Proclamation of the Kingdom of God . . “Seek first the Kingdom of God and everything shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33) Marian Gospel Research Center 27 Oct 2011

Proclamation of the Kingdom of God . . Kingdom of God has come near! Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel ( Mk 1: 14-15) From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and men of violence take it by force. Matthew 11:12 New International Version (NIV) Marian Gospel Research Center 27 Oct 2011

Proclamation of the Kingdom of God . . “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone enters it violently. Luke 16:16 Marian Gospel Research Center 27 Oct 2011

Proclamation of the Kingdom of God . . Kingdom of God is in the midst of you. Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” Luke 17:20,21 Marian Gospel Research Center 27 Oct 2011

Proclamation of the Kingdom of God . . Entering the Kingdom maimed! If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where ‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ Mark 9:43-48 Kingdom of Heaven, Russian icon. Marian Gospel Research Center 27 Oct 2011

Proclamation of the Kingdom of God . . The Parable of the Growing Seed   He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” Mark 4:26-29 Marian Gospel Research Center 27 Oct 2011

Proclamation of the Kingdom of God . . The Parable of the Mustard Seed   Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” Mark 4:30-32 Marian Gospel Research Center 27 Oct 2011

Proclamation of the Kingdom of God . . The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl     “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.  “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Matt 13:44-46 Marian Gospel Research Center 27 Oct 2011

Proclamation of the Kingdom of God . . Old & New Treasures! “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.    “Yes,” they replied.   He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” Matt 13:51-52 Marian Gospel Research Center 27 Oct 2011

Proclamation of the Kingdom of God . . Matthew 20 The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard  1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.    3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.    “He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’    7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.    “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’    8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’    Marian Gospel Research Center 27 Oct 2011

Proclamation of the Kingdom of God . .  9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’    13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ Matt 20:1-15 Marian Gospel Research Center 27 Oct 2011

Proclamation of the Kingdom of God . . Healing the Body & Soul And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, "My son your sins are forgiven" ( Mk 2: 3,5)  "But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins... I say to you rise take up your pallet and go home."( Mk 2: 10,11)  Poems by Mattie J.T. Stepanek, a 13-year child who died of the disease dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy. Marian Gospel Research Center 27 Oct 2011

Proclamation of the Kingdom of God . . Kingdom of God is at Hand! A woman of the city who was a sinner brought an alabaster flask of ointment and...weeping, she began to anoint his feet with her tears...and then with the ointment. (Lk 7: 37-38) “Therefore, I tell you, her sins which are many are forgiven"...and he said to her "your sins are forgiven" (Lk 7: 47) Marian Gospel Research Center 27 Oct 2011

Proclamation of the Kingdom of God . . Enjoy the Peace of Jesus Christ! Jesus came and stood among them and said to them "Peace be with you " (Jn 20: 19-20)   When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Jesus said to them again " Peace be with you." (Jn 20: 20-21) Marian Gospel Research Center 27 Oct 2011

Proclamation of the Kingdom of God . . Come Holy Spirit! "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you " (Jn 20: 22) And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them "Receive the Holy Spirit" (Jn 20: 22) "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven, if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." (Jn 20 :23) Marian Gospel Research Center 27 Oct 2011

Proclamation of the Kingdom of God . . “Go throughout the whole world and preach the gospel to all mankind.” Mark 16:15 Thank you! Nick Vujicic – A great example. Marian Gospel Research Center 27 Oct 2011