The Kingdom

This morning, we begin a brand-new series. Simply titled, "The Kingdom!" One of the things that we will be discovering is that when we read of "The Kingdom go GOD" and "The kingdom of Heaven" they are synonymous, there is a familiar ring between the two. Much of JESUS' teaching on "The Kingdom" is found in what we know of as the parables in Matthew, Mark and Luke. JESUS' very first teaching on the kingdom is seen in Matthew 3:2, "Repent, for he kingdom of Heaven is at hand!" and one of HIS last teachings is found in John 18:36 as JESUS stands before Pilate, "MY kingdom is not of this world. If MY kingdom were of this world, MY servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But MY Kingdom is not from this world."

When we stop and look at those two statements we discover two amazing truths, truths that would be great if we would heed. First, repentance is needed in order to enter into the Kingdom of GOD and secondly, HIS Kingdom is so different than the kingdoms that one finds in this life. Phew! What a way to start. Change and Different. May we be noticeably different people when this study is complete.