The Kingdom of God

Overview of Lesson 11: The Kingdom of God

(Following this link will allow you to view the lesson in more detail. For an alternative view you can go to: Sabbath School Org. Lesson 11)

Karakia Timatanga             Opening Prayer

E te Atua                              Lord

He mihi tēnei ki a koe            This is a greeting to you

Mo au painga ki a mātou        For your kindness to us

I tēnei wā                             At this time

Amine                                       Amen

Saturday | Sabbath | Hātarei

Memory Text: They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God (Lk 13:29, NKJV).

Memorising scripture is very important. Jesus himself placed high importance on the word of God (Mt. 4:4). This memory verse is a great verse to learn. It couldn't have been a popular teaching at the time because Israel believed that salvation was primarily for the Jews. There is a place for every culture in God's kingdom because his kingdom is trans-cultural and international. Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world ..." (Jn. 18:36). We also read in the Psalms (24:1) "The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;" Don't tolerate racism, bigotry in your church. Speak up don't let it happen. Of all the religions in the world, Christianity is the one that should be deliberately trying to connect with other cultures.  It is commissioned.

In 1994 Rwanda experienced a terrible genocide where an estimated 500,000 to 1,000,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutus were killed. One of the leaders of this genocide was the leader of the Adventist church in Rwanda, Elizaphan Ntakirutimana. Another Hutu, Rwandan Adventist, Paul Rusesabagina saved over 1,200 Tutsis. His heroic story is told in the movie 'Hotel Rwanda'. 

Racism and racial tension is transformed through a clear grasp and practise of the Gospel of Christ. Let North, South, East and West sit together in God's kingdom.

Sunday | Rātapu
Characteristics of the Kingdom of God: Part 1

Fowler asks some fundamental questions. 

How can we live in a way that reflects the reality of the kingdom of God? Most important, how can we reflect that reality in our own lives? What should be different about how we, as citizens of God's kingdom, live now?

Whole books could be written on these questions. It is fitting that Fowler focuses our minds on the prayer of our Lord. Jesus says: "When you pray, say: "'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. (Lk 11:2).

He then goes to say what the kingdom of God is not. He says that it is not:

1. philosophic notion, 
2. an ethical edifice, 
3. social gospel proclaiming bread and water for the hungry or equality and justice for the politically oppressed. 

Fowler then goes on to say that the kingdom of God  "transcends all human goodness and moral action and finds its locus in the sovereign activity of God in the incarnate Son, who came preaching the good news of the kingdom."

I endorse with Fowler that everything comes back to God acting in the world through Jesus, and that this involves the preaching God's word and salvation from sin (Mt. 1:21). I look forward to the time when as Daniel (7:18) writes: '... the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’ However, Fowler seems to be almost separating philosophy, ethics and social justice from the Gospel. It can't be done. Philosophy, ethics and social justice should be an integral part of what it means to be a Christian. Just look at the life and teachings of Christ. In Mt. 25:40 we read: "And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ You had better believe that this is philosophy, ethics and social justice.

Monday | Rāhina 
Characteristics of the Kingdom of God: Part 2

Today's lesson is challenging to all Christians. It was a challenge to the disciples in Jesus day; it is no less a challenge to us now (Mt. 7:14). In the fourteenth chapter of Luke (14:25-35) Jesus does the counter-intuitive thing; he actively discourages the multitudes from following Him. What Jesus wanted in his followers was commitment. Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes about this in his book:  The Cost of Discipleship. Bonhoeffer died in a Nazi concentration camp near the end of World War two.

I wonder how Jesus would have used Facebook, twitter, blogging and social media with His followers? I wonder if sometimes we are too desperate to gain more followers for Jesus, when we should just let people walk away.

Luke 18:16-30; Luke 12:31-33; Luke 9:59-62

Tuesday | Rātū 
The Kingdom of God: Already, Not Yet

Jesus announced the inauguration of God's kingdom (Lk 4:16-18) in the synagogue at Capernaum. Obviously it's not fully here yet or we wouldn't have the problems that exist in the world today. John the Baptist needed to recognise the arrival of God's kingdom despite his imprisonment (Mt. 11:2-5). As Christians we have a role to play in bringing this about through our actions and words. The NKJV translates Jesus saying that the kingdom of God is within us (Lk 17:21). God's kingdom is able to happen to the extent to which we are fulfilling the Lord's prayer (Lk. 11:2) and this is because of the nature of our citizenship (Phil 3:20).

Wednesday | Rāapa
The Kingdom and the Second Coming of Christ

The only confidence I have in the second coming is based on the clear evidence that Jesus first coming is rooted in history. The church has now waited for about 2,000 years. This is a long time, it is either patience and faith, or stupidity. This long wait is alluded to in Jesus teachings and parables(Lk 12:35-48; Mt. 25:5, 14). It is a reasonable thing to wonder if faith will continue to exist (Lk 18:8). It is also reasonable for those who don't believe, to be provided with credible reasons to believe. The most credible reason to believe is you and I. In the parable Jesus gave of the wicked servant (Luke 12) the wicked servant acted as if his master were not returning and gave no one else reason or desire to believe. 

Most people can recognise credibility. Can people see credibility in you?

Thursday | Rāpare
Witnesses

We are witnesses whether we like it or not. Before anything else, how we relate to other people is the most basic measurement. The most fundamental question asked of any of us is, can we be trusted? People usually can tell whether our actions, words and belief agree. Sometimes, I think we worry about witnessing, when perhaps we should be worried more about the quality of our relationships and being consistent in our relationships. Jesus taught us about how to get on with God and man. Christianity is a religion of relationships. If the Christian faith had ended with the cross, Jesus was irrelevant and his teaching not trustworthy. As a contemporary disciple of Jesus, what had happened was something to be afraid of; it required the resurrection to make faith a possibility. To be a more consistent witness you and I need the Holy Spirit. Jesus said (Lk 11:13): If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Points for Christians to consider and practise

1. There is no place for racism in God's church.
2. How you live and act toward others is connected to your view of God's kingdom, or not.
3. Have you counted the cost, or just filling the pew?
4. Are you credible? And if you are credible - Are you trustworthy?

Closing Prayer - Karakia Whakamutunga

2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV)

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Kia tau ki a tātou katoa te atawhai o tō tātou Ariki, a Ihu Karaiti me te aroha o te Atua, me te whiwhingatahitanga ki te wairua tapu, ake, ake, ake, amine.

References

Bonhoeffer, D. (1959). The cost of discipleship. New York: Macmillan. (First published 1937 in Germany.)

Fowler, J. (2015). The book of Luke. Adult Sabbath School Quarterly 2Q. 2015. Silver Spring: MD: Pacific Press.

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