Kingdom Living
As Christians, we follow Jesus because of God’s incredible love, shown to us through Him. We belong to His Kingdom – He reigns, and we are His people. As Dallas Willard says.
“The eternal life that begins with confidence in Jesus is a life in his present kingdom, now on earth and available to all. So the message of and about him is specifically a gospel for our life now, not just for dying. It is about living now as his apprentice in kingdom living, not just as a consumer of his merits. Our future, however far we look, is a natural extension of the faith by which we live now and the life in which we now participate. Eternity is now in flight and we with it, like it or not.”
Willard, Dallas. The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life In God (p. 6). Kindle Edition.
We are Kingdom people called to Kingdom living. Over the coming months we will delve into key Bible passages that will guide us in becoming disciples of Jesus and embracing the Kingdom Life he promises.
“The Twenty-third Psalm, for example, is an exquisite summary of life in the kingdom. The mind of the disciple should have it prominently displayed within, to always foster the joy and peace of the kingdom as well as to orient all of his or her actions within it. The Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, the Sermon on the Mount, Romans 8, Colossians 3, Philippians 2–4, and a few other passages of scripture should be frequently meditated on in depth, and much of them memorized. This is an essential part of any curriculum for Christlikeness. Positive engagement with these scriptures will bring kingdom order into our entire personality.”
Willard, Dallas. The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life In God (p. 396). Kindle Edition.
Over the past year we have looked at several of these powerful Kingdom passages, as we journey to Summer we will look at the rest with excitement and expectation as we seek to grow in kingdom living.
1 Corinthians 13
Many are very familiar with this passage, it is read at many weddings and it helps us to consider what love is all about. Take time this week to read slowly and pray through (Lectio guide) 1 Corinthians 13. Below are some throughs to help us reflect on the wonder of Kingdom Love.
After reading 1 Corinthians 12, it might strike you as quite amazing how the church and its members can be organised by God. They use their spiritual gifts as God has given them, serve in the roles they are called and equipped for and everything works together as God desires, all for the ‘common good’. we may be tempted to say this is an excellent way.
But as we enter chapter 13 we see Paul is going to show them a more excellent way, and that is Kingdom Love.
It is easy to reduce Christianity and the Church to what Paul highlights in the first three verses: words, prophecy (messages from God), mysteries (understanding the things of God), knowledge (knowing lots about God), faith (in God) and sacrificial living. How do Paul’s warnings that without love, these are nothing, shape your understanding of what we strive to do?
The reality is that LOVE of the key to all of chapter 12.
Verses 4&5 explore what love truly means and what it does not. Take your time to ponder each point, reflecting on how we understand these concepts in the context of God and Jesus’ love for us and how they should shape our lives.
Patience, kindness and goodness are powerful descriptions of God’s love to us and understanding this is vital to our ability grasp love
To be patient is something we do for others; we put ourselves out for others and are willing to bear with them and even forgive. Consider how patience can help us conquer the following four anti-love attributes which take us away from love, turning us into ourselves and therefore viewing others in the wrong light:
Patient - not envy, not rude, not self seeking, not delight in evil.
To be kind and good are things we do for others but also have a positive effect on us. Consider how they can help us conquer the following four anti-love attributes which take us away from love and therefore affect others and ourselves negatively.
Kind/Good - not boast, not proud, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrong.
Verse 6 clearly states “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” The challenge here is to reflect on what we delight and rejoice in.
Verse 7 shows us want love is that rejoices in truth.
Love always: protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres
These four are expressions of love at work in us. Let us endeavour to live them out in Kingdom Love as part of our Kingdom Family. The reality is that they are hard to live out. This is why we need to be continually reminded of what love is and isn't, living out the fruit of the Spirit as we seek to conquer the old self and put on the new and take our place in the church of God.
Verse 8 is an encouragement to us of the power and awe of love, it doesn’t fail. God’s Love for us doesn’t fail. allow this truth to minister to you this week.
1 Corinthians 12
Take time this week to read slowly and pray through (Lectio guide) 1 Corinthians 12.
As you spend time in the passage consider how the following headings fit into it and what these mean for you and the church.
Kingdom Living
Kingdom Gifts
Kingdom Good
Kingdom Unity
Kingdom Purpose
Galatians 5
Take time this week to read slowly and pray through (Lectio guide) Galatians 5.
In the book of Galatians, Paul is speaking to people who, through false teaching, have begun to think and live in ways that have caused them to struggle in their faith.
Here in Chapter 5, he begins to become more practical as he both challenges this and points them towards realities that are worth remembering: that God’s love is something they can be confident in, captivated by, and cooperative with.
As you read through this chapter yourself, which of these realities stands out most to you, and why?
Throughout the chapter, Paul encourages them to walk with the Spirit. What do you think this looks like?
Are there particular acts of the flesh that you struggle with? How does this passage help you think about how they might be overcome?
Are you drawn to any of the fruit of the Spirit in particular? Why might that be?
Paul places a strong emphasis on the importance of community in this chapter. Why do you think that is, and is this something you have in your own life?
Colossians 3:12-17
Kingdom Family
Take time this week to read slowly and pray through (Lectio guide) Colossians 3:12-17.
As this passage follows on from last week, we see here the wonder of what the new life of Kingdom Living looks like as we live as a Kingdom Family. Take time to reflect on verse 12a, which reminds us of who we are as members of God's Kingdom Family.
Give thanks for how through Jesus we are chosen, holy and dearly loved.
What does this verse mean for us and our Kingdom Family?
If this is who we are it changes how we are
The rest of verse 12&13 gives us an outworking of what our new life v10 looks like.
Consider each attributes/virtues and how Jesus demonstrates each, let us learn from Jesus getting to know him and act and respond as he did.
Honestly how are we doing with these?
How do they help us fight against the earthly nature v5?
How do they enhance our Kingdom Family?
The list from verses 12&13 is challenging, how does this truth about love encourage you?
In verses 15&16 we see two commands:
The peace of Christ rule in your hearts
The word of Christ dwell in you
How do these help us live out the what these verses say?
What does doing everything in Jesus’ name, verse 17, mean to you?
How would implementing this principle in all aspects of your life change everything?
Take time this week to memories some our all of this passage, and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you as you do.
Colossians 3:1-11
This passage starts with the powerful truth that we are raised Christ. What does this mean to you?
Thought Jesus we enter into Kingdom life, the old is gone and we are made new.
Kingdom Living is a New Life:
with Transformed Desires
v1 ‘set our hearts on the things above’
v5 sets out a list of earthly desires.
Why are these desires attractive to us?
How do these negatively affect our life, how we view others, and treat others?
v6 shows us God reaction to these desires, and in v5 we are called to put these desires to death.
Think about the opposites of these desires which set our hearts on the things of earth. How do the opposites keep our hearts/desires set on the things above and help us to live the Kingdom Life.
v7 helps us face up to the reality of our life before Jesus and the magnitude of the transformation required. This reminds us of the importance of confession and repentance as we seek to embrace Kingdom Living.
with Transformed Thinking
v2 ‘set our minds on the things above’
v8&9 sets out a list of earthly practices that can overrun our minds.
Why are these natural to us?
How do these negatively affect our life, how we view others, and treat others?
Think about the opposites of these practices which set our minds on the things of earth. How do the opposites keep our minds and thinking set on the things above and help us to live the Kingdom Life.
Transformed Through Jesus
v3&4 show us why we transform our desires and minds, the wonder of the Kingdom promise through Jesus.
v10&11 show us the goal and the power of the transformation.
Take time to know Jesus; the more you know him, the more you will love him, and the more you love him, the more you will want to know him.
Part of our vision is to become more like Jesus and introduce others to Him. Take some time to consider:
How am I doing with this?
How does this passage help you do this?
Which spiritual practices can you put into place this week to ensure that you are always being renewed into the image of Jesus?
Psalm 23
This is what Dallas Willard says of Psalm 23:
“The Twenty-third Psalm, for example, is an exquisite summary of life in the kingdom. The mind of the disciple should have it prominently displayed within, to always foster the joy and peace of the kingdom as well as to orient all of his or her actions within it.
How do these words encourage and challenge you as we come to Psalm 23?
Psalm 23 is a wonderful passage to use with our Lectio guide; use it this week as we seek to embrace Kingdom Living .
Kingdom Life v1
Psalm 23 describes the life God has called us to as part of his Kingdom.
At the start, God is described as our shepherd, and in John 10:11, Jesus calls himself the “Good Shepherd”. As you spend time in this Psalm, reflect on how Jesus fulfils these words and what this means for our Kingdom Living?
The Psalmist talks about not being in want, and in John 10:10, we read about Jesus coming so that we may have life to the full. What does this mean to you?
Kingdom Living v2-3
As followers of Jesus, these active descriptions of a shepherd help us to live as members of the Kingdom.
How does Jesus do these for us?
What is our response to Jesus?
What do these tell us about life in the kingdom?
Kingdom Confidence v4-5
As we respond to the actions of Jesus for us, we can live with Kingdom Confidence.
Here we see that God is with us, God is working, God has called us, and God blessed us.
As you reflect on these truths, how do they encourage you, especially in difficult times?
The Eternal Kingdom
These verses encourage us with the wonderful truth that we are members of God’s Eternal Kingdom from the moment we believed in Jesus. We know He is with us now through the Holy Spirit, and we will be with Him forever.
Why do you think the Psalmist finished in this way?
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Romans 8
Use the Lectio guide this week and journey through this incredibly powerful passage allowing it to encourage and challenge you as you see how the Holy Spirit helps us to embrace our Kingdom Life.
(Some additional guidance)
Romans 8:1-4
What do these verses tell us about the foundational reality of Kingdom life?
Look at Romans 5:16-18
Through Jesus we are not condemned but we live according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:5-17
What do these verses tell us about our minds and desires?
Take a look at these verses and notice how the sinful nature and our desires often clash with the Spirit’s desires. They highlight two different paths: one where we follow our own will and another where we embrace the Kingdom of God. As we consider these lists of desires, remember that because of Jesus and the Holy Spirit within us, we can truly live the Kingdom life.
As you read verses 13-17, take a moment to feel encouraged that we are part of God’s family. Verse 16 reminds us that the Holy Spirit tells our spirits this wonderful truth: we are God’s children. Why do you think this is so important?
Romans 8:18-27
These next verses present us with the reality of Kingdom living in the light of eternity.
They point to our sufferings, waiting, weakness and the hope that is ours. We see here the importance of prayer, and when we don’t know what to pray for the Spirit intercedes for us. These verses are a source of comfort, giving us hope as we embrace the life of the Kingdom.
Romans 8:28-39
As we conclude this chapter, we encounter verses that inspire and challenge us, highlighting the incredible love of God and the assurance we have as members of His kingdom. Memorising Scripture is a vital practice for Jesus’ followers. Which verses resonate with you at this stage of your journey, and how do they assist you in embracing the Kingdom life? Take some time to memorise these verses.