KDSC: Our DNA, Our Values
Kingdom / Disciple
Sequence is vital
The gospel of the kingdom of Jesus makes disciples (Romans 1:16).
These disciples learn to follow Jesus by hearing and obeying Jesus (Matt 7:24-27).
Disciples work in domains of society as ambassadors of Jesus kingdom, healing and preaching good news.
From the preaching of the good news of Jesus’ kingdom, disciples are made and gathered into the church as the community of the kingdom and they begin to multiply the church. (Matt 16:18).
Kingdom
Why the kingdom of God? What is the kingdom of God?
- The kingdom is what Jesus preached, and what he told us to preach.
1 Samuel 8:1-9 – Israel rejects the Lord as king.
Psalms 10:16 (ESV) The Lord is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land.
Mark 1:14-15
“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel.”
The equating of the gospel and the kingdom in this passage is huge because it rounds out the gospel message to fullness in that the gospel is not merely about saving people from the wrath of God alone, but it is also about all things being brought back into the rule and headship of Jesus Christ the King of all of his created order.
Matthew 4:23
“And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.”
Matthew 6:33
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 6:10
“…Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
- What is the kingdom?
“The kingdom is the renewal of the whole world through entrance of supernatural forces. As things are brought back under Christ’s rule and authority, they are restored to health, beauty and freedom.” – Tim Keller
God’s kingdom is his universal rule, his sovereignty over all the earth…The kingdom is his reign more than his realm. – George Eldon Ladd
“The kingdom of God is the reign of God. It is Jesus’ Christ, the Lord over all things in action. Wherever the will of God is being done, that’s where the kingdom is being manifested. In a very real sense Jesus is the kingdom in person.” – Bob Roberts
2.1. The kingdom is the rule of God.1 Samuel 8; Luke 11:20; Mark 1:14-15
2.1.1. Repentance/Faith/Obedience
2.2. The kingdom is the renewal of all things by the supernatural power of God
by God and through God’s people.Isaiah 65:17-25; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 20-21
2.3. The kingdom is the reconciliation of God.2 Corinthians 5:17-19; Ephesians
1:7-10; Colossians 1:15-20
NOTE: The Sabbath is not only to be a reminder of God’s salvation, but a physical reminder of the coming final and full rule of God. The Sabbath is a reminder of the kingdom. We strive to not earn God’s favor, but we strive to live like the future full reign of God is present now.
Disciple
- What kills discipleship?
1.1. Seeing salvation as a result of a prayer prayed rather than repentance to follow
Jesus.
1.2. Seeing discipleship as a transfer of information rather than transformation to
hearing and obeying Jesus.
1.3. Thinking the kingdom advances through training and mobilizing
pastors/ministry professionals.
1.4. Thinking discipleship is complicated and unattainable.
1.5. Thinking discipleship can be done outside of covenant church fellowship.
1.6. Thinking discipleship can be done without the influence of the Great
Commission.
- What does discipleship look like at TRC?
2.1. The Radical Life (John 15).
2.2. Radical – of or going to the root or origin;fundamental. Radical is abiding in
and rising from the root to bear fruit.
The Radical Life:
Up: Love God (Hear and obey)
Hearing and obeying Jesus is the essence of transformation.
Matthew 7:24-27
In: Love each other (Church is the community of the kingdom)
The church is the contextfor transformation.
Ephesians 2:19-22
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”
Out: Love the world (Impact your domain of society by healing and making disciples)
Serving one’s domain is the catalystfor transformation
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Application
- We must not reduce the gospel to salvation only. Rather we must preach the gospel of the kingdom.
1.1. We must preach repentance from following the rebellion to following Jesus.
1.2. Repentance is never simply a change of mind. It is a change in course.
- We need to really hear Jesus’ parable of the sower.
Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23
2.1. Don’t let Satan steal understanding.
2.2. Let the roots of the kingdom get deep so that hard things don’t shake up your
faith.
2.3. Don’t let inferior pursuits rob you of eternal reward.
2.4. Hear, understand and produce fruit that looks like Jesus is really king.
Theology in the Dirt 