His rule visible on the earth – in people, families, churches, spheres of society, and nations.
Seminar Content
- The Kingdom of God as the central message of Jesus
- What does “Kingdom of God” mean? – God's rule and its visible reality
- “Your Kingdom come” – on earth as it is in heaven
- God's love and His plan for the world
- The church and the Kingdom of God – its significance and mission
- Understanding the Kingdom of God beyond the walls of the church
- The Great Commission – making disciples of all nations
- God's purpose for peoples and nations
- Jesus as King and Lord over every area of life
- Making the Kingdom of God visible in family, work, and society
- Spiritual authority and responsibility in the Kingdom of God
- Discovering our own place and assignment in the Kingdom of God
- Living as ambassadors of the Kingdom of God
Learning Objectives
After the seminar, participants should:
- have developed a biblically grounded and holistic understanding of the Kingdom of God
- understand that the Kingdom of God describes God's rule and extends far beyond the church
- recognize the central importance of the Kingdom of God in the message and ministry of Jesus
- understand the church as an essential part and carrier of the Kingdom without equating the church with the Kingdom of God
- gain a broader understanding of God's purpose for the world, the earth, and the nations
- understand the Great Commission not only in terms of individuals, but also in its dimension for peoples and nations
- recognize that Jesus desires to be Lord over every area of life and society
- learn to view their own lives and spheres of influence from the perspective of the Kingdom of God
- recognize their personal place and assignment within God's greater plan
- learn to make the Kingdom of God visible wherever God has placed and sent them
Why This Seminar Matters
The Kingdom of God stands at the heart of Jesus' message and is therefore foundational to understanding our mission as Christians. How we understand the Kingdom of God shapes how we understand the church, our calling, and our place in the world.
If we primarily associate God's work with our personal life of faith and the church, our understanding of our mission can become too limited.
We are not only called to serve within the church. As ambassadors of the Kingdom of God, we are sent to make His rule visible wherever God has placed us – in families, relationships, workplaces, society, and nations.
Understanding the Kingdom of God helps us recognize God's greater plan and discover our own place within it. It changes our perspective on why we live on this earth as Christians and what Jesus has called and equipped His church to accomplish.
