Study 13 – The Gospel of the Kingdom Proclaimed in the Now II
““And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and
confirming the word through the accompanying signs.” (Mark 16:20)
Study Questions
… From Last Week
Part II: Revelation Must Be Acted Upon
- (a) What revelation did the woman who suffered from the continual flow of blood express regarding her healing? (Mark 5:28)
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(b) What action did the woman take based on this revelation? (Verse 27)
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(c) What happened next, and what did Jesus tell her? (Verses 29, 34)
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- (a) What revelation of Jesus’ authority and power did the centurion explain as the reason Jesus did not have to go to his servant in order to heal him of his paralysis? (Matthew 8:8b–9)
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(b) What statement did Jesus make about the centurion’s faith? (Matthew 8:10)
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(c) Due to the centurion’s revelation knowledge and faith, what happened to the centurion’s servant? (Verse 13b)
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Each time God reveals a truth, we are activated to obey it and “own” it.
Part III: Stewards of God’s Revelation
- (a) How did Paul receive the gospel that he preached? (Galatians 1:11–12)
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(b) The revelation of the mystery of Christ—His coming to earth to die for our sins and be resurrected—had been kept secret by God since the world began. What did Paul say had occurred concerning this mystery? Complete the following:
Romans 16:25b–26a: “…kept secret since the world began but _________ _________ __________ ____________ ____________________.”
(c) How did Paul refer to the message of the gospel that he proclaimed? Complete the following:
Romans 16:25a: “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to ______ ________________ and the preaching of Jesus Christ….”
“Our” gospel of the kingdom is our personal experience of what God has done and is doing in our lives.
(d) In addition to direct revelation from God, on what should the establishment of our faith be based? Complete the following:
Romans 16:26: “…by _________ ____________________ ______________________ has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith.”
- Whenever we receive a revelation or a manifestation of God’s power, we become its caretaker, or steward. What is required of a steward? (1 Corinthians 4:2)
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To preach is to proclaim the truth of God’s Word. To testify is to share personal knowledge as a result of experiencing His Word and power.
Part IV: Preaching the Gospel with Supernatural Evidence in the Now
- (a) What did Jesus say would be a major sign of His return and the end of the age? (Matthew 24:14a)
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(b) For what reason would the gospel be preached? (Verse 14b)
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- After John the Baptist was imprisoned by Herod, he sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus if He was truly the Messiah. (See Matthew 11:2–3.) What did Jesus say to confirm that He was the Messiah? (Verse 5)
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Where there is no supernatural proof, or evidence, there is no kingdom, only abstract theology.
- With what did God bear witness through the apostles that the message of salvation through Christ was true? (Hebrews 2:4)
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- (a) In what two ways did Paul say Christ had worked through him to accomplish the spreading of the gospel? (Romans 15:18b NIV)
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(b) What supernatural manifestations were demonstrated in Paul’s ministry, and through whose power did they come? (Verse 19a NIV)
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(c) What did Paul say he had accomplished through what he had both said and done? Complete the following:
Romans 15:19b (NIV): “I have __________ ____________________ _______ __________________ ______ ___________________.”
The gospel of the kingdom can never be separated from saving souls, healing bodies, and casting out demons.
Part V: Principles of Our Kingdom Commission
- Principle #1: We Are Empowered to Go and Proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom Now
- (a) What commission did Jesus give to His followers? (Matthew 28:19–20a)
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(b) What is the first word of Matthew 28:19?
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(c) Recall what happened when the apostles “went out and preached everywhere” (Mark 16:20a). (Verse 20b)
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Supernatural signs and evidence are guaranteed to those who “go.”
- Principle #2: The Harvest Is Ready Now
- (a) Jesus told His disciples that the spiritual “fields” of souls were “already white for harvest” (John 4:35). What did He say about the condition of the harvest and about the state of the workers? (Luke 10:2a NIV)
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(b) For what did Jesus say we should pray? (Verse 2a NIV)
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(c) What is God’s will for the people of the world? (2 Peter 3:9b)
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God’s greatest passion is to see everyone in the world—now more than seven billion people—saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, and living holy lives.
- Principle #3: We Are to Go and Evangelize Our Own “Ethnos”—and beyond!
- (a) To whom did the disciple Andrew first go to announce that he had found the Messiah (Jesus)? (John 1:41)
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(b) What did Andrew do next? (John 1:42)
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Key Definition: The word “nations” in Matthew 28:19—“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations”—is translated from the Greek word ethnos, from which the English word ethnic is derived. Ethnos means “a race (as of the same habit), i.e., tribe,” with the implication of “nation” or “people” (STRONG, G1484).
REFLECTIONS ON GOING TO OUR “ETHNOS”
People who belong to a particular ethnic group, or ethnos, generally speak the same language and have the same beliefs, ways of thinking, values, and traditions, among other shared characteristics. Likewise, one key to developing a nation (ethnos) is culture—people coming together who have common standards, customs, and practices. Within nations, there are also subgroups of people, based on their interests, needs, and/or vocations. Each one of these subgroups can be considered an “ethnos,” as well. Some of these ethnos subgroups are: politics and government, religion, the media, business, education, science, technology, medicine, economics, sports, entertainment and the arts, and law and justice.
Again, each ethnos has its own mind-set and “language,” or terminology. We must identify in which ethnos we participate, so that, together, as the church, we can bring the gospel to all the ethnos of the world. We must start out where we are, in our “Jerusalem and Judea”—our own families, communities, and places of employment—and expand from there. (See Acts 1:8.)
Yet this is not all the church is called to do. I believe that in these last days, evangelism will be accelerated by God’s supernatural power, so that believers will be able to cross from one ethnos to another and reach even more people for Christ. Jesus is our best role model for accomplishing this purpose. He interacted with people of various social strata and backgrounds, such as religious leaders, tax collectors, prostitutes, doctors, businesspeople, and Roman centurions. He brought the visible and tangible demonstration of God’s power to the rich and the poor; to Jews and Gentiles; to men, women, young people, and children. Today’s church needs to be versatile, to let go of its limitations, and to extend outward in the Spirit. I believe the church must become multiracial and multicultural, bringing together different ethnos. The kingdom of God is not about a specific race, nationality, or culture. It includes all races, tribes, nations, and ethnicities.
- (a) When the apostle Paul, who was Jewish, and his companions arrived in a city to preach the gospel, where did they often go to begin to evangelize? (Acts 9:20; 13:5, 14:1; 17:10; 19:8)
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(b) Paul did not evangelize only his own Jewish ethnos. To what groups had God called him to proclaim the gospel, a calling that was fulfilled in his life? (Verse 15)
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(c) Paul’s ministry in Corinth gives us an example of the manifestation of his calling. Identify some who were converted in that city. (Acts 18:8)
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Evangelization in the twenty-first century demands that Christians be able to cross over from one ethnos to another through the supernatural.
Conclusion
The gospel of the kingdom contains great power. It is the power of God for salvation—in all its manifestations of redemption, healing, and deliverance. Jesus came to redeem us from sin, to cure the sick, to deliver the captives, to heal the broken-hearted, and to bring prosperity to the poor. We must let everyone know that the kingdom is among us, here and now!
God’s supernatural power will enable us to reach the entire world with the gospel. Yet, it will be impossible for us to carry out our mission if we don’t minister where people can be found. You don’t have to wait for your pastor to lay hands on you, anoint you, and send you out as a missionary before you can testify of Jesus. You can testify of Him today, in your everyday life—while you are working at the office, eating at a restaurant, attending a sporting event, shopping at a mall, sitting in a theatre, or enjoying a vacation—everywhere you go.
God seeks committed and passionate workers who will take His kingdom message into their own ethnos and beyond. The harvest is ready, but the workers are few. Will you begin to proclaim the gospel and testify of what Jesus has done for you? God is calling you to decide, right now! When you do—and as you go—the Lord will confirm His Word through you with signs, miracles, and wonders.
