After + Math – “Kingdom Math Part I” 

Today’s baptisms are a beautiful symbol of the “aftermath” of Easter – of lives changed by the death and resurrection of Jesus, and of the Full Life that he offers us. In this new series, we’ll look at the aftermath of the Resurrection, and how Jesus’ disciples worked out the implications of that resurrection. They did so with “worship and doubt” – then Jesus gave them their marching orders.

1.  Jesus is the King of the World (Matthew 28:18; Matthew 6:9-10)

• Jesus began his “marching orders” by framing what the world would now look like – the new reality that his resurrection had brought about: “I have been given ALL authority.” Jesus made it clear that he was, now and forever, the eternal King of the world, and that his kingdom had come to earth.
• Jesus was and is now king of both heaven and earth, even if the “old kingdom” of sin and death and evil is still hanging on. There might appear to be two kingdoms now, but “all authority” means there’s only one true king – and he will eventually fully exert his authority to destroy the old kingdom.
• Jesus taught his disciples to pray that God’s kingdom would come “on earth as it is in heaven” – and he was now telling them that the process had begun. It would take time, but it was now possible for “the kingdom of heaven” – which Jesus repeatedly described in parables – to being to infiltrate the earth – one soul, one believer at a time.
• Like a “fixer-upper” house that’s in the long process of renovation, Jesus’ kingdom on earth is “in process.” He purchased that kingdom – once and for all – on the cross, but has been “renovating” it ever since. One day it will be ready – and he’ll come back to claim and perfect it – but until then there’s much work to be done, because the “old kingdom” is holding on for dear life.

2. You Are Here for a Purpose (Matthew 28:19)
   
   • Jesus is “renovating” his kingdom one soul at a time. One day he’ll return to set all that is wrong to right, but until then he’s building his Church (ecclesia) and building local church communities of his followers that are meant to be “little slices of heaven” – representatives of what Jesus’ eternal kingdom will look like, where love and joy and peace will flourish.
   • In the meantime, we’ve got work to do as his followers. First, we are to pray – pray that his kingdom would come “on earth as it is in heaven” – i.e., that the new kingdom of love would advance a little more each day in conquering the old kingdom (starting with me and how I live my life).
   • But Jesus commanded his followers to do more than pray. After telling his disciples that he was now king of all and had ALL authority, he gave them this command: “Go and make more disciples. Because you’ve been saved by my blood, and because you’ve joined in my resurrection, go into the world and show and tell others – everyone in the world! – about me so they can know me and be saved as well.”
   • We (Jesus’ followers) aren’t here just to “endure the mess of this world until we go to heaven.” We’ve been left here to participate in Jesus’ “renovation project” that he began 2000 years ago in an empty tomb. We’ve got a mission and a purpose: to show and tell a lost and broken world what life in Jesus’ kingdom is like, what it could be, and what it will be one day when he returns. So get busy renovating!

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE

These passages may provide additional insights related to the subject of this week’s message. All verses are NLT unless otherwise noted.

Daniel 2:44; Matthew 6:7-13; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 17:20-21; Romans 14:17-19; Revelation 11:15

Video of the Week: The Gospel of the Kingdom by the Bible Project

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

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1. Prior to this message, when you heard or read the words “kingdom of heaven” in the Bible what images came to mind? 

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2. Matthew 28:17 tells us that when the 11 remaining disciples saw the resurrected Jesus, “they worshiped him – but some of them doubted!”  How could they have possibly “doubted” when he was right there in front of them?  

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3. What’s wrong with the idea (seemingly held by many Christians) that the important thing is to “get saved” and then endure this broken world until we die and go to heaven? Isn’t that the ultimate promise of the Bible?

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4. Read Matthew 28:18 again.  If Jesus has been given “all authority in heaven and on earth,” then why is he still allowing the “old kingdom” of evil to continue to wreak havoc on earth – for 2000 years now?

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5. Jesus commissioned his followers to “go and make disciples of all nations” in Matthew 28:19. How, exactly, does “making disciples” serve to renovate the earth and build up Jesus’ kingdom here?

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6. Going forward, what’s one thing you could do differently in your life to more fully participate in Jesus’ ”renovation project” as we await his return?

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