The Kingdom of God: Our Hope For a Better Future

Application Questions

1. What is your kingdom vision?

2. With the popular kingdom visions today where do you see harmony and discord with Scripture?

3. Do you see salvation as simply a personal thing, or something that encompasses all of creation?

Application Questions

1. What similarities and differences do you see between Jesus’ time and ours?

2. Do you find yourself more tempted to assimilate into the changing culture or retreat from it?

3. Do you tend to find your hope in political movements or in God’s promises?

Application Questions

1. What ways do you tend to misunderstand Jesus kingdom?

2. When Jesus talked about his kingdom being centered around his death and resurrection what is your reaction?

3. How do you find yourself thinking about Jesus kingdom in earthy terms? Where do Jesus’ words challenge you?

Application Questions

1. What makes God king over creation? What rights does a king have over his land?

2. What are some of the ways God shows his kingship over creation in the Old Testament?

3. How does God’s kingship lead to worship?

Application Questions

1. What do you think the author of Judges means when he says, “everyone did what was right in his own eyes?” How did not having a king relate to that?

2. Compare and contrast the world’s conception of a king with God’s.

3. Why do we need a divine, and not simply human king?

Application Questions

1. In what ways had 1st century Jews missed the nature of Jesus’ kingdom as described by the Old Testament prophets? How can we be in danger of making a similar mistake?

2. How does God’s kingdom grow in contrast to how many earthly kingdoms grow?

3. Why is it helpful to think of God’s kingdom as an inheritance?

Application Questions

1. How are the Kingdom of God and Church related?

2. How does Jesus equip his church for her mission?

3. In what ways is the church central to the growth of the kingdom?

4. Do you value the church as much as God?

Application Questions

1. What are some ways that our modern society has tried, but failed to answer some of the fundamental questions about humanity?

2. How is sin underlying every problem in our world?

3. Why should the church never be satisfied with “mere philanthropy?”

Application Questions

1. Name 3 special things God did to convince Peter that Gentile Christians were ok in the church.

2. Who is a Gentile?

3. What was God’s plan for the Gentiles?

4. What did the Jerusalem council decide about requiring Gentiles to be circumcised to be saved?

Application Questions

1. What should a poor person be proud of?

2. What should a rich person be proud of? (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

3. Is favoritism to be shown to the rich?

4. Where should our treasure be?

5. What should we seek first?

Application Questions

1. Who is our only hope in the great spiritual war.?

2. Who is our enemy in the great spiritual war?

3. What kind of praying are we asked to do in Ephesians 6?

4. Name one martyr and how they witnessed to the truth.

Application Questions

1. Have you considered that warfare against the devil is a normal part of the Christian life?

2. What does Nate say is the primary battlefield of this war? How have you seen that to be true in your own life?

3. Of silence, Sabbath and study, which do you naturally gravitate towards? Which is hardest?

4. What are some ways you can incorporate these practices into your life?

Application Questions

1. When it comes to money to you have the attitude of not having enough or one of trusting God will provide?

2. Where do you struggle to show gratitude? What are some ways you can practice it?

3. What things are you tempted to hoard? What things are difficult for you to be generous with?

4. Are you always living beyond your means? Are you always just making enough? Where are some places you can limit yourself in order to be more generous?

Application Questions

1. Do you have any relationships where it is clear that a shared love of God is what has brought you together?

2. Who are some people in the church that you can seek out to pray for?

3. Make a list of a few people to invite into your home, preferably people that aren’t the first to come to mind.

Application Questions

1. What are some ways you’ve seen nationalism at work?

2. How do you think you can figure out what parts of Christianity are truly biblical versus cultural assumptions?

3. What are some of the things that people often assume are Christian, but may be more cultural preferences?

Application Questions

1. What are some ways people often try to use the powers of this word to advance the kingdom of heaven?

2. What areas are you most tempted to measure the strength of God’s kingdom by earthly metrics?

3. What role can or should Christians play in legislation and social activism if they don’t bring about kingdom growth?

Application Questions

1. What do you think people mean when they say, “He’s so heavenly minded he’s no earthly good?”

2. What’s the difference between good news and good advice? Which way do you treat the gospel?

3. What are some ways you don’t live as if Jesus is king today?