1. OUR MISSION: To guide those far from God into the new start found in Jesus Christ.

3. The beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God Mk 1:1

4. “The time has come! The kingdom of God has come near! Repent and believe the good news!” (NIV) J. B. Phillips puts it this way: “The time has come at last – the kingdom of God has arrived. You must change your hearts and minds and believe the good news.” Mk 1:15

5. He is fundamentally saying, “The time has finally arrived!!! I am here now, and I am announcing the establishment of my Father’s kingdom on earth. Repent of your sinful, self-serving attitudes and narrow-minded nationalism, and get on board this amazing invitation to be part of my mission of global transformation” – or words to that effect!!!

6. Questions??? – i) Where had the kingdom been? ii) Was there ever a time when the kingdom was fully demonstrated on earth?

7. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” Gen 1:27-28

8. What elements of God’s kingdom-mission are revealed in Gen 1:26-28? God created humanity in his image :26-27 We received God’s blessing – God’s empowerment to fulfil his will :28

9. What does this tell us about how God intends to relate to his image-bearers? How did God bless Adam & Eve? He spoke to them – he is personal What are the implications of this amazing happening?

10. What does this tell us about how God intends to relate to his image-bearers? They could hear him – he is relational They could understand him – he is rational They could respond in obedience; or disobedience as it turned out – he is reciprocal

11. What can we now say about the kind of kingdom that Jesus is re-establishing on earth? i) It is Conversational – he enjoys conversational dialogue Look at the way he calls people –

12. What can we now say about the kind of kingdom that Jesus is re-establishing on earth? ii) It is Collaborative – He invites participation with his image-bearers

14. OUR MISSION: To guide those far from God into the new start found in Jesus Christ.