1. HAPPY NEW YEAR

2. Last Year’s Theme
How did you do?
Quantity
Quality

3. Living in the Kingdom

4. Review – The Introduction
Matthew 1 – Born into the Kingdom – David’s Line
Matthew 2 – The birth of the King
Matthew 3 – Preceded by a royal announcer – John the Baptist

5. Review Matthew 4 – The war begins – INSIDE (temptation of Jesus)
Matthew 5-7 –Kingdom Culture (laws, goals etc)
BE Attitudes
Law in our hearts
Seek FIRST His kingdom
Love your enemies
THY kingdom come
Build on the Rock

6. Review Matthew 8-9 – Kingdom Living (Power over…)
Leper
Centurion's Servant
Women with the issue of blood
Blind
Mute
Paralytic
Demon possessed men
Storm
Dead girl
KEYS TO THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM (next page)

7. Matthew 9:35-38
35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

8. Review Matthew 10 – Kingdom Candidates & the Cost Matthew 10:5-8
Apostles
Disciples receive the Kingdom Commission
The cost of living in the Kingdom includes persecution (greater cost is internal?)
Matthew 10:5-8
5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “…. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

9. Review Matthew 11-12 – Kingdom of Rest (incl Sabbath)
11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 13 – Kingdom Parables:
Sower, mustard seed, leaven
hidden treasure, pearl of great price.

10. Review Matthew 14-15 – Kingdom Food
Feeding the 5000
Defiled by inside; not physical food
Feeding the 4000
Matthew 16 – Reactions to the revelation
Pharisees & Sadducees – rejection
Peter & disciples – ‘You are the Christ’
Matthew 17 – The King is Revealed (Transfiguration)
Matthew 18 – Kingdom Family Dynamics
Fighting to be first
Sinning brother
Unforgiveness

11. CONCLUSIONS SO FAR
Taking a Kingdom requires war & effort, inside & outside
The King is looking for co labourers (soldiers, friends, disciples, followers) to build the kingdom BY COPYING HIS METHODS.
There is a price to pay for living in the kingdom
Nothing is greater than living in this kingdom

12. IMPLICATIONS The Kingdom is here and now!
The Kingdom is supposed to be IN us!
The power for living in the Kingdom has ALREADY been given to us!

13. 1. HERE AND NOW
5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “…. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
How often do you tell people that the kingdom of Heaven is at hand?
How does your lifestyle show that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand?

14. 2. LIVING IN THE KINGDOM or THE KINGDOM LIVING IN YOU
Luke 17:21 the kingdom of God is within you.” NOW
 Luke 19:13 Occupy (do business) till I come. LATER
A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. Nobleman gave 10 minas to 10 of his servants. He returned, having received the Kingdom.
Kingdom is both now & later
Your job, studies, family life, personal life, gifts, talents, abilities, & opportunities, are all building materials for a great Kingdom. Are you willing?

15. 3. The Power– It’s not just about trying harder!
Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me ..
Acts 20:32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
 Rom 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them:
You are already redeemed, qualified to serve God, becoming equipped. Rely on the power of His HS and His grace to use what He has given you.
A branch does not struggle to be a branch; it gets on with bearing fruit
A baby does not struggle to be a baby; it gets on with growing up

16. CONCLUSION
Be who you are – a child of God, loved, redeemed, free from sin’s power, a co-labourer with the Holy Spirit
Let God’s grace & power flow through you as you choose to LIVE IN THE KINGDOM in The Kingdom culture is who we really are in Christ!
Teacher killed his family then committed suicide this week – caught at work. ‘They’ll find out who I really am!’ shame probably led to this tragedy.
Be what you would be called!
Say these statements out loud!

17. LIVING in the Kingdom