1. The Kingdom of God Bryan Johnson May 2007 Jesus came preaching What is the Kingdom of God? Ten parables of the Kingdom?

2. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT THE KING INTERVENES THE KING INVADES HISTORY AS A SUFFERING SERVANT Overview - THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS ETERNAL, UNCHANGING (Psa 145:11-13) IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. ADAM NOAH ABRAHAM MOSES etc. DAVID IN EACH INTERVENTION THE KINGDOM PRINCIPLES ARE MADE KNOWN: SPIRITUAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL THROUGH GOD'S DEALINGS WITH ISRAEL IN THE LIVES OF: COMMUNITIES OF THE KING MANIFEST KINGDOM SPIRITUALITY, ECONOMICS, SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS GOD instituted COVENANTS OF Mercy and Judgement IN THE LAST DAYS WILL BE THE TRIUMPHAL COMING AS THE KING OF KINGS AND AS JUDGE OF ALL THE KINGDOM WILL RULE THE KINGDOMS OF THIS EARTH It is a Kingdom Present…. And Not Yet!

3. Covenants - Foundations of Trust What happens when a society cannot trust each other? It divides and the sense of community breaks down. In the slum Satan uses the common vices of human society to divide the community; a) Gambling b) Alcohol addiction c) Selling Sex d) Drug addiction e) Criminal activity God Humanity Land

4. God made Covenants with His people to develop His relationship with His people! Covenants of the scripture reflect the Kingdom –  Noah (Gen 9:8-17),  Abraham; Gen 17),  Sinai (Ex 19-24),  Phinehas (Num 25:10-13),  David (2 Sam 7:5-16),  New Covenant (Jer 31-34) All covenants involve:  God-Human  Society  Land These Covenants are intended to bring healing and reconciliation in relationships between God and mankind.

5. Man’s remedy for a breakdown in relationships in communities are; Pass laws to regulate human behaviour Laws are devised according to the values and worldview of the dominant culture Employ Police to enforce these laws Fine and imprison the offenders and make criminals out of a section of society Use weapons to gain power over the an inferior group in society the dominant group wants to control This results in injury, death and maiming of people which destroys their creativity and productivity

6. God’s remedy for this unjust human government system was to….. Provide His own Son Jesus to satisfy the righteous requirement that there be a penalty for the breaking of the Law. His Son Jesus Christ was crucified to pay this penalty. God is a just and merciful God, who made a way to His subjects to be free. The Kingdom of God is the rule and reign of Jesus Christ in our lives setting us free from the injustice of the evil systems and powers of the unseen world. Jubilee was the concept of forgiveness that set the debtor free from the bondage of debt.

7. New Testament period till today

8. The King Reigns from New Testament times until today thru’ His disciples actions in making disciples. Eph 3 Proclamation of the “good news” of Kingdom by His servants. Eph 3 v 8 The Kingdom is manifest in redemptive “joy-filled” communities actions in reconciliation and healing the nations. Eph 3 v 15 Through the Church – the community of believers contesting the powers of darkness and their activity in the world. Eph 3 v 10 Turning the world’s power structures upside down through mission to the poor and lost. Eph 3 v 11 Read Ephesians 3 v 1-21

9. The Mission of the Kingdom

10. GOD MANAGING THE CREATED ORDER GOD SOCIAL DISCIPLESHIP SPIRITUAL DISCIPLESHIP RULES OVER HUMANITY WHO ARE TO RULE AS HIS VICE-RULERS RULES OVER HUMANITY WHO ARE TO BE THEIR NEIGHBOURS' KEEPERS IN EQUALITY, BROTHERHOOD, SISTERHOOD AND JUSTICE Discipleship: Responses to the Reign of the King The Kingdom is God’s Rule Bringing Redemption of Humanity And Restoration of Creation 1. 2. 3.

11. Jesus provides a holistic answer to mankind’s need....... Human Needs Spiritual  Separation  Death Social  Alienation  Injustice Economic  Poverty  Extravagance  Exploitation Political  Oppression Divine Resources Spiritual  Spiritual Life  Eternal Life Social  Community  Justice  Brotherhood Economic  Food / Work / Land  Redistribution  Management of Resources Political  Servant-Leaders

12. Some Principles of the Kingdom Economic  Creativity  Productivity  Voluntary & periodic redistribution  Corporate and Private property  Communal economics Social  Equality  Brotherhood, sisterhood  Communal values Spiritual  Eternal life  Answered prayer  Power of Spirit Political  The Leader is a Servant  Power is to be distributed  The multiplication of economic, political or spiritual communities to redistribute power  The Government seeks to serve the poor

13. Some New Testament Economic Principles of the Kingdom Redistribution (2 Cor 9:8; Acts 2:42-44) Forsaking all (Luke 12:33) Live simply vs consumerism (1 Tim 6:6-8) Identification with the poor (John 1:14) The rich are humbled, and the poor are uplifted (James 1:9) Rich Middle Class Level of Equality and Simplicity Labouring Poor Destitute Poor

14. Ten Parables of the Kingdom 1. Parable of the Sower Matt 13 v 3 – 23 The person with the good heart will hear the word of the kingdom and it will produce much fruit in his/her life. To whom much is given even more will be given, and to whom who has little even that will be taken away.

15. Ten Parables of the Kingdom 2. Parable of the Tares Matt 13 v 24 – 30 The seed planted in the field grows up with the tares. At harvest the tares are burned then the wheat is stored. We do the work of the kingdom in this sinful world and the judgement will come one- day.

16. Ten Parables of the Kingdom 3. The Mustard Seed Matt 31 v 31-32 The smallest will become the greatest giving shelter and care for a multitude of people

17. Ten Parables of the Kingdom 4. Parable of the leaven Matt 31 v 33 Those who proclaim the kingdom are like leaven, a small company of disciples who will gradually permeate all of society

18. Ten Parables of the Kingdom 5. The treasure in the field Matt 13 v 44 – 46 The merchant sells all he has to buy the field where the pearl of great price is hidden

19. Ten Parables of the Kingdom 6. The dragnet Matt 13 v 47 – 51 The dragnet gathers all the fish of the sea but the fisherman sorts the fish and discards those not wanted

20. Ten Parables of the Kingdom 7. Old and new treasure Matt 13 v 52 The scribe who becomes a disciple brings out all his treasure both old and new.

21. Ten Parables of the Kingdom 8. The faithful Steward Luke 12 v 42-48 He is put in charge of the Masters servants and their rations until the Master returns. Because of his faithfulness he is put in charge of all His Master’s possessions

22. Ten Parables of the Kingdom 9. The greedy rich man Luke 12 v 15-40 The foolish rich man has his life taken while building bigger barns. Seek first the kingdom of God

23. Ten Parables of the Kingdom 10. The lost sheep Luke 15 v 3-11 The shepherd loses a sheep and he leaves the 99 and goes to find the 1 missing sheep There is great rejoicing over the sheep when it is found