The Kingdom of God, Student Workbook, SW02

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T H E K I N G D O M O F G O D

God’s Reign Inaugurated

Welcome in the strong name of Jesus Christ! After your reading, study, discussion, and application of the materials in this lesson, you will be able to: • Show from Scripture that since the Fall, the reign of God has been inaugurated in this present world. • Describe how God is bringing his reign concretely into the world in an intentional way, firstly, in his own predisposition as a Warrior over his enemies. • Show how through the covenant promise of deliverance given to Abraham God worked out his Kingdom’s inauguration, and through the history of God’s dealings and workings with Israel, his covenant people. • Articulate how Jesus of Nazareth in the world represents the Kingdom’s presence realized in his incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension. Read Mark 1.14-15 . We all like to hear things announced. We like to hear good news, especially when it involves getting a gift, receiving a blessing, obtaining something you have longed for. When Jesus spoke these words in Mark, he had just recently started to proclaim the Good News. Having been baptized by John the Baptist and endured the temptation of the devil in the wilderness, Jesus comes to Galilee. Mark gives us a time frame to gauge the date by: it is the time after John was put in prison. So, it was early in the ministry of Jesus, late in the announcement that John the Baptist had made regarding Jesus as the coming Anointed One. Jesus, at this critical moment in salvation history comes announcing, literally inaugurating (commencing), his kingdom preaching and ministry. Jesus recognized the importance of that time, suggesting that “the time is fulfilled,” that is, that time spoken of by the prophets that God’s reign had arrived. Without fanfare, without trumpets, fireworks, or great gatherings and official dignitaries, the Messiah announces that the Kingdom has come, i.e. that it was “at hand.” God’s rule, which • Recite frommemory a passage relating to the inauguration of God’s reign. Have You Heard the Announcement?

Lesson Objectives

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Devotion