1. The Kingdom A review of the passages which contain the word: KINGDOM. How do we view the Kingdom? What are its characteristics?

2. Introduction Being a part of the kingdom is very important to a Christian. In the new Testament the word appears in 150 verses. The word for church appears in 73 verses. Jesus used the word “church only 3 times

3. Introduction The word kingdom has several meanings. 1. All the realm of God’s authority 2. A limited realm of an earthly leader. (King, Ruler, etc.) 3. A limited realm of a spiritual being. (Satan) 4. Heaven, the abode of God. 5. The church is the spiritual kingdom of Christ. We also use it to describe a group (animal or plant kingdom).

4. Introduction We know the church and the kingdom are the same, but we treat them differently. Church is usually compartmentalized into our services that take about 4 hours per week. Kingdom understanding should be for us a 24/7 culture. We are always in the kingdom, but not always in church????

5. Use of the word Kingdom in Scripture (Matthew only) Mt 3:2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" Mt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Mt 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Mt 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

6. Use of the word Kingdom in Scripture Mt 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Mt 5:19 "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Mt 5:20 "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Mt 6:10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

7. Use of the word Kingdom in Scripture Mt 6:13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Mt 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Mt 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Mt 8:11 "And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

8. Use of the word Kingdom in Scripture Mt 8:12 "But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Mt 9:35 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. Mt 10:7 "And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Mt 11:11 "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

9. Use of the word Kingdom in Scripture Mt 12:25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. Mt 12:26 "If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? Mt 12:28 "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Mt 13:11 He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

10. Use of the word Kingdom in Scripture Mt 13:19 "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. Mt 13:24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; Mt 13:31 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, Mt 13:33 Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."

11. Use of the word Kingdom in Scripture Mt 13:38 "The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. Mt 13:41 "The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, Mt 13:43 "Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! Mt 13:44 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

12. Use of the word Kingdom in Scripture Mt 13:45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, Mt 13:47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, Mt 13:52 Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old." Mt 16:19 "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

13. Use of the word Kingdom in Scripture Mt 16:28 "Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom." Mt 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Mt 18:3 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Mt 18:4 "Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

14. Use of the word Kingdom in Scripture Mt 18:23 "Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. Mt 19:12 "For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it." Mt 19:14 But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Mt 19:23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Mt 19:24 "And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

15. Use of the word Kingdom in Scripture Mt 20:1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Mt 20:21 And He said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to Him, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom." Mt 21:31 "Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said to Him, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. Mt 21:43 "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.

16. Use of the word Kingdom in Scripture Mt 22:2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, Mt 23:13 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Mt 24:7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. Mt 24:14 "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

17. Use of the word Kingdom in Scripture Mt 25:1 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Mt 25:14 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. Mt 25:34 "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: Mt 26:29 "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."

18. Conclusion Often, we have put more emphasis on “church” than we have “kingdom”. We need to focus upon our “kingdom citizenship” more than we have. We can be a part of the spiritual kingdom on earth, and look forward to the eternal kingdom in heaven. Are you a citizen in God’s kingdom?