Kingdom Under God's Reign Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Speaker: Brother Thomas
• Topic: Understanding the Kingdom of God through Biblical teachings
• Objective: To grasp kingdom concepts despite cultural differences (Americans unfamiliar with kingship)
• Key Challenge: Many Americans don't have a daily experience with kingdom life, making it difficult to relate to Biblical kingdom language.

Class Structure

• Class taught by Brother Thomas and Brother McCleskey
• Alternating teaching schedule due to personal commitments
• Special sessions with candidates from a search committee

Key Concepts

Kingdom Language in the Bible

• Bible uses kingdom language to describe God's realm
• Scripture References:
  • Psalm 19:1-4: Demonstrates God’s glory through creation
  • Psalm 24:7-10: Describes the King of Glory
  • Philippians 3:20: Citizenship in heaven

Expanding Understanding of God's Kingdom

• Nebula and Galaxies: Illustrates the vastness of God's kingdom
• Two Trillion Galaxies: Our understanding is limited compared to God’s vast realm
• God’s Territory: Earth is part of God's expanded territory

Kingdom Characteristics

• Four Characteristics of a Kingdom:
  • King
  • Citizens
  • Territory
  • Laws
• Example from the Great Commission: Demonstrates kingdom traits (Matthew 28:18-20)
  • Authority of Jesus as King
  • Citizens mobilizing to expand territory
  • Importance of adhering to the laws/teachings

Historical Context

Creation and Disruption

• God's creation of earth and man's dominion
• Disruption by Satan in the Garden of Eden
• Key Prophecy: Genesis 3:15 - Enmity between woman’s offspring and Satan

Prophecies and Fulfillment

• Abraham’s Covenant: Descendants as numerous as stars (Genesis 22)
• David’s Throne: Eternal kingdom promise (2 Samuel 7)
• Isaiah 9:6-7: Foretells Jesus and his government

Practical Application

• Understanding Citizenship: Earthly life vs. heavenly citizenship
  • Example of expat experience in Brazil

Prayer and Kingdom Language

• The Lord’s Prayer: Understanding “Thy kingdom come” as “Thy kingdom has come” due to the arrival of Christ
• Kingdom of God: Seen as an extension of heaven on earth

Conclusion

• Final Thoughts: Encouragement to adopt a kingdom mindset
• Next Steps: Session with Brother McCleskey, further exploration of kingdom concepts

Class Engagement

• Encouragement to share insights and bring others to the class
• Invitation for questions and reflections on the concept of the kingdom

These notes cover the main points discussed in Brother Thomas's lecture about understanding the Kingdom of God as depicted in the Bible, challenges due to cultural differences, and the structure of upcoming classes.