The Kingdom of God: From Beginning to End
Acts 28:30-31
Digging Deeper
In Acts 28, after the shipwreck and once everyone got on shore, God gave Paul a powerful testimony while he was on the island of Malta. First, Paul survived the shipwreck. Then, Paul survived a venomous snake bite. Paul also healed the father of the chief island official. Finally, Paul healed all the other sick people on the island. Because of Paul's testimony, he and his fellow travelers were showered with honors and given all they would need to complete their trip to Rome.
On the rest of the journey, Paul was able to be cared for by other believers. Once the believers in Rome heard Paul was arriving, they met him, and Paul was encouraged when he saw them. During Paul’s stay in Rome, he had private lodging even while under guard.
God provided for Paul in mighty and miraculous ways beyond what Paul could have anticipated when he started his journey to Rome. God was faithful to accomplish His purposes, and the Good News of the Gospel was spread far and wide, through the power of the Holy Spirit, as Paul evangelized, taught, and lived in God’s power as a part of His Kingdom.
WHAT NOT TO MISS
Main Point
Luke/Paul LAND the way Jesus LAUNCHED.
Let’s LIVE what Jesus LAUNCHED
Let’s LEAD what Jesus LAUNCHED.
What does lead and live mean in the way Jesus launched?
Proclaim the King and His Kingdom.
Teach about the life of the King and His Kingdom.
Live in the power of the King and His Kingdom.
1) Proclaim (Evangelize) the invasion of the King and His Kingdom.
The Kingdom Paul proclaimed was not of this world but is for this world.
The Kingdom of God had to invade the Kingdom of Man.
The Cosmic King, Jesus Christ invaded.
Jesus invaded because of the love of humanity and for the world He created.
Jesus conquered by His death and resurrection.
Jesus accomplished victory, a new creation, and much more.
When this invasion comes to a city, transformation and threats happen.
The invasion is going to the ends of the earth.
Evangelism is inviting people into the good news story of King Jesus, who through His death and resurrection, is making all things new.
2) Teach (Disciple) about the advancing life of the King and His Kingdom.
Discipleship is learning what it means to be human and part of the new human race after the image and likeness of King Jesus.
Jesus and Paul taught and modeled advancing the life of the King and His Kingdom by using the framework of the three functions of humanity: RELATE, CREATE, and OPERATE.
Relate:
Advance the Kingdom through how we relate personally to God, ourselves, family, friends, neighbors, and our enemies.
Advance the Kingdom through how we relate corporately to God, the body and bride of Christ as we are the temple of God and citizens of the Kingdom
Relate to one another the way God, in Jesus, has related to us.
Create:
Work to create a people and community that seeks to image what God created at the very beginning and what Jesus died and rose from the dead to begin building.
Create a personal vocation that considers why, where, and how you work.
Create a corporate vocation that considers the church as an embassy of the Kingdom engaging all spheres for the common good and meeting of needs.
Operate:
Operate our giving that mirrors the way God has given to us through stewardship of personal and corporate time, talents, and treasures.
3) Live in the Power of the King and His Kingdom.
Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus promised His disciples He would be with them always, and He promised to send the Holy Spirit, the Helper, the Power, to ensure the invasion and the advancement happened.
Live in the Holy Spirit's power by living a life of prayer, praise, persistence in persecution, and purity.
Three questions as we conclude the book of Acts.
Have you joined God’s Kingdom invasion?
How are you doing in God’s Kingdom advancing?
In Whose power are you living?
Let’s live and lead what Jesus launched.
Let’s live and lead out in the Kingdom Invasion.
Let’s live and lead out in the Kingdom Advancing.
Let’s live and lead out in the Kingdom Power.
When we proclaim the Kingdom invasion, teach the Kingdom advancing, and live in the
Kingdom power, we lead what Jesus launched and turn the world upside down!
LIFE APPLICATION
This week reflect on these three questions:
Have you joined God’s Kingdom invasion?
How are you doing in God’s Kingdom advancing?
In Whose power are you living?
Choose one of these questions to focus on this week. What steps will you take to turn the world upside down by living and leading what Jesus launched?
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What is something you enjoyed that is no longer made or manufactured?
When Paul arrived in Rome, what did he proclaim to the local leaders of the Jews?
What was the result of Paul's sharing with the Jewish leaders?
While Paul lived in Rome for two years, what does the end of Acts share about this time?
Why was it important for Paul to have this time in Rome?
DAILY DEVOTIONAL BIBLE PASSAGES
Day 1: Testimony-2 Timothy 1:8; Psalm 71:15-16; Hebrews 2:12
Day 2: Encouragement-Titus 3:3-7; Matthew 5:16; Psalm 107:1-2
Day 3: Witness-Matthew 10:32; 1 John 1:1-4; 2 Timothy 1:8-9
Day 4: Preaching-1 Peter 3:15; Psalm 119:46; 1 John 5:11
Day 5: Good News-Psalm 35:28; Romans 1:16; Romans 10:15
PRAYER
Lord, I am thankful that You are in control of all things and that I can rest in the promise that You will always work for my good. Help me to advance Your Kingdom as I boldly share my faith with others. Also, let me be a disciple who makes disciples so that Your Kingdom continues to advance. Finally, let me live not in my power, but in the power of the Holy Spirit so that the world will be turned upside down.
