Is 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, NKJV

Mt 13:31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” 33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

The Kingdom of God(Heaven) The Kingdom of God is the reign of God expressed in the hearts and lives of His people both now and through eternity. The reign of God Expressed in hearts and lives Of God’s people (those who name the name of Jesus as Savior and Lord) (in the past), now and future

The Kingdom of God(Heaven) The kingdom is hidden The Kingdom starts small and gets bigger The kingdom’s growth is imperceptible The Kingdom’s growth is obvious The Kingdom is a commanding presence The Kingdom is powerful The Kingdom has been at work for 2,000 years

The Current climate… The removal of comments about religion (religious convictions) in the study of history Ie: BC or BCE Secular college professors for the most part have a negative view of religion in history Sometimes argumentative Sometimes belittling Many today who disparage Christianity may not know or believe that, were it not for Christianity, they would not have the freedom that they presently enjoy. The very freedom of speech and expression that ironically permits them to castigate Christian values is largely a by product of Christianity’s influences that have been incorporated into the social fabric of the Western world. Alvin J. Schmidt, How Christianity Changed the World

Providing another voice Present a different side The teachings of Jesus are responsible for transforming the cultures where it has had a strong influence into cultures that represent the Kingdom of Heaven I am not… A historian A scientist A medical doctor I am a follower of Jesus whose job it is to reveal truth as I understand it

So Far… Jesus elevated the value of human life How? When Christianity came into influence it: Put an end to infanticide Put an end to gladiator games Put an end to child abandonment How?

Jesus transformed people One by one, people received Jesus As Jesus entered into a person’s life, He began to change the way they thought Honoring Jesus became the most important thing in a person’s life People would go to the death to honor Jesus

Matthew 10:32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. 34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father,   a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— 36a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household

Jesus transformed people They were willing to go to their death rather than deny knowing Him

Three Centuries of persecution AD 64 Nero James and “immense multitude mtyrd AD 69 Vespasian Jude, brother of James crcfied AD 81-96 Domitian Severe persecution AD 96-98 Nerva Timothy martyred in Ephesus AD 98-117 Trajan Ignatius to wild beasts Pliny executes some Christians AD 117-38 Hadrian Roman army commander mtyrd AD 138-161 Antonius Pius Polycarp burned at stake

Three Centuries of persecution AD 161-180 Marcus Aurelius Justin Martyr and 11 martyrd Christians tortured in Lyons 193-211 Spetimius Severus African Christians prscuted Perpetua and Felicitas to beasts Tertulian writes defense AD 235-38 Maximus Thrax 2 Bishops martyred Hippolytus martyred AD 249-51 Decius Commands all to sacrifice to pagan gods; Fist empire wide persecution

Three Centuries of persecution AD 253-60 Valerian Christians maimed sent to mines AD Ten emperors Aurelian counters birth of Jesus with decree of Natali sol invictus AD 284-305 Diocletian Ordered all churches and scriptures destroyed; Christian soldiers must sacrifice to pagan AD 311 Galerius/Constantine Edict of Toleration Grants freedom from persecution AD 320-24 Licinius many Christians in east martyred Constantine defeats Licinius

Transformation is more than belief More than a head knowledge A welcoming into the soul of a person Forgiveness is deep and secure Standing before God isn’t iffy The Holy Spirit enters a person Sets up house John 6 66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Transformation is more than belief John 1:9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Transformation is more than belief John 3:3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Transformation is more than belief Romans 5:6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

One who has made a lifetime decision to follow Jesus NO MATTER WHAT! Down; died to self Up; raised to new life in Christ 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. Baptism

So What? God gave you a right to become a child of His… if you receive Jesus You must be born again Christ died while you were still a sinner, You did nothing; it was all Jesus God loves you and wants you to believe It is a life decision NO MATTER WHAT!