Pastor Railton would consider it a privilege to talk with anyone about the church, living the Christian life, how to become a Christian or any problem or discouragement you may be experiencing. Let him know and he will be glad to either come to your home or meet in the office.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God
I. LIFE NEED
A. This morning I'm going to preach about the Gospel of The Kingdom of God. You might want to take notes.
1. It isn't that I have anything new to say about it, but,
as I've encouraged the youth, it would be a good idea for each of you to select a Bible passage about
the Kingdom, and then to jot down other scripture references about the Kingdom in the margin. If you
can then just remember the one passage, you'll know you can find a bunch of other passages there to
study.
2. The Gospel is sometimes called the good news. The
Greek word for Gospel, or good news, is evangelion. That's why evangelism is to tell the
good news, or the Gospel.
B. Before I preach about the good news, I'd like several of you to share an experience of either hearing, or telling
some good news. It doesn't have to compare with the Gospel, just some good news that you were told, or were
able to share.
1. I'll give you an idea what I have in mind. Several
years ago, when we still owed something like $270,000 on this building, I had the privilege of
announcing that an anonymous contributor was going to pay off the entire debt. I remember there
were some that didn't really believe such a thing could happen. But this was such a relief. Our
payments were approaching nearly $900 per week.
2. Now, who else has ever been given, or been able to
tell some really good news?
3. How do we feel when we've heard good news?
a. It makes us feel good, doesn't it?
b. It makes us want to tell others, doesn't it?
c. It makes us dream or day dream doesn't it? I'm
looking forward to having a couple grandkids, holding them, taking them places, teaching
them.
C. The good news of The Kingdom of God cannot be topped and it can't be stopped! It's going to
happen, and it's going to be great!
II. BIBLE LEARNING
A. God hinted at the defeat of sin and evil back in Genesis 3:15. Even as he was kicking Adam and Eve out of the
Garden of Eden, he was saying to the serpent, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and
between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike your heel." That was good
news!
B. Major promises were made to Abraham in Gen. 12. You might say these promises are the foundations of the
Kingdom. He promised to Abraham land, seed, and blessing. He built upon these promises throughout the
scriptures. He continually gave more detail.
C. He promised King David that the ruler over his Kingdom would be David's descendant.
D. Dan. 2:44,45.
E. Dan. 7:27.
F. Mark 1:14,15, " . . . Jesus went into Galilee proclaiming the good news of God. 'The time has come,' he said,
'The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news.' "
G. Matt. 4:23 confirms this, "Jesus went throughout Galilee teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of
The Kingdom of God."
H. Luke 4:42,43. We won't read all the passages this morning. We've gone over them before. But I will
remind you that the sum total of the Gospel Jesus preached, was The Kingdom of God.
1. Luke 18:31-33,34.
III. BIBLE APPLICATION
What Does This Mean For You And I?
A. First Of All, Secure The Kingdom of God For Yourself
1. Earlier we read and sang Matt. 6:33. This is what we
are called to do. Seek first, The Kingdom of God, and his righteousness.
a. Give God the first part of every day.
b. The first day of every week.
c. The first part of your income.
d. The first consideration of every decision.
e. The first place in your life.
2. Matt. 13:44-46.
a. Would you do as that man?
b. Do you value the Kingdom as he did?
c. Have you done as that man?
d. Have you given your all, in order to have the
Kingdom?
e. What have you given up?
f. Is there anything you refuse to give up?
g. Secure The Kingdom of God for yourself!
B. Secondly, Tell Everyone About It That You Can!
1. Acts 1:3-8. Comments.
2. Mark 16:15,16, "Go into all the world and preach
the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does
not believe will be condemned." Repeat the last phrase.
a. Let's make this more personal. Jesus says . . .
1. Those of you who have believed the Gospel message of the Kingdom, who have been
baptized, will be saved. Great!!
2. Your family members, your loved ones who have believed the good news of the Kingdom, who have been baptized will be
saved. Fantastic!!
3. Your friends who have believed the Gospel, who have been baptized, will be saved. Talk
about good news!!
4. People in this community who hear and believe the Gospel of the Kingdom, who are
baptized, will be saved in that Kingdom. Wonderful!!
5. This is the good news. It's extremely good news!
b. Now the bad news is just as bad as the good
news is good.
1. Those of you who have not believed the Kingdom message, and been baptized as a
result of that belief, will be condemned.
2. Your family members, your loved ones who do not believe this Gospel, who are not
baptized as a result of that belief, will be condemned.
3. Your friends who don't believe this message, who are not baptized will be condemned.
4. People in this community who don't believe this good news, who are not baptized, will
be condemned. The news can't get much worse!
c. We are saddened when a loved one dies.
1. When I first got the phone call that my father had died, I didn't cry. But then I cried
as I drove over to Cleveland to be with my mother. That's when it really sunk in.
2. I remember when Michelle Klinger died. She was a close friend. I cried so that I
couldn't speak when I called Marilynn to start the grapevine. Somehow Marilynn knew what had happened.
3. I can remember when many of your loved ones have died - the pain, the void, the
heaviness, the tears.
4. This is all so sad, but it's nowhere nearly so sad as someone dying without responding to
the Kingdom message, and being baptized. And such is happening everyday!
IV. LIFE RESPONSE
But We Can Do Something About It!!
A. We've already read the Great Commission, to go into all the world to preach the good news. This is something
you and I are to be doing! This is one of the primary purposes for the church to exist.
B. Let's read Matt. 9:35-38.
1. We can pray for workers.
2. We can be the workers!
3. The harvest is ripe, but whose harvest will it be?
C. Matt. 24:1-14.
1. This was during the last week before Jesus was
killed.
2. He gave a lot of signs, things that would precede
his return.
3. But it's v. 14 I particularly want to note this morning.
a. "This Gospel of the Kingdom" It doesn't take
much study to realize this Gospel of the Kingdom is not what is popularly taught. I
believe it is this Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus refers to when he says it will be preached
in the whole world.
b. "Will be preached in the whole world"
c. "As a testimony to all nations"
d. "And then the end will come."
4. It is exciting to know that this Gospel of the
Kingdom is literally being preached throughout the world. Anthony Buzzard, whom many of you know,
has prepared nearly 300 15 minute radio programs. The series is entitled "Focus On The Kingdom."
There's an insert in the bulletin that tells a bit about what's happening. It's on the air in several places,
but it is going out over short-wave radio to every continent in the world. The interesting thing about
this is that it's going out from South Bend, IN. And we had nothing to do with it. I wish we had.
Generous believers have made it all possible. But now we have opportunity to get on the band wagon.
5. We'll be discussing this this afternoon at our
meeting, but I want to go on record as being excited about the opportunity. It's going to cost us some
money, some extra pledges or something, but it means being obedient to the great commission. It
means we can be a part of this publishing of the Gospel all over the world.
a. I'm hoping you'll stay for our meeting and be a
part of this discussion.
b. I'm also hoping you'll be a part of the financial
support to make this happen. We haven't budgeted for it, so it will have to be new money,
but I should think we could do it!
c. I'm praying the Lord will use us as witnesses,
and that people will be saved because of our efforts.
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