Living in the Tension: A Study on the "Now and Not Yet" Kingdom of GodSample

The Kingdom is Here! The "Now" of God's Reign

Questions to think through:

1. In Mark 1:14-15, what is the "good news" (gospel) that Jesus proclaims? What two responses does He call for?

2. How does Jesus' statement in Luke 17:20-21 challenge the common understanding of a kingdom? What does it mean for the Kingdom of God to be "in your midst"?

3. According to Colossians 1:13-14, what has God already done for believers in relation to His Kingdom? How does this change our identity right now?

4. Reflect on a time when you have seen evidence of God's Kingdom at work in your own life or in the world around you.

The arrival of Jesus marked a pivotal moment in human history. His declaration, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand," was not a whisper of a distant promise but a thunderous announcement of a present reality. The long-awaited reign of God was no longer just a prophetic dream; it was breaking into the here and now. This means that right now, through faith in Christ, we have been transferred from the domain of darkness into the Kingdom of God's beloved Son. We are not just waiting to become citizens of His Kingdom; we already are. This week, let the weight of this truth settle in. You are a child of the King, living within His realm of grace and power. As you go about your days, look for the evidence of His rule—in moments of justice, in acts of love, in the beauty of creation, and in the quiet work of His Spirit in your heart.