Lifestyle in God’s Kingdom

Kingdom of God: Introduction

The presence and coming of the Kingdom of God was

the central message of Jesus. For example, "his teaching
was designed to show men how they might enter the
Kingdom of God (Matt. 5:20; 7:21). His mighty works were
intended to prove that the Kingdom of God had come
upon them (Matt. 12: 28). His parables illustrated to His
disciples the truth about the Kingdom of God (Matt.
13:11).

Source from Theopedia 2

 Kingdom of God: Definition

George Eldon Ladd notes that "The primary meaning of

both the Hebrew word malkuth in the Old Testament and
of the Greek word basileia in the New Testament is the
rank, authority and sovereignty exercised by a king.
A basileia may indeed be a realm over which a sovereign
exercises his authority; and it may be the people who
belong to that realm and over whom authority is
exercised; but these are secondary and derived
meanings. First of all, a kingdom is the authority to rule,
the sovereignty of the king."
Source from Theopedia 3
Text: Matthew 25:1-13 New International Version (NIV)

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten

virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the
bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were
wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not
take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however,
took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The
bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all
became drowsy and fell asleep.

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Text: Matthew 25:1-13 New International Version (NIV)

6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the

bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their

lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us

some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for

both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and

buy some for yourselves.’

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Text: Matthew 25:1-13 New International Version (NIV)

10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the
bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went
in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was
shut.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said,

‘open the door for us!’

12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know

the day or the hour.

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Jesus urges all who seek His Kingdom
to live a lifestyle of preparedness

1. The first component of being prepared is to live in

a way that is vigilantly looking for His coming

2. The second component of being prepared is to live

a life of faithfulness.

3. The third component of being prepared is to

maintain an edge for growth.
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Jesus urges all who seek His Kingdom
to live a lifestyle of preparedness

1. The first component of being prepared is to live in

a way that is vigilantly looking for His coming
 Expecting the imminent return of Jesus Christ is a
mark of spiritual health
 It’s healthy because it shows two desires that are
quite normal in a vibrant life
 A desire to go home.
 A desire to see Jesus.
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Jesus urges all who seek His Kingdom
to live a lifestyle of preparedness

2. The second component of being prepared is to live

a life of faithfulness.
 Matthew 24:45-46
 Luke 19:11-13

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Matthew 24:45-46 New International Version (NIV)

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom

the master has put in charge of the servants in his
household to give them their food at the proper
time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master
finds him doing so when he returns.

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Luke 19:11-13 New International Version (NIV)

11 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell

them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and
the people thought that the kingdom of God was
going to appear at once. 12 He said: “A man of noble
birth went to a distant country to have himself
appointed king and then to return. 13 So he called ten
of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this
money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

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Jesus urges all who seek His Kingdom
to live a lifestyle of preparedness

3. The third component of being prepared is to

maintain an edge for growth.
 This means more than maintaining spiritual
disciplines and meditating on the meaning of the
kingdom of God
 Maintaining an edge for growth particularly extends
to our attitudes (Mark 10:14-15)
 Children are simple, teachable, trustful, &
responsive

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Mark 10:14-15 New International Version (NIV)

14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to

them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not
hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such
as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not
receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never
enter it.”

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Jesus urges all who seek His Kingdom
to live a lifestyle of preparedness

1. The first component of being prepared is to live in

a way that is vigilantly looking for His coming

2. The second component of being prepared is to live

a life of faithfulness.

3. The third component of being prepared is to

maintain an edge for growth.
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