In  the  first  book,  O  Theophilus,  I  have  dealt  with  all  that  Jesus  began  to  do  and  teach,  un;l  the  day  when  he  was  taken  up,  a=er  he  had  given  commands  through  the  Holy  Spirit  to  the  apostles  whom  he  had  chosen.  He  presented  himself  alive  to  them  a=er  his  suffering  by  many  proofs,  appearing  to  them  during  forty  days  and  speaking  about  the  kingdom  of  God.  And  while  staying  with  them  he  ordered  them  not  to  depart  from  Jerusalem,  but  to  wait  for  the  promise  of  the  Father,  which,  he  said,  “you  heard  from  me;  

Acts  1:1-­‐4  (ESV)  

The  Kingdom  of  God  

•  Jesus  launched  His  ministry  by  preaching  the  Kingdom.  

•  His  parables  revealed  and  explained  God’s  Kingdom.    

•  His  miracles  demonstrated  the  Kingdom.    •  His  death,  resurrec;on,  and  Pentecost  inaugurated  God’s  Kingdom.    

 

Jesus  Started  by  PREACHING  the  Kingdom  

…saying,  “The  ;me  is  fulfilled,  and  the  kingdom  of  God  is  at  hand;  repent  and  believe  in  the  gospel.”  

Mark  1:15  (ESV)  

Jesus  Started  by  PREACHING  the  Kingdom  

And  he  said  to  them,  “To  you  has  been  given  the  secret  of  the  kingdom  of  God,  but  for  those  outside  everything  is  in  parables,  

Mark  4:11    (ESV)    

Jesus  Started  by  PREACHING  the  Kingdom  

And  he  said,  “The  kingdom  of  God  is  as  if  a  man  should  scaOer  seed  on  the  ground.  

Mark  4:26  (ESV)  

Jesus  Started  by  PREACHING  the  Kingdom  

And  he  said,  “With  what  can  we  compare  the  kingdom  of  God,  or  what  parable  shall  we  use  for  it?  

Mark  4:30  (ESV)  

That  very  day  two  of  them  were  going  to  a  village  named  Emmaus,  about  seven  miles  from  Jerusalem,  and  they  were  talking  with  each  other  about  all  these  things  that  had  happened.  While  they  were  talking  and  discussing  together,  Jesus  himself  drew  near  and  went  with  them.  But  their  eyes  were  kept  from  recognizing  him.    And  he  said  to  them,  “What  is  this  conversa;on  that  you  are  holding  with  each  other  as  you  walk?”  And  they  stood  s;ll,  looking  sad.  Then  one  of  them,  named  Cleopas,  answered  him,  “Are  you  the  only  visitor  to  Jerusalem  who  does  not  know  the  things  that  have  happened  there  in  these  days?”  

And  he  said  to  them,  “What  things?”  And  they  said  to  him,  “Concerning  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  a  man  who  was  a  prophet  mighty  in  deed  and  word  before  God  and  all  the  people,  and  how  our  chief  priests  and  rulers  delivered  him  up  to  be  condemned  to  death,  and  crucified  him.  But  we  had  hoped  that  he  was  the  one  to  redeem  Israel.  Yes,  and  besides  all  this,  it  is  now  the  third  day  since  these  things  happened.  Moreover,  some  women  of  our  company  amazed  us.  They  were  at  the  tomb  early  in  the  morning,  and  when  they  did  not  find  his  body,  they  came  back  saying  that  they  had  even  seen  a  vision  of  angels,  who  said  that  he  was  alive.    

Some  of  those  who  were  with  us  went  to  the  tomb  and  found  it  just  as  the  women  had  said,  but  him  they  did  not  see.”  And  he  said  to  them,  “O  foolish  ones,  and  slow  of  heart  to  believe  all  that  the  prophets  have  spoken!  Was  it  not  necessary  that  the  Christ  should  suffer  these  things  and  enter  into  his  glory?”    

Luke  24:13-­‐27  (ESV)